It seems that many people, much smarter than I am of course, feel that schools should be run like businesses. Teachers should be held accountable for their student's performances on standardized tests. If said students do not perform in the 70th percentile, these smarter people than I am believe that teachers should be put on probation with the final outcome being termination, should test scores dip again. Sounds good. Makes sense. In fact I'm sure there is some type of scientific study out there that has been done that proves what good sense it makes. After all, when students fail tests we all know it must be because teachers did not prepare them.
So I begin.
Businesses hire one executive who will supervise other adults, let's say as many 39 of them. They do this with the assistance of a secretary who will answer phones, make calls, fax, copy, write inner and outer office communications and possibly go get the dry cleaning. It is this executive's job to inspire these, as many as 39 adults, to support and expand the corporation's business philosophy.
These adults work together, make plans, are given the tools and supplies to carry out their plans, then begin supporting and expanding away. Normally the executive will be told the risks and consequences of a poor performance and what will happen if desired outcomes do not occur. This could possibly be a loss of pay, lower position or even lose their job altogether.
These adults work together, make plans, are given the tools and supplies to carry out their plans, then begin supporting and expanding away. Normally the executive will be told the risks and consequences of a poor performance and what will happen if desired outcomes do not occur. This could possibly be a loss of pay, lower position or even lose their job altogether.
Got it. So now let's apply these same principles to elementary school.
School Districts hire one elementary school teacher who will supervise, as many as 39, children. Without the assistance of a secretary, they will make and return phone calls, fax, copy and write in and out of class communications and possibly go get the dry cleaning.
Unlike in the business world, said teacher will not be able to interview their future employees, I mean students. The teacher will simply "get what they get and not raise a fit." Tools and supplies that support the learning plan established by the state are at a scarcity as well.
Teachers will be expected to maintain the high standards and test scores of these students under the age of 11 in spite of the fact that: the child does not speak English, has learning disabilities, has so much more than learning disabilities ( our world is a full inclusion world- no child shall be isolated from his/her peers), a parent who left them, a parent who is terminally ill, has recently become homeless, has moved 3 times so far this year or... well, you get the picture-and so should every teacher.
So, now for the scientific experiment.
Feeling a little weak-to be continued next week.
Miss T
School Districts hire one elementary school teacher who will supervise, as many as 39, children. Without the assistance of a secretary, they will make and return phone calls, fax, copy and write in and out of class communications and possibly go get the dry cleaning.
Unlike in the business world, said teacher will not be able to interview their future employees, I mean students. The teacher will simply "get what they get and not raise a fit." Tools and supplies that support the learning plan established by the state are at a scarcity as well.
Teachers will be expected to maintain the high standards and test scores of these students under the age of 11 in spite of the fact that: the child does not speak English, has learning disabilities, has so much more than learning disabilities ( our world is a full inclusion world- no child shall be isolated from his/her peers), a parent who left them, a parent who is terminally ill, has recently become homeless, has moved 3 times so far this year or... well, you get the picture-and so should every teacher.
So, now for the scientific experiment.
Feeling a little weak-to be continued next week.
Miss T
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5 comments:
Oh wow! Try doing what they do in the work world - cutbacks and layoffs. LOL!!! But really, it is a lot of Tylenol, Advil and patience! Hang in there!
Take it from me, 4th grade does not make a lifetime!
Apparently you have missed the news. Cutbacks are in the education world as well. 4th grade may not make a lifetime but then, does anything? No, as one of my students just recently told me...the past is my future. So what type of future do we want to create?
Can't wait to see the next installment. Thanks for splitting it up, though--I'm with you; there's only so much I can think about it before I need to lie down.
Curious about your opinion, Testy Teacher...
On the radio the other day, they were having a discussion about recent studies that measured the performance of at-risk kids who were paid money, or a "salary," for good grades, behavior, and the like. Do you think this is a good idea?
They were talking about doing this with high school kids.
In my world I have found that incentives last for 3-4 months at most. In my classroom I try to "shake it up" twice a year just to get us re-focused, classroom created money is one incentive that I use at the end of the year. It ends up having an entire unit of real-life activities attached to the money and seems to keep them engrossed with the process.
As for high school kids, I have heard of a group of successful businessmen who added to the money concept, financial education classes. How to use a checkbook, invest, pay bills etc. It apparently enhanced the "power" of being given the salary for being in school.
What do you think?
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