Governor Andrew Cuomo recently called for a dramatic reform of our New York education system. He believes that teachers are not being evaluated fairly, since 98% of teachers are being rated effective and only 38% of students are considered prepared. He also called for a five-year probation period before a teacher receives tenure instead of the current three. Right now, teachers are evaluated 20% by their student's performances on state tests, 20% on local tests, and 60% on classroom evaluation. Cuomo said he wants 50% of evaluation to be on state tests and the other 50% to be on independent classroom observations. This stems from a revelation in September that administrators were bumping up scores in classroom observations to stop teachers from being rated as ineffective.
In my opinion, this is ridiculous. How is it fair that teachers in schools where there is a 30% graduation rate and schools with a 97% graduation rate will both be judged by how well their kids pass the same test? Teachers should not be evaluated 50% on how their students score on state tests. In no way will this improve the education system. All this will do is cause teachers to have no option but to teach to the test. This is an awful way for a student to learn. Teaching to the test is not even teaching. All this does is teach children how to pass a test. These kids are just going to learn how to pass these state tests and once they take the test they will forget it all. It's sad and embarrassing that this has where our education system has gone. The thought of what school will be like by the time I have kids is a very scary thought. Who knows what will happen in the next 10-20 years?
Wow, I heard about this too, I believe it was part of Governor Cuomo's "State of the State" address. As a prospective educator myself, I find the new ratings system an abomination. The current system is effective as it relies primarily on the ability of the teacher. You could be the finest teacher in the state, but if your class has no desire to learn, or does not test well, you will score poorly on teacher evaluations. While the education system serves the students, the students are not always gracious to their educators, and a group who lack the common privileges of adulthood should not yet be allowed to determine the fate of what could be a fine teacher.
ReplyDeleteAnother problem is with the Governor's proposal lies in the arts. While science, mathematics, language arts, social studies, and foreign languages may be tested on paper, there is no fair way for the teachers of art, theater and music to be evaluated other than by classroom observation. New York State had previously judged teacher proficiency in the "State testing" area by scores received by arts students on their English Regents, however with the new state testing policy, this would make up approximately 50% of the teacher's evaluation. I'd rather not have half my merit as an educator of music based upon an examination I have no connection to. The current evaluations system is not flawed, and I hope Governor Cuomo's successor can realize that educating in the arts is just as important as teaching in STEM fields.