Releasing teachers’ rating is just plain wrong

To the layman, the publication of teacher ratings would seem to make sense. Don’t parents have the right to know the effectiveness of their children’s teachers? This sentiment is frequently expressed by well-meaning people. However, this thinking is extremely flawed, and I am troubled by this “rush to judgment.” 

In my daily reports on WCBS, I pre-empted two broadcasts to express my anger. Even if these ratings were 100 percent accurate — which they’re not ––  releasing them would be wrong. Even if they were current, it would be wrong. Even if the ratings always matched the teachers with the students they taught, it would be wrong.  

What is accomplished by demoralizing many hard-working educators, many of whom are working under adverse conditions?

In my radio report, I referred to a letter in The New York Times in which the writer likened the publication of these ratings to the novel, “The Scarlet Letter.” Why don’t we just hang a letter around each teacher’s neck with his or her ratings?

In past columns, I’ve enumerated many flaws in this evaluation process. I’d like to zero in on one:  classes are not interchangeable parts.

If we were at a factory producing widgets, we could count-‘em-up and accurately compare two workers. If John produced 10 widgets per hour while Mary produced only six, we could fairly conclude that John was more productive. That’s the business model. However, it doesn’t apply to education— which is a process.

Suppose we’re talking about five third-grade classes… or five middle school classes…. or five high school English classes. The age or grade doesn’t matter. What matters are the dangerous and unfair comparisons that will ultimately be made.

Miss Apple is fortunate: With homogeneous grouping or an honors class, she may have a  preponderance of gifted students. In high school, even in a regular Regents class, she could have an unseen advantage. There may be no specialized electives on the period she teaches, and thanks to the master schedule itself, more superior students end up in her section.