The Educational Blame Game

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Since the beginning people have been blaming others. But God, "It's the women you gave me."

Now, in education the blame game goes to teachers. The LA Times has been running articles about teacher effectiveness. The LA Times is making public a data-base of teachers that purports to allow parents to see how effective, or not, their child's teacher is. The funny thing is that if LAUSD was using this information to evaluate teachers it would not be public anymore.

I've been in education for 21+ years. Evaluations are usually just a royal pain in the asterisk. Why do I say this? Because they normally are not geared to actually helping a teacher improve. I have been on both sides of the evaluation process. It takes a lot of work and preparation, as an administrator to use the evaluation process in a positive manner.  I will say that without the ability to dislodge un-teaching teachers it is hard to always make progress.

The reality is that on the whole, good students come from good families, no matter the socio-economic situation. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The block-head doesn't fall to far from the cliff.  If you haven't taught you probably have no idea what it's like to teach a "won't learn" student from a "don't care" parent. If you are a good parent, your children will probably be successful because you will do what you need to do to make sure your child succeeds.

While I do believe teachers should be accountable, parents and students need to be accountable too.

95/5 The Good, The Bad, and the Goofy?

I have this little theory. The theory is that in every class 95% of the students are good kids and 5% are bad, either goofy or evil. My problems occur when I let the 5% take up 95% of my time. 


This year I have one class that is challenging those assumptions. I think the balance is off. It may be 60/40 rather than 95/5. Most students have something they want. Something they care about. But, what do I do with those who actually don't care? What do I do with someone who has not come to the realization that doing nothing will result in nothing? 


My other classes prove the theory true. When I work the 95% who are good, the 5% who are not eventually come in line. 


Maybe I just believe...


It's funny how our choices, even in Middle School can so effect the rest of our lives.