Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Thank Goodness for Teachers' Unions | NBC Los Angeles

Thank Goodness for Teachers' Unions | NBC Los Angeles

Thank Goodness for Teachers' Unions

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Thank Goodness for Teachers' Unions
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Teachers' unions have generally opposed high-stakes testing of students, particularly as a way of evaluating teachers.

I disagree.

I don't think there's any substitute for testing. As a parent, I want teacher evaluations that are based on student performance, which requires testing.

And that's yet another reason why we need teachers' unions.

"Huh?" you ask. Well, here's my point: High-stakes testing may be opposed by teachers' unions. But high-stakes testing can't work without teachers' unions.

That's because the incentive to cheat is so strong in such testing.

You'll never have honest tests unless teachers feel secure enough in