The GOP Has An Axe To Grind - And Teachers Have Their Heads On The Chopping Block, Literally

When I was a senior in high school I first took my ACT early in the morning on the same day our baseball team was to play in our regional playoff game. I was the starting catcher and slept terribly the night before, as did our starting pitcher. The ACT was a blur. A few weeks later when we got our results back I was disappointed in my score and our pitcher wasn't even eligible for entrance into most colleges. We took our ACTs again and I scored three points higher than my first attempt, allowing me to get into UWM and our pitcher - well, he went on to not only get into college, but he also played in the Division III College World Series and was drafted by the Colorado Rockies.

Did we study harder the second time around? No. Did we cram for the ACT with the help of our most-trusted teachers? No. The difference - circumstances. I had more sleep, less pressure and nothing going on later that day. I also learned that each "standardized test" score is merely a snap shot in the entire history of one's educational career.

Why did I share my ACT anecdote with you?

Because the latest education measure that advanced in the Wisconsin State Senate last Thursday allows school administrators to use standardized tests as criteria to fire or suspend a teacher. It passed the Republican-controlled Senate along party lines, 17-16. Not a single Republican voted against the measure.

Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association President Bob Peterson called the legislation "shortsighted."

"There's no research that demonstrates that linking student test scores to teacher dismissal and discipline improves teaching and learning. In fact, it has been shown in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. - where these kinds of actions are taken - it narrows and dumbs down the curriculum, and encourages deceit and cheating," Peterson said. http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/proposed-change-would-limit-abortion-coverage-under-health-law-132242978.html

As a parent of two children and a former student myself, I can honestly tell you that I do not want "standardized test" scores telling the entire academic story of my children. My daughter is very bright, but she has a performance anxiety issue and often does poorly on tests, but does know the material. Her teachers understand this. I would not want her teachers fired because my child is a bad standardized test-taker. In fact, my child is not "Standard" - is yours?

Let's take a look at the slurry of other reasons that could cause children to have poor test scores:

• Family trouble (divorce, arguments, alcohol abuse)
• Athletic conflicts (my anecdote)
• A bad night's sleep
• The time of day the test is administered
• Poor health (the kid was sick or on medication)

Then there is the deviant child - the one who doesn't care about their test scores for maybe all of the reasons above or the mere fact that nobody at home cares about the child's academic performance.

And what about parental involvement? We are lucky here in Greendale. My wife and I sit down with our kids as they do their homework and see that what is taught in school is enforced at home, as do most parents in our village. But Greendale is an exception. We are not a poverty-laden city where children have to worry first and foremost about meeting their basic needs like food and shelter while totally neglecting their homework. True poverty can take "standardized test" scores to the lowest levels imaginable.

All it will take now to fire a dedicated, experienced teacher is a parent or a student with a vendetta and a school board member that is non-sympathetic to the teaching profession (hello, Jim Schutte).

Imagine a teacher who is in her 9th year in the profession, has a Master's Degree in Education and has a salary of $55,000 and is insuring her husband and two children. She is teaching in a poor district in which most of the children suffer from a socioeconomic condition known as being "poor". As parents lost their jobs and conditions in the home destabilized, children and parents lost interest in their academics this year. End-Of-Grade test scores went down 6% for this particular teacher, mostly to no fault of her own.

Now the school board can either keep her on at $55,000 salary, plus the cost of insuring her entire family, or they can hire a teacher fresh out of college for 60% of the salary who does not have a family of four to insure, saving the district even more money. While some districts would make the correct choice to keep the experienced teachers, some will choose the money-saving route in the midst of a budget crisis.

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Let's also consider the fact that now teachers will be forced to teach towards the tests - if they want to keep their jobs, that is. I don't think anyone believes in that flawed philosophy - educators or parents.

What teacher will want to teach in a socioeconomically-challenged school district? What teacher will want to teach in a school where the parental involvement in their child's education is rare? There will be in-fighting to get transfers to the "better" schools where parents give a damn and test scores are not as likely to drop because of conditions at home. And now that it has become easier to sue public employees for harassment, what teacher will want to continually call home to speak to a parent about their child's behavior or comprehension?

And lastly, imagine this "Results Only" approach to other professions like firefighting and law enforcement. If 8 percent more fires break out this month compared to last, should the fireman be fired? If 9 percent more crimes are committed in my neighborhood should the beat cop be let go? If a criminal gets out of jail after serving his sentence and commits another crime, should the judge or the warden be fired? Of course not, because intelligent people that don't hold a grudge against unions or public employees understand that there are extenuating circumstances that are out of control of the teacher, cop or fireman.

But then again, this bill is all about holding a grudge and handing out punishment, isn't it? The Wisconsin GOP thinks it is unfair to recall a sitting politician based upon a vote they toke, but it is perfectly fine to fire a teacher based upon a student's test score. The hypocrisy is screaming loud.

• ACT scores went up 10% in Wisconsin this year. Does that mean that teachers should get a 10% pay raise instead of a 10% pay cut?
• Congress’ approval rating has once again sunk to its nadir, a mere 12%, a New York Times/CBS News poll finds. While just 28% of voters approve of the work of congressional Democrats, only 19% approve of the job congressional Republicans are doing, the Times reports.
• A 2011 Phi Delta Kappa survey found that 70% of Americans have "trust and confidence" in the the men and women who are teaching our children. Sixty-nine percent gave teachers in their community a letter grade of A or B.
• The US Senate failed 50-50 last Thursday to get 60 votes to provide $35 billion to avert state and local layoffs of teachers, police and firefighters by injecting a 0.05% surtax on incomes over $1 million.
• Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson voted against the surtax on millionaires. His latest approval ratings were at 36%.