Only Teachers Would Put-up With This.

[Smarmie Doofus]

NYC's new ( union-endorsed !) evaluation plan. A "kettle of decomposing fish". Tee-hee. I knew there was something funny in the air.

Raging Horse blog:http://raginghorse.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/why-does-commissioner-john-king-still-have-a-job/


>>>And under the new system, if such teachers are rated badly on standardized tests they had nothing to do with, they will nonetheless be rated “ineffective.”

If they are rated “ineffective” two years in a row, they are fired and can no longer work as a teacher in the NYC Public school system. Their teaching careers are over.

Even if you accept (as I most definitely do not) the perverse and completely unproven notion that scores on standardized tests are an fair measure and reflection of student learning, no sane and responsible person could think of any new evaluation plan that includes such absurdities as anything but utterly irresponsible and unprofessional.
And the above, mind you, is merely the most obvious problem of this incomprehensible and incomplete scheme that a system serving a million children must now deal with on a daily basis.

Why the UFT not only went along with this disgrace but actually helped craft it and then insured it was passed into law is yet another kettle of decomposing fish. Their actions remain incomprehensible to me.

How is such a debacle possible? Why is it permissible to treat teachers with such open contempt and gross institutional injustice? Can you imagine the performance of a cop or fireman — or for that matter a hedge fund manager or a banker — being judged on the work of someone else?
Of course, not. Not in a million years. So why is this acceptable for teachers ? How is it even legal? Indeed, how was even legal for a figure like King to impose this on us ?>>>

[LWolf]

1. Rotting and rotten.

Incomprehensible? Yes. What are the teachers saying and doing?

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. Saying? Little or nothing, near as I can tell. And if they are saying anything....

... you can be sure it in a whisper, and only after they look over their shoulder to see who's listening. This is the kind of death-camp ambience that prevails in this system currently.

Doing? I retired last year so I only know what people tell me or what I read on the blogs. My impression is: not much. The union is no help..... for whatever reason. (Take your pick.)

I've recommended bypassing UFT completely and challenging the entire scam via the court system privately or as class action, etc. I've been told that the prospects for success are not good. And even ED lawyers are reluctant to challenge the NY DOE directly because the DOE has unlimited funds and can exhaust the resources of plaintiffs via legal maneuvers and stalling tactics ( continuances, etc.).

Teachers... even acting as a group ( as in class action).... can't match that kind of $$$ firepower.

Of course that's what unions are for. But if they neutralize the union...... well, then what?

[LWolf]

4. To say it's discouraging is an understatement.

[warrant46]

2. Disgusting