RE: Questions for the day

Accountability.  I hope that this is not verbiage for testing results.  I think we need to find various ways to measure students, teachers, administrators etc.  There are many fine teachers with their hands tied by administrators or curriculum that doesn't work.  There are also many dead weight teachers who think they have ‘paid their dues' and should have been offered early retirement, extended vacations, retraining if not fired all together but the system has kept them.  How will we measure their enthusiasm for teaching, etc.?  Accountability implies something is going to happen if they don't meet the goal, I'm wondering what that looks like.  And if they do meet the goal, when do we say a job well done?

I also hope that the Master Plan leaves room for teachers to teach with flexibility to find the uniqueness of the students and encourage them in a positive way.  I don't think it can be cut and dry, however there can be milestones and goals that are statewide.  This would help those who may transfer from one part of the state to another such as military kids and others who seek work elsewhere.  

The plan briefly touched on alternative learning however, I believe there should be options for those who either don't fit the mold, or for parents who want to direct their child's education in order to achieve the excellence we are all hoping for.  Their also may be other reasons such as health etc, that may preclude such a course structure so I also think some would need to have other options available to them.

I think we should also make certain this is not purporting that teachers be surrogate parents.  I think we should encourage, offer assistance but not replace the parent's position to parent.  Accountability should not be measured on the fact a child did homework or took a test.  This only proves that they didn't have much one on one with their parents during the evening because it was in a book. Or that the child was prepped or is very test wise,etc., I don't think it measures how much they know and retain.  We need to teach kids to think, not take tests.  Accountability for this should be measured in a multiple of ways, not just by a test.