Educational policies moving wrong way
Kristin Dragos
Issue date: 9/11/09 Section: Opinion
There has been talk about the Obama administration working to reauthorize No Child Left Behind after a failed attempt to do so in 2007. There is also a push to link teachers' pay to students' scores on standardized tests. This is a terrible idea.
Not only would the government discourage teachers from working at schools with poor reputations, but they are also encouraging more teachers to "teach to the test" so they could get a raise. It would create a money-hungry atmosphere in classrooms. Teachers get paid to provide educational experiences for students. Teachers should already be doing everything they can to ensure that all students learn. That is their job.
Teachers are the only ones being held accountable by NCLB. Shouldn't schools and government be responsible for finding and providing funding for classrooms so teachers can provide those learning experiences? Shouldn't parents be accountable for participating in their child's education? Shouldn't the students be responsible for learning the material? Teachers already know the subject matter - it's not their job to learn it. Teachers are not the only ones involved in the educational system, but I think too much of the accountability falls on them. Teachers can only do so much. They can teach the same lesson over and over again, and they will always have students that refuse to do the work and learn the material. Should teachers get penalized with reduced pay because of students' actions or because the school can't find money for the resources the teacher needs to do his or her job?
I don't think so. I think it's time that everyone does their part and take responsibility for their actions. Students need to learn, teachers need to teach, parents need to show at least a little interest in their child's education and the administration needs to work on finding funding.
Not only would the government discourage teachers from working at schools with poor reputations, but they are also encouraging more teachers to "teach to the test" so they could get a raise. It would create a money-hungry atmosphere in classrooms. Teachers get paid to provide educational experiences for students. Teachers should already be doing everything they can to ensure that all students learn. That is their job.
Teachers are the only ones being held accountable by NCLB. Shouldn't schools and government be responsible for finding and providing funding for classrooms so teachers can provide those learning experiences? Shouldn't parents be accountable for participating in their child's education? Shouldn't the students be responsible for learning the material? Teachers already know the subject matter - it's not their job to learn it. Teachers are not the only ones involved in the educational system, but I think too much of the accountability falls on them. Teachers can only do so much. They can teach the same lesson over and over again, and they will always have students that refuse to do the work and learn the material. Should teachers get penalized with reduced pay because of students' actions or because the school can't find money for the resources the teacher needs to do his or her job?
I don't think so. I think it's time that everyone does their part and take responsibility for their actions. Students need to learn, teachers need to teach, parents need to show at least a little interest in their child's education and the administration needs to work on finding funding.
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