Teacher ability: Standardized tests fail in telling whole story
Education is a hot topic in the United States today, spurred by our children’s standardized test scores, which continue to fall farther and farther behind those of other countries.
So it certainly deserves a place in any political discussion.
How do we fix the shortcomings of our educational system? In last week’s State of the Union Address, President Obama listed some seemingly sensible targets, including a push to hire better teachers.
It’s been proven that a good teacher can increase lifetime income of a classroom by $250,000, according to the president.That’s great, but what exactly are the characteristics that typify a “good teacher”?
Some say we need to look at the end result of their work product.
In a teacher’s case that means the amount of knowledge they were able to impart on students, as measured by standardized test scores.
Our state’s public education system, along with many others, is heading in this direction:
Judging careers based on standardized test results, with minimal, if any, tenured job security.
These test scores do account for the material that the teacher is required to cover, however it’s possible that they discount one important variable: The students themselves, specifically the role they play in their own education.
It is the student’s attitude that ultimately decides the fate of the teacher, and I know firsthand that even excellent teachers are sometimes unable to sufficiently motivate a student’s learning.
Is this the teacher’s fault?
Should an enthusiastic, intelligent teacher take a cut in pay or even get laid off just because of the nature of children and teenagers? Not necessarily.
On the other hand, is a teacher “good” just because all of his or her students like him?
Honestly, it is hard to find a foolproof system for testing teacher ability. There will always be flaws, and there will always be those that are dissatisfied with the quality of our educational system, whether they be teachers, students, or taxpayers.
So in reality, it may be near impossible to upgrade the quality of America’s teachers, at least in a way that’s quick and genuine.
Still, if our schools are not performing up to par, we need a solution. And if we can’t change the students themselves, we must change the way we teach those students.
And the root of how we teach students, no matter the curriculum, is the instructor. They are the root of education, that is certain.
Though the problem is more complex than it appears at first glance, we do need to establish a sensible grading system for teachers.
If we were to apply our varied perspectives, I imagine we’d see a result that benefits us many times over.
You can follow Colin Criss on Twitter @ADKCurrent
