knowledge points the direction you need to take your class, but wisdom tells you the path may wind and bend in every other direction before you arrive. In climbing, you study the path ahead, and footholds and handholds appear in what at first seemed impassable. Its as if the mountain unlocks itself if you patiently try its face.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Day 17: The Most Challenging Issue in Education Today
The incorporation of new teacher assessment methods. It appears to be burdensome for administrators as well as for teachers.
Educators are held to a higher standard than the rest of the population. For instance, if the news reports an accident or crime, the headline is, "Local teacher Caught Driving Drunk" You would never hear, "JCPenny's Sales Clerk Caught Drunk Driving." Our names and our jobs are linked, such that our character as individuals are constantly assessed by the world. Since we work with children, I don't necessarily disagree with that, I'm just aware of it. All the time.
In addition to that, our government is now forcing very stringent performance assessment in the world of education. We have to not only DO a good job, but PROVE, DOCUMENT, and DEFEND the fact that we are doing a good job. I can't think of another industry this harshly scrutinized. Just seems hard to implement, maintain, and control. I also fear use of this system for political gain and destruction of unions.
Educators are held to a higher standard than the rest of the population. For instance, if the news reports an accident or crime, the headline is, "Local teacher Caught Driving Drunk" You would never hear, "JCPenny's Sales Clerk Caught Drunk Driving." Our names and our jobs are linked, such that our character as individuals are constantly assessed by the world. Since we work with children, I don't necessarily disagree with that, I'm just aware of it. All the time.
In addition to that, our government is now forcing very stringent performance assessment in the world of education. We have to not only DO a good job, but PROVE, DOCUMENT, and DEFEND the fact that we are doing a good job. I can't think of another industry this harshly scrutinized. Just seems hard to implement, maintain, and control. I also fear use of this system for political gain and destruction of unions.
Day 16: If I Had a Superpower in the Classroom, It Would Be...
...a matrix-like ability to bend time! I'd use it to grade projects with lightning speed, and grapple with my SGOs.
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