New School Year

Alas, the new school year is upon me - goodness summer was short. No shorter than any other, summer always feels short. I think the older I get the shorter summer is. Days, school days - they are longer. It it OK though - I am tough and I can take it. Teachers here in LA are taking a beating. The media is claiming the failure of California's economy is somehow the fault of teachers. I am not a great economist but that does not make sense. The LA Times rated teachers based on student test scores. Test scores are not a an accurate measurement of teacher effectiveness. I don't reckon there can be a truly objective measure of teacher effectiveness. That is true of any profession which involves the relationship between people as opposed to a monetary increase or decrease - relationships are not quantifiable on the basis of plus or minus so many points on a test score. A car salesman knows he has had a good month when he sells ten cars. A stock broker makes 50,000 that is probably a good day. What of the fireman? How do we measure his worth - or the policeman? You can't. You can't say a policeman is most effective because he arrests 10 people. There may be just one person that policeman doesn't arrest which makes all the difference; either good or bad. A patient may find the kindest nurse only to learn her supervisors do not appreciate her at all. People are not business, though I understand, people are business. I am not opposed to an objective measurement of student improvement, coupled with observation and evaluation - based on objective standards - because the truth is; not everyone likes everyone - if your principal does not like you - regardless of your teaching ability, well your screwed - conversely, a principal can cover up for an inept teacher - and the union; well it serves a valuable purpose and it is a hindrance. What is the answer? There are many options which would work, if the powers that be would get out of the way and let the people in the trenches do their work. Trust is a word I've heard thrown about a lot - what does trust have to do with anything? Is the district hiding assets? No, they are wasting assets! Is the union protecting inept teachers? Yes, they are. Are there any absolutes? No. Isn't this the truth in everything. Jerry Garcia and The Dead had it correct - there are many shades of gray! What is difficult for me is the finger pointing and negative campaigning. This does not help anyone. It will not make any situation better. There is no point in talking about what is wrong - we know what is wrong - How are we going to fix it? It is a WE situation - WE are all responsible for one another and WE must work together if true reform will ever take place. Reform needs to take place, but WE have to be the change we wish to see - the editor of the Times has not spent much time teaching so his skewed perspective is of little importance. Talk to teachers, administrators, office staff, cafeteria staff, yard supervisors, maintenance staff - I'll betcha' the majority will agree that reform is necessary. Most will tell you we have to do more. The honest among us will admit the need for accountability and we will admit the union does protect people who should not be teachers. Oh sure, money is going to be the "buzz" word. We need more money to do anything. Probably we need to reallocate funds so they are utilized effectively. There is a lot of waste around the district - I see it at my school. Multiply that by all the schools in the district - it is a lot of waste - WE need to find solutions. Enough blaming. Crime is up because the economy is down - not because the police no longer are trying to do their jobs. People are short tempered everywhere. There is a lot of pressure on a lot of us, personally, financially, professionally - WE can only get through this time in US History if we come together, if we work together - Today, the day after 9/11 - well today is a good day for the powers that be to step off their high horses and remember who ran into those buildings, who fought those fires, who held hands, who healed - Our country is in crisis. What are WE going to do about it?