My theory is less than lovely parents teach in manners, perhaps somewhat different, still, similar to those their parents favored. Teachers do too. If an Instructor learned to maintain an emotional distance, to lecture, rather than relate to a whole child, he or she will embrace this method. If statistics, scores, and specific learning strategies spoke to a Teacher when they were a student, the probability is high that techniques that utilize such conventions will be their chosen standard.
I learned from my Mom who transformed before my eyes, this was her truth . . . that is until she realized how her path had hurt her children. Thus, I trust Teachers too can chose to be aware of how they ways work or are less effective for any learner. Countless do. Fortunately for me, innumerable gurus have been my guides, much more so than the musings of George Bernard Shaw ever were.
I wonder. In the world of teacher evaluation might we examine our beliefs more closely. Could we not learn from a bit of real life reflection. Let us not so quickly endorse the data that proves what we came to believe in childhood. May each of us take a moment to sit with our reveries. Reason. Evaluate the history of "decline effects." Might we ponder the vast body of research results that do not merely restate or support simplistic, long-sanctioned, supposed "solutions." Let us hold dear our personal memories and recall, not every Teacher is anathema to the notion of education. I ask you to have faith as I do; those who can do teach!
References for a repeated reality . . .
- Value-Added Analysis. The Los Angeles Times.
- More Thoughts on the "Decline Effect," By Jonah Lehrer. The New Yorker. January 3, 2011
- Error Rates in Measuring Teacher and School Performance Based on Student Test Score Gains. By Peter Z. Schochet and Hanley S. Chiang. Mathematica Policy Research. July 2010
- Review of Learning About Teaching. By Jesse Rothstein. University of California Berkeley. National Education Policy January 2011
- Grading the Teachers: Value-Added Analysis. The Los Angeles Times.
- Parents have the right to know, By George Skelton. The Los angels Times. August 23, 2010
- New merit pay bill filed in Senate. By Leslie Postal. Orlando Sentinel. January 31, 2011
- Study supports teacher ratings, By Jason Felch. Los Angeles Times. December 11, 2010
- Formula to Grade Teachers' Skill Gains Acceptance, and Critics, By Sam Dillon. The New York Times. August 31, 2010
- Do Teacher Ratings Pass the Test? To The Editor. The Los Angeles Times. January 1, 2011
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