UFT agrees to teacher evaluation based on testing

I knew this was coming but didn't want to believe it.

The NY Times this morning reported that NYSUT and the UFT have both approved of a new teacher evaluation system that bases its ratings on principal and colleague observation as well as student test scores.


I loved this:

The unions — the New York State United Teachers and the United Federation of Teachers, the city’s union — did not gain any clear benefit from the deal, other than shielding themselves from criticism that they were hurting the state’s chances in Race to the Top. And union leaders who backed the plan could face significant backlash from members, particularly at a time when many districts are planning for layoffs.

We, the union, have nothing to gain from it. But worse, for the lower elementary kids, it also means tests in every subject.

GothamSchools reported the following:

But in 2012, the changes will affect all teachers and principals, regardless of their students’ age or the subject area they teach. The bill implies that the State Education Department could create tests for currently untested subjects and expand them for others, such as social studies and science, which are only tested in two grades.

As a teacher in the lower elementary grades (pre-K to 3), I find this absurd! Kids, especially at this young an age, should not be tested in any formal way. It takes the fun out of school. It will also take the fun out of teaching as we start focusing on test prep.

I'm still waiting to hear how the UFT membership feels about this, but I can't see how teachers or parents who believe in keeping the fun in childhood learning will welcome this news.

Eliot Ness is back

Dear Reader,

A while back I wrote a blog that lasted a couple of weeks that tried to sniff out the bullshit thrown around in the education arena.

Unfortunately, it became an exercise in depressing coverage of the rotten apples in NYC.

I've come back to try again. This time I plan on throwing in some stories from my experience in teaching to try and balance out the negative with some positive.

I decided to start tonight because I've gotten word that the UFT has sold out its members. But, I won't post anything until it's confirmed.

Stay tuned.


Eliot Ness