From the SF Chronicle's Letters to the Editor section,
How do you judge a teacher?
I am writing in response to recent articles on education reform. I am a nurse, and I wonder how it might feel to have my pay linked to a patient's weight loss, glucose level, cholesterol or blood pressure. Where should measuring a teacher's ability end and the student's and parents' responsibility begin?
Are parents and guardians responsible for a child's attendance, school readiness, completed assignments, being well rested, well fed and ready to learn? What about children who live in homes lacking fundamental and appropriate parental supervision or live in violent neighborhoods? I believe it is well documented that a student's learning is profoundly affected by trauma. Is the teacher responsible to mitigate this?
What schools and students will the smartest teachers choose? Why would a bright, capable college student or accomplished professional looking to change careers choose teaching if this is how they could be judged? I understand that education reform is necessary, but perhaps we are trying to simplify something that is complicated and trying to make a one-size-fits-none remedy.
Kim Walker, Oakland
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/15/EDEU1FT9H5.DTL#ixzz12X6zGy9d
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