I may be young (23). I may be inexperienced (second-year). I may be struggling monetarily among other ways.  I may be over my head (teaching a rather large class, 32 students, ESL population, CTT) and I may be naïve.

However, I just can’t accept a cancellation of the “last-in, first-out” business-like model unless there was a way to evaluate teachers on a more fair basis, using principal observations, parent and student interviews, classroom work (portfolio pieces, etc), and yes, gains found in an array of different tests (lessening the stress of a one-shot high-stakes test) but also in other aspects measured by observations (principals, assistant principals, etc) and progress reports (IEPs and other testing methods measuring monthly progress), while taking into account the demographics of your classroom and the differences between each class.

Until a system is developed where all the elements of what makes an effective teacher is observed and respected, I can’t accept a more flawed system of teacher measurement over a system that can be developed with these ideas in mind.

We are teachers, charged with the job and desire to educate our students’ whole person, not just book knowledge, but also street knowledge, life knowledge, and the ability to operate effectively, regardless of a kid’s background, in a white-person country. We are not developed numbers through a high-stake test, we are not easily expendable in a field where overall knowledge and experience is (or at least, should be) treasured, and we are not defined by a flawed test in which a student’s entire future rides on the ability to fill in a bubble out of a course of four answers for a number of questions. Until the actual job of a teacher is recognized, lauded, and respected, our education system will still be in flux.

Of course, more resources, smaller class sizes and stronger community involvement can help too…

This can probably serve as my quick overall view on education.