NY Times LTTE: 'Rate Teachers? Be Licensed'

[alp227]

To the Editor:

Re “Observers Get Key Role in Teacher Evaluations” (news article, Feb. 18):

It’s imperative that independent validators be licensed in the subject being taught to assure confidence in their ratings.

Although those without such certification can determine if students are engaged with the instruction, that is not enough.

There is also the question of the teacher’s knowledge of the subject matter. How can an observer judge a Spanish lesson, for example, without understanding the use of the subjunctive? Yet in the past, principals had the power to assess teachers even though they had no background in what was being taught. This made a mockery of the entire process.

WALT GARDNER
Los Angeles, Feb. 18, 2012

The writer’s Reality Check blog is published in Education Week.

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/opinion/rate-teachers-be-licensed.html

[msongs]

1. principals usually have a checklist of things to look for. such as....

steps of a lesson plan being implemented
check for understanding by asking kids questions
involve as many kids as possible
keep class focused and on task
proper crap on the walls
standards posted and lesson addresses the standards etc

content of the subject matter is quite useful but not always necessary

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. And a minimum 10 yrs. teaching exp. n/t

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. And: the exp. must be *RECENT*.

i.e. within the last 5 years.