The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted last week to send the new teacher evaluation regulations out for public comment.*
The arguments made by state officials (as quoted and cited by the Globe) are masterful pieces of illogic. Commissioner Chester, for example, cites that teachers can go several years without being evaluated. Is that a problem? Absolutely! Will that be solved by evaluating them according to test scores? Not at all! Chester further comments, "For students who are behind, not having an effective teacher is going to keep them behind." True? Yes! Solved by evaluating by test scores? No! Secretary Reville says the current system of inconsistent evaluations "borders on negligence." I know of no teacher who would say otherwise. That is best solved, however, by regular evaluations in the classrooms by well-trained, I repeat, WELL-TRAINED, evaluators. This system still doesn't do that well.
If you'd like a rundown on the public comment against these regulations, you can find them here.
I would urge anyone who has the slightest concern regarding this to weigh in with the Board of Ed. Comments are due June 10; the Board is scheduled to vote on June 28.
And by the way, I've been told that Worcester's own Professor McDermott was outspoken in the malpractice being done to education by these regs. Well done, sir!
UPDATE: It appears that the Commissioner is taking his show on the road; he's talking about this system at the Urban Superintendents' meeting tomorrow morning (our superintendent and mayor will be in attendance).
*You can also mail them to:
Tricia Federico
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148
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