It is becoming very obvious that the DOE's idea of a good teacher has the following qualities.
1. Less than 5 years of experience (cheap).
2. Works on mindless test preparation.
3. Never questions a Principal's decision.
4. Do extra work without compensation.
5. Healthy and takes few days off.
6. Quits before the City pays a pension.
This is the main reason that the national test scores have remained stagnant the last five years.
However, there are other reasons for the stagnant teat schools. For example, the vast majority of the teachers reassigned to the "rubber room" are 45 or older. The very veteran teachers that can make a difference in the classroom. Instead, there are over 750 teachers currently reassigned and the numbers are increasing daily. As I have said previously, only 10% really belong there.
Further, many veteran teachers still in the classroom no longer challenge the students for fear of being accused of inappropriate behavior. Remember, the DOE philosophy is that students lie....except when it is about their teacher.
Finally, the quality of principals have deteriorated and many of them are vindictive and insecure. These principals want young, inexperienced teachers who when the principal says jump, they respond high high? While the experienced teacher would say why?
I see an acceleration of this process by the DOE with the end result of little or no academic progress, an increase in "rubber room" teachers, and a mass retirement in the next five years.
The DOE's idea of a good teacher? An inexperienced and cheap teacher who will leave the system before they are pension eligible. As for the rest of us. I guess it's time to count the days before retirement.
You forgot a few:
ReplyDelete7) Is an ass-kissing sycophant who would pick up the principal's dry cleaning if asked;
8) Has minimal teacher preparation, and is therefore quite weak in the classroom (i.e., makes administration look much smarter than they really are);
9) Is anti-union OR sports an "I Heart Randi" button.
I agree completely about what the DoE wants in a teacher. I've known it for some time. I'm troubled, very troubled, by all the support they receive from the UFT, whose function, at least nominally, ought to involve supporting us.
ReplyDeleteIf I wasn't so close to retirement, I would be very worried. I worry about the young people entering the profession and al the people that have years to go in it.
ReplyDeleteWell, that seems an excellent idea to me. I don't understand why so many of you are ganging up on poor Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Klein.
ReplyDeleteFor the real story, check out our new blog here.
All the teachers need to stop this abuse. The biggest problems in the schools is that principals are not hiring qualified people. They hide positions and licenses people are working under. What they write on paper (organizational sheet) in reality is not true. People are teaching subjects that they are not qualified to teach. This problem is an epidemic in many of the middle schools.
ReplyDeleteChapter leaders are not loyal to union members in some schools. I suggest that chapter leaders should not be teaching any classes. This way, the principal cannot bribe them to do what they want. A chapter leader doesn't have to be a teacher. Any adult can learn the system and advocate for teachers. I think if we had chapter leaders who did their job, principals wouldn't be able to hire new teachers and excess old ones without going thru a committee at the union and chapter leader.