No child left behind - repost from teachers

This is a repost/link from the Teachers board. It is really long, but very meaningful to me as an educator.

No Child/Dentist Left Behind

Re: No child left behind - repost from teachers

So true

According to the "logic" of the "No Child Left Behind" Act, teachers in Jericho consisitently do a much better job then teachers in the South Bronx.

When my friend taught second grade in the South Bronx so many of her kids didn't have adequate clothing or food, never mind school supplies or basic skills when they came into school. She not only taught them the curriculum but got jackets and coats for them for the winter and provided breakfasts/lunches for them out of her own pocket. She worked her butt off and got test scores as high as she could given what she had.

Now that she works in Rye (very affluent area) she is considered a better teacher according to the NCLB Act because her test scores are higher. Well, her kids live in million dollar homes are sent to the best daycares and preschools money can buy... they are way ahead in skill level. Of course, clothing, food and school supplies are not an issue.

This is another reason why "merit pay" for teachers isn't fair. How do you truly measure a good teacher? Test scores aren't a fair measurement.

Thanks for posting this.

Message edited 1/31/2007 10:12:47 PM.

Re: No child left behind - repost from teachers

my aunt and I were just having this conversation at dinner.

Her sisters both teach in FL. They get merit pay based on scores. Her one sister - who teaches in an affluent area - always gets her bonus

her other sister, who teaches in a rought district, never does - yet has a much harder time, bc like what was said, the kids come to school with nothing.

basing teacher effectiveness on stats will never work - statistics can be so skewed.

Re: No child left behind - repost from teachers

this is a very sad thing that we as teachers and parents have to go through.....i have one question, for those kids that are home schooled how do they get the test? do they have to go in to a local school or are they allowed to take it at home?