Local schools clear in CRCT scandal

I would love to respond to this comment! When you work in a business, you can add things, take things away, manipulate variables, etc...to make the business better. Are you familiar with such school systems where most children are abused? Don't have running water? No Windows? No electricity? Have family members make them run drugs for money? Don't eat three meals a day? Stay up until all hours of the night because there is no parental supervision at home? No, probably not! SO explain in your educated way how a teacher is supposed to be held to the same expectations when our "variables" (student emotions and home lives)are so different. I know in the small "perfect world" of Jackson county that may not be your reality, but in many districts it really is happening. Open your eyes to the whole situation before speaking. Schools are not running a business or making a product....they are very different from the way a business world operates.

So... human brains are now a "product?" If you make ice cream that tastes like crap you can add to it or take something away to make it better, teachers don't have that luxury with human brains. One's IQ is what it is. I don't disagree that there are some bad teachers and/or administrators, but there are far more good ones than there are bad. And to say they are teaching for a "paycheck" come on, have you seen the average teacher's salary?? Do you know the hours most of them keep? Not quite a 9-5 job!

Believe it or not, teachers and schools are held more accountable than they have ever been. I can't speak for Jackson/Jefferson/Commerce, but, I know other districts are working hard to only hire highly effective teachers. I also agree that administrators could do without some of the luxuries they have...like the blackberries, cars, gas, etc...but- simply basing a teacher or school system's salary/funding on one test score given in April is not the way to go either. There should be accountability, because as a parent, I want to know my child is receiving the best education she can. I don't think it is fair to the students, good teachers and good administrators to base this solely on the CRCT. As I said, many schools are implementing better ways to prove teacher accountability. Students are doing far more skills at a much younger age now. With unemployment at an all time high the stress from home is carrying over into these children's lives. It is hard to explain to anyone who has not ever been in education how much teachers have to do. And those "Great Benefits" I wish I knew exactly what you were referring to. Part of What is wrong with education today is there are too many politicians and govt' officials who have never interacted with children at all making all of the decisions. Go shadow a teacher for a full day for a week and then discuss the pay and benefits. I bet you wouldn't want the job.