"Boston told to release ratings of teachers; State supports Globe’s request; data could aid in picking schools" by James Vaznis | Globe Staff, November 18, 2013
The secretary of state’s office has ruled that the Boston public schools wrongfully withheld overall ratings of teacher performance at individual schools this summer in violation of the state’s public records law and ordered officials to release the data.
The School Department said it would comply with Friday’s ruling. “In the days ahead we will make this information publicly available so we can be fully transparent,” said interim Superintendent John McDonough in a statement Sunday.
The data are the first to be generated under a new job evaluation system that could offer families valuable information on the quality of instruction at each of the city’s schools. The system deems whether a teacher’s performance is exemplary, proficient, in need of improvement, or unsatisfactory.
The Globe originally sought the teacher ratings in June....
The ruling frustrated the Boston Teachers Union. Richard Stutman, the union’s president, said in a phone interview Sunday that he objects to releasing the data. He declined to say whether the union would seek to block disclosure.
“I think it is irresponsible of the Globe to publish this data,” Stutman said, enumerating several reasons. “One, there is a danger of the identification of individuals, certainly in a small school; two, I don’t believe the data is indicative of a school’s performance or a teacher’s performance and I’m afraid people might make hasty decisions on that data; and three, the system has been shown to be biased by age, race, and gender.”
The public is sick of your whining and blames you for their idiot kids. Now give back those pension and health benefits and shaddup!
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Also see: Ratings range high, low for Boston teachers
Irresponsible bastards.
NEXT DAY UPDATE: 2 low-rated Boston teachers fight their dismissals
