B.C. teacher faces disciplinary action after scrapping DART

[Anonymous Posts]

Teachers are employees of the tax payer, I don't care if they have 20 years of education behind them. They work for me( the province) so they should do as I (the province) tells them to do. If a teacher doesn't like it they can work somewhere else. It is a free world and a free employment market..

[trinkypoo]

Wow. A little bitter, aren't we?

Guess I'll take my reasoned argument somewhere else.

[Anonymous Posts]

I don't think everyone needs to agree that these tests are valid or not, that is going to depend on several factors and what your position is. Not all teachers will agree they are valid or not, or what their ultimate purpose is. At least, that has been my experience.

Teachers are trained professionals, but how would that make them capable of being fully aware of the Education portfolio and what their employers deem necessary.

[KPL]

Just thought I'd drop in to let you know that trinkypoo and his/her "reasoned argument" next showed up on http://www.theschoolsweneed.com. Here's the link to the exact thread:
http://www.theschoolsweneed.com/forums/ ... 58/fpart/1 (shows up near bottom of first page).

Same position argued, equally impervious to contrary views, and I must add that the contrary view was very well expressed here - nice work.

Karin

[Anonymous Posts]

Oh thank you for that. Linear thought and a closed argument...dead end for trinkypoo.

[Anonymous Posts]

PP, I'm having trouble swallowing your comments. In the link provided I thought trinkypoo was well spoken and the others not so much. He/she expressed exactly my thoughts on these "teach to the test" time consumers. These posters are missing the point still if they believe the issue is teachers not wanting to be tested. When considering kids reading scores one only has to look at the failings of Bill 33, class size and composition and the lacking resources. I don't understand why people don't see this as a connection but continue to blame teachers and accusing them of not wanting to be tested themselves. How many of us learn in an overcrowded, under resourced environment.

[martini]

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Rulin ... story.html

[Shannon H.]

As a parent I don't see anyone who has complained about the test suggesting another way for the employer and the parents to gauge how the teacher is doing as a whole with their class. So maybe if they came up with another solution that would work for everyone, instead of just refusing to do the one that is currently in use, this wouldn't need to be such a big fight.

Also, if an employee doesn't want to do an evaluation at my work, they get disciplined or fired. Why shouldn't a teacher have to deal with the same standards as other unionized positions? I do not agree that individual teachers should be able to refuse to do any test or process instituted by the Ministry of Education. If the union as a whole takes a stance, or if a majority of the parents take a stance, that is completely different. Maybe it is something that can be discussed in the next contract negotiation? Or maybe look to doing public information forums?

[Dead tired Dad]

Shannon, teachers have collectively complained about the legitimacy of these tests for years. There are other mechanisms for evaluating teachers already in place. This isn't a good mechanism for evaluating teachers nor is it for students. There are several issues with this test - the way it's marked, the way it's administered, the way it's written and the way it's misused. There have been many forums, informational opportunities and campaigns in the past.

[Shannon H.]

Did it come up as something for discussion in the contract negotiations? Because wouldn't that be the place to discuss changes to province wide policies?

[L2K]

As a parent I don't see anyone who has complained about the test suggesting another way for the employer and the parents to gauge how the teacher is doing as a whole with their class. So maybe if they came up with another solution that would work for everyone, instead of just refusing to do the one that is currently in use, this wouldn't need to be such a big fight.

Also, if an employee doesn't want to do an evaluation at my work, they get disciplined or fired. Why shouldn't a teacher have to deal with the same standards as other unionized positions? I do not agree that individual teachers should be able to refuse to do any test or process instituted by the Ministry of Education. If the union as a whole takes a stance, or if a majority of the parents take a stance, that is completely different. Maybe it is something that can be discussed in the next contract negotiation? Or maybe look to doing public information forums?

This original post is from 2007 from the days when KIV had Anon posts (Green avatar)

Standardized tests are nothing to do with the teacher or how she is doing teaching the class. Tests are accumulative and studies show that standardized tests actually display how supportive a family environment is to the child and has far less to do with what is being taught.

Just because a teacher teaches something doesn't mean that kids choose to learn it or that it is reinforced at home long enough to sink into long term memory.

I wonder how many adults out there who graduated high school even 5 years ago could multiply imaginary numbers or accurately complete a calculus equation? All part of high school curriculum and the reality is that even those who aced it don't retain it long enough to be tested on it a few years later.

I have a degree in Math and still had to do a ton of refreshers in order to remember enough of the Grade 11 Math curriculum to tutor.

Personally I think Standardized tests are a waste of time. If they actually showed something or proved something more than the socioeconomic climate that the school resides then I would support them. The reality is that they don't and the ONLY purpose that they serve is negative and critical which to me is aweful.