Let's take a look at that report card:
"New teacher ratings give odd results; Nearly all found to meet standards" by Jenny Anderson | New York Times, March 31, 2013
NEW YORK — Such rosy numbers, after many millions of dollars developing the new systems and thousands of hours of training, are worrisome....
Principals, who are often responsible for the personal observation part of the grade, generally are not detached managerial types and can be loath to give teachers low marks.
It's called a conflict of interest.
“There’s a real culture shift that has to occur,” Sandi Jacobs, vice president of the National Council on Teacher Quality, a research and policy organization, said.
When I read stuff like that now my first instinct is to hit the brakes. I've had enough agenda-pushing indoctrination and inculcation.
But even the part of the grade that was intended to be objective, how students perform on standardized tests, has proved squishy.
In part, this is because....
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How interesting that there was never a reference to the cheating scandals.
Related: Stellar MCAS results lead to inquiry at school
Boston Globe Summer School: Taking the Test
"Test scores suggest possible cheating
ATLANTA - Hundreds of school systems nationwide exhibit suspicious test
scores that point to the possibility of cheating, according to an
investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The newspaper
examined test results for 70,000 public schools and found high
concentrations of scores in school systems from coast to coast. The
analysis does not prove cheating. It reveals that scores in hundreds of
cities followed a pattern that, in Atlanta, indicated cheating in
multiple schools."
Related: Skipping School Series: Angry in Atlanta
Georgia Goes Old School
35 indicted in Atlanta schools cheating scandal
It's a calling:
"Public schools: intimidating, demanding, and rewarding" by Leah Burrows | Globe Correspondent, March 17, 2013
Teaching is a demanding, time-consuming, and often thankless job. If you think you could be happy in another career, some longtime educators advise, then don’t teach.
The attacks on their integrity and collective bargaining rights have proved that.
“Teaching is a type of calling,” said Linda Griffin, an associate dean at the School of Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “Those drawn to the profession are committed to the idea of teaching.”
The demographics of the classroom are changing, with more students speaking English as a second language. Some public schools are underfunded. New state and federal accountability standards are placing increasing demands on teachers.
But for those passionate about education, there are few things more rewarding than working with students and making a difference in their lives.
“Public school jobs offer more of a challenge and more of a pleasure,” said Richard Stutman, president of the Boston Teachers Union.
There are also plenty of opportunities in public education, especially in urban areas where teacher turnover is high. The subject areas in the highest demand: math and sciences.
“Even with a tight budget, Boston public schools are still hiring hundreds of teachers a year,” said Jesse Solomon, executive director of Boston Teacher Residency, a nonprofit teacher training organization.
Related: Boston Globe Bashes Boston Teachers
And another nonprofit makes my paper.
To get a job in K-12 public education, candidates must pass the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure and receive a license in the age group and subject area they want to teach.
The preliminary license is valid for five years. During that time, teachers are expected to complete a master’s degree in education or attend another state-approved program.
The starting salary for teachers in Massachusetts tends to range from $45,000 to $50,000. The average salary is between $65,000 and $90,000, depending on the district.
Although teachers get several weeklong breaks during the school year and two months off in summer, teaching is not an easy gig, said Solomon.
“Don’t go into this profession thinking your going to have free time,” said Solomon, who spent 10 years teaching in Boston public schools. “Most kids come from all over the place and your job is to figure out how to help each one.”
One in three students in Boston public schools doesn’t speak English or speaks English as a second language. One in five is classified with some kind of disability.
And all they are offering is a lousy $50k/year?
Also see: Boston Globe Summer School: Teachers Do Not Understand the Language
And no respect, either.
Other challenges for educators include managing packed classrooms that average 25 to 30 students and dealing with an array of behavioral issues.
So if you’re thinking about a career teaching in public schools, do some research to get a sense of what the demands and satisfactions are. Talk to working teachers. Sit in on a class if you can.
Public schools, meanwhile, have started implementing more teacher mentorship programs to support new teachers and combat high turnover rates in the first five years of teaching.
Beverly Arzu-Guerrero, 27, is completing her master’s degree in education at UMass Amherst. She is part of an immersion program, teaching full time in the Springfield school system during the day and taking classes in the evening.
“We know that this career isn’t for the fainthearted,” Arzu-Guerrero said. “And we understand that it is not going to be easy, but it’s worth it if you’re passionate about education.”
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Related: Sunday Globe Specials: Batch of Obituaries
At least we know who to blame.
Also see: Private schools offer vast variety of experiences
