A Really Stupid Idea

Posted Apr 5, 2010 by Kris DiGiovanni

Updated Apr 5, 2010 at 02:24 PM

Tying teachers’ pay to how well kids do on tests is the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard.


Obviously the congress-critters who came up with this silly legislation and the others who voted for it have never darkened the door of a classroom since their own high school or college graduation.  Otherwise they would understand that teachers face a hugely daunting challenge every single day.  Otherwise, they would not attempt to punish teachers for not being able to manage things that are totally out of their control.  Otherwise they would not add insult to injury by trying to turn one of the world’s most under-appreciated and underpaid professions into a contest where the odds of winning are the same for the most skilled as for the least skilled.


This last statement is true, because there is no way to level the playing field and ensure every teacher has an equal chance of succeeding. 


In order to do that, you’d have to fill each class room with kids who have the same IQ, the same preferred learning style, and the same command of the English language.  You’d have to make sure that coming into the classroom, all the kids read at the same level, and have identical test scores in math, science, and comprehension.  You’d have to evaluate each kid’s willingness to learn and tolerance for the classroom environment, and admit only those with matching scores.


You’d have to remove the kids who have any type of learning disorder, and well as the ones with ADD, anger-management issues, impulse control, emotional damage, or physical issues that require special pacing or other modification of instruction.  Either that or carefully apportion so that each classroom had exactly the same number and type of kids who didn’t fit the standard student profile.


Lastly, you’d have to make sure that each child had two parents in the home who provided nutritious meals and a safe home environment free from burdens that get in the way of learning, like having to care for siblings while a parent works.  Each child would have to have parents who encouraged good study habits and were capable of helping with homework – that is read and speak English fluently, and can understand the concepts presented in text books.  They’d have to have parents who saw to it that TV and video games didn’t interfere with study time, and that the child was not over-scheduled with soccer, ballet, yoga, cheerleading, music lessons, etc.


Then, you’d have to make sure every teacher had an equivalent educational and experiential background, mandate specific additional education by certain dates, and provide time and money to acquire it. You’d have to see to it all teachers had equal access to resources, such as basic classroom supplies, workbooks, photocopying, maps, professional journals, online materials, and libraries.  You’d have to provide the same technological advantages in each class room - laptops, smart boards, digital projectors, science equipment, etc.  You’d also have to ensure that each teacher had the same amount of planning and prep time, and didn’t have to sacrifice any of it for extra duties like bus lines, parent drop off, detention monitoring, or playground supervision.


Then you’d have to design a test that measured each child’s comprehension and acquisition of specific knowledge in a manner that guaranteed each could adequately display their level of mastery.  You’d have to eliminate the apprehension and fear in children who don’t “test well.”  You’d have to provide a testing atmosphere that was equally comfortable for all children, taking into account that each might have a unique way of demonstrating what they have learned.  That means oral evaluations for some, written for some, creative or artistic assessments for others.


Then, if all the above criteria were met, you might – you just might – be able to get some idea of which teachers were better at their jobs then others.  But unless, you’re willing to do all of these things, right now - forget about evaluating teachers based on how well their kids to on certain tests. 


It’s an insult to these intrepid professionals who deal with shortages, inequities, and challenges related to everything mentioned above and more, and still  come to work each day ready to make a difference for the better in each child’s life.  It’s a slap in the face to teachers who spend 40+ hours at school and almost as many outside the classroom, researching, prepping, designing individualized materials, and consulting with others on ways to connect with kids who resist their best efforts.  It shows a total lack of respect and support for some of our best and brightest citizens whose skills and abilities would qualify them to earn an exceptional income in the private sector, but who pursue this already too low-paying calling because they understand that our children are our future, and believe they can help make that future brighter.


The author can be reached at KrisDiGiovanni at gmail dot com or on FaceBook.  Cross-posted at http://www.dailyKos.com.