Just Another Excuse to Bash Teachers
The Indianapolis Star Editorial Board apparently agrees with State Board of Education member Gordon Hendry that something must be wrong with the teacher evaluation system in Indiana since so many teachers scored as Effective and Highly Effective.
Indiana’s system for evaluating how well its 55,000 public school teachers are doing their jobs smacks of absurdity on multiple levels.
The Star lists three “absurdities” which prove, at least in their minds, that there cannot possibly be that many good teachers in the state. The not-so-hidden-assumption is the usual, “We know there are bad teachers and if this evaluation system doesn’t reveal them, then there’s something wrong with the system.”
The assumption is based on the myth of the “bad teacher” being responsible for all the ills affecting society.
MANAGERS INFLATE PERFORMANCE
Absurdity No. 1: The ratings released by the Indiana Department of Education this month are clearly inflated. About 97 percent of teachers landed in the highest two categories — “highly effective” and “effective.” Only about 2 percent were rated as “needs improvement.” And less than one-half of one percent — about 200 teachers statewide — received theJust Another Excuse to Bash Teachers | Live Long and Prosper: