Obama calls for new teachers

soundoff (6 Responses)

1. Annie Kate
   

   Obama talks a lot about moving bad teachers out of the classroom and having good teachers mentor new teachers – both good ideas. But who decides who is a good teacher and who is a bad teacher? I'd like to see that criteria.

   March 10, 2009 at 9:04 pm |
2. Tammy, Berwick, LA
   

   Here's a novel idea. Let's look at what works so well in the private education system that produces these awesome kids who know so much more and try to emulate that in the public system. Gee, could it be that money well invested, learning based on values instead of test scores, kids who want learn and respect self and others, parents who care, teachers who feel safe and respected (even if their pay is lower than that of the public school), administrators who support good instructors rather than the cookie cutter theory du jour, and school communities that are involved lead to success in education? Let's get voucher programs going and make those public schools have to fight for kids and raise standards for everyone in the learning community to that of the private system. Or we can continue to live in the fantasyland that public education is a disaster area because the teachers simply aren't doing their jobs even though Johnny refuses to learn, his parents could care less, and miracle working isn't part of the teacher prep curriculum.

   March 10, 2009 at 6:35 pm |
3. Gene Penszynski from Vermont
   

   Good President Obama ........ 🙂

   Let's just keep on truckin' 🙂

   We are on the way Mr. President. Let's keep it rollin' 🙂

   March 10, 2009 at 5:32 pm |
4. Loretta Shotwell
   

   On the face of it, rewarding good teachers seems like a good idea. The problem is that there is no good way to measure a teacher's performance. Testing teachers on their knowledge of the subject matter doesn't mean that they can pass that knowledge along to the students. Student test scores are not an accurate measure of a person's teaching ability, either, because other things like the students' IQ, health and support they get at home effect test results.. Judgements made by principals or other supervisors are often the result of "apple polishing.," while a vote by faculty members, similarly, is often the result of a popularity cnotest. Find a fair way of evaluating teachers and you will find support from teachers' organizations.

   March 10, 2009 at 3:53 pm |
5. Phil Gulizio
   

   I would like as much accountability to be placed on politicians and law makers. I would like for them to make $45K a year , work with the toughest students and then be told they should be replaced. Remember teachers only see students for 7 hours per day..where's the parental responsibility, the societal responsibility,,??? Its easy to "blame" teachers but its not as easy to look inward and to ask yourself, What am I doing to help my community?"

   March 10, 2009 at 2:39 pm |
6. Larry
   

   Why do we not have more Medical Schools?

   March 10, 2009 at 2:19 pm |