from Friday

Like many of you, hearing the news from Connecticut left me feeling sickened. It drives right to all we do as educators, men and women who literally are in the legal role of a parent (in loco parentis) during the day. However we all react, I know we are united in grief hearing about this crime against humanity. Though there is much happening with the Association I will soon discuss regarding insurance, evaluations, and other concerns, at this moment it all pales compared to the travails at Sandy Hook. My thoughts are with the children, the community, and the brave colleagues who in some cases gave their lives to protect "their kids".

About artifacts

After an afternoon meeting, the WEA can report the following:

• Artifacts do not need to be electronic. There is no requirement to scan or photograph anything.
• There is no minimum number of artifacts to submit.
• The cover sheet remains a work in progress. Sheets with much of the language already completed will be available at the WEA website in the future.
• The timeline has been moved up significantly.

See our FAQs on evaluations for more detail. The WEA advises all Unit A and B members to submit artifacts for any indicator for which they have received no feedback, or negative feedback.

Dec. 13 event canceled

The December meeting with WEA members at WHS is canceled due to a conflicting meeting of the evaluation committee. Regrets and apologies to anyone who changed their schedule to be present; the meeting will be rescheduled for January.

Evaluations

Coming from eval prof. development...much presented as fully decided that is still under discussion. Electronic artifacts only and specific cover sheet NOT reached as agreed. Updates to follow. Question: would a WEA meeting on these issues be a good idea? Meetings on proposed eval system were sparsely attended...

Evaluation system ratified

The Unit A ratification system passed with over 75% of votes in favor, and votes from over half of WEA members. An evaluation section of the WEA website devoted to explaining and aiding with this new system will be in place by the end of the Veterans' Day weekend.

"Want to Ruin Teaching? Give Ratings to Teachers"

The New York Times surprisingly carried a column speaking out against the movement to judge and punish teachers that calls itself "accountability". A principal of a charter school speaks of some principles that all "education" reformers should heed. We cannot survive if we teach test-takers instead of children. One good bit:

A government-run teacher evaluation bureaucracy will make it impossible to attract great teachers and will diminish the motivation of the ones we have. It will make teaching so scripted and controlled that we won’t be able to attract smart, passionate people.

The great battle for public education today is making the profession one that attracts the best potential educators as a lifelong avocation. There exists too real a danger that attacks on public education will make it too unattractive a profession to bring in the people we all need to be preparing the next generation of Americans for the future. Thanks to the friend of Wareham education who sent me this link.

Tzom Kal

To borrow the traditional wish, G'mar Hatimah Tovah to all the Jewish members, relations, and friends of the WEA family on this Yom Kippur.