Dallas ISD New Teacher Evaluation - Survey Part - A Thought

Submitted to Dallas Morning News for Letter to the Editor consideration:

"Let me see if I have this correct.  Teachers in Dallas ISD will now be graded by evaluations, test scores, and student surveys?  Surveys, really?  If you have had the opportunity to parent teenagers, how do you think you would be rated by your kids as a parent?  If you scored better than 50 %, then you are probably not doing your job correctly.  But we want to put the careers and pay grades of teachers in the hands of adolescents through these surveys?  Be afraid, high school teachers, be very afraid.  Maybe the surveys can be used collectively to measure how different methods work but to base important decisions concerning careers on these surveys is just wrong.  And speaking of surveys, how would the superintendent, Mr. Miles, an Army veteran, like to have his troops rate his leadership of their unit?  Officers, like teachers, must sometimes make tough decisions concerning their charges.  And not all of those decisions will be applauded by the governed."

I believe that Dallas ISD is trying to do some kind of clean-out of teachers in the district.  Not only are they doing this Home Rule push but they are disrupting the normal business of teaching in a very radical way.

UIL Eligibility in Texas - Where's the Justice?

UIL Eligibility in Texas – Where is the Justice?

Situation

Family in Denton moved from attendance zone of one high school to another in same district; main reason – older daughter was being bullied and nothing was being done about it in school #1; younger daughter was softball player and was denied the chance to play for school #2 - coach at school #1 did not ‘clear her release’; appeal to UIL State Executive Committee was denied.  (Denton Record-Chronicle, March 20, 2014)

Analysis

It appears that the coach, along with administrators, at school #1 are being vindictive and refusing to allow a good player to transfer to another district school to play softball even though the main reason for the family move was related to the older daughter.  The “system”, meaning the UIL and its ruling bodies along with the school district, permitted a major denial of justice in this case.  Why was the coach allowed to deny the student’s release?  Administrators have the duty to look after the welfare of all their students and not the won-loss record of their coaches.  The fact that the older daughter was bullied with no protection provided by the school is also a major indicator that problems exist at Denton High School.  Where are the district personnel in this whole mess?  Where is the superintendent and his staff?

My Experience

Let me say up front, I know nobody involved in this case, only what I read in the local paper.  But I have seen the system worked for the benefit of those in the system.

I was a teacher at a high school that was labeled, “Unacceptable”, in school rankings.  Under Texas law, students are allowed to move to other schools within the district.  All of a sudden, our best athletes were being recruited to change schools “for academic reasons."  I am sure that the coaches had the best interests of the players and their families at heart.  (wink,wink)  Well, at least their own won-loss records.  We take our sports seriously down here in Texas.  Win and coaches get promoted, better positions, and pay raises.  Lose and you are out, back to teaching remedial math.  School leaders feel that if students can benefit, then great.  But if they get hammered by the system, then that is just a casualty of the sports war.  That’s the way the real world works and students are learning that injustice is alive and well at all levels.

Recommendation

I have not heard an update to this story.  If the parents had the desire and resources, meaning money, they could pursue this in court.  They may see some justice for their daughters.  I believe they did the right thing by moving to protect their older daughter.  They did not intend to hurt their younger daughter and probably assumed that the system would protect her as well.  This is what happens when adults pursue their agendas to the exclusion of common sense and compassion for the students under their care.