Looming on the horizon is the New York State teacher evaluation system that will be a "house of cards" and eventually collapse, Unfortunately, when this does happen (2016-17?) the damage to the teaching profession will have been . done. Many veteran teachers, eligible.to retire will leave the school system and the "newbies" will realize that teaching is no longer their calling and leave for a less stressful and more rewarding professional office position. Worse, I foresee a large increase in experienced teachers who will be rated "ineffective" and get terminated, not because of their teaching ability but because of the "junk science" used and the student population they inherit.
Worse, is the new discipline policy that is being implemented which will further erode teacher authority as school administrators will find any excuse not to suspend a disruptive student and lay the blame on the teacher for poor classroom management. Moreover, in schools with large percentages of special education students and English language learners, add the high poverty associated with many of these schools and the poor discipline codes, the result will be that many of these teachers will be under fire and rated poorly under the flawed teacher evaluation system. This is especially true where student discipline is a school wide issue. For example please read Marc Epstein's insightful article on the school discipline issue among other school problems under Mayor Bloomberg that has resulted in the destruction of many schools by loading them up with "high needs" students until they eventually close
It's obvious to me that unless you are in a good school with supportive administration, an educationally sound student body, and engaged parents who provide adult supervision and support for their children, the teacher will be in big trouble under the teacher evaluation system. So think twice before accepting a position in a school that does not meet the three criteria listed above. Under no circumstance should you accept a position in a school that fails to meet any one of the three criteria, especially if a "Leadership Academy Principal" is in charge unless you want to be terminated in two years. Its not about better teachers, its about getting better students if a teacher is going to survive the badly flawed and rigged teacher evaluation system.
I agree 100 percent - the new ratings format is such a disaster - too bad there are so few schools that have the conditions that you describe - you are right to say that no one should accept any permanent position unless the school is prepared to handle the mess and that is so sad for the kids - but as you always say - when was the last time the DOE did anything for the kids - its only goal is to dismantle teaching as a profession -
ReplyDeleteWhat I find distressing is that there is a "union" and teaching has come close to being an at will employment. The working conditions are very difficult and stressful without this new evaluation system. Thank you again for another insightful article.
ReplyDeleteWhere will this school be - in Never Never Land?
ReplyDeleteAnon 6:40
ReplyDeleteThe do exist but you don't want to go to those schools that can't even meet one of these criteria.
Excuse typos -I'm typing on a mobile. Interesting post as always. I agree with you that an understanding administration is a must as this eval begins next month. How this will all end up no one really knows do they? Any word on what type of assessment will be used for the 20 percent local assessment?
ReplyDeleteany suggestions for people like me who can't get out of my school because I am a veteran teacher.. are we sitting ducks? My school doesn't even have one of your 3 attributes
ReplyDeleteDo you think New York will apply for an one year moratorium on teacher evaluations? I read that many states have already applied for this and Arne Duncan issued it. I hope our union leaders from the city and state come to their senses and call on New York to submit a waiver request.
ReplyDeleteI recently became excessed from my school, and was therefore unable to attend the summer evaluation meetings.Do you have any idea how atrs are going to be evaluated?
ReplyDeleteI just attended teacher effectiveness pd for school team given by doe.. ATRS are rated by old system.
ReplyDeleteThe committee your principal and UFT rep put together for measures of student learning get to decide what the local measures are for every grade and out of classroom teachers at yr school. If you are not on the team you have no say on how you will be rated by testing
i was told atrs still get an s or a u - we have no students!!! being an atr sucks - this is the one saving grace -
ReplyDeleteI am an ATR. Almost every week you are transferred to a new school. Most of the teachers in the school do not want to know who you are. At first it upset me. But now that the new teacher evaluation system is coming online I realize that it is probably best to stay an ATR. As an ATR I will survive. Cannot say the same for all regular teachers.
ReplyDeletetrue that
ReplyDeleteAnd you can add to the mix, will the admins force people to veer to the Common Core even if it means neglecting the traditional essential content area elements? Tragic is all we can say about how the Common Core has hijacked our disciplines and our republican institutions.
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