« Cool People You Should Know: Kathryn Boudett | Main | No Child Left Behind Not the Silent Killer, But... »
They Never Say "Thanks for Improving My Test Scores!"
New York City posted the nomination narratives from its "Thank a Teacher" awards program. Here's the first one, about a physics teacher named Sidney Harris:
Mr. Harris’s expertise was in physics but what he taught me went far beyond science. He pushed me. He shaped the way I thought about my future. And he set expectations for me that were, before then, unimaginable.
What was his value-added on this kid's Physics Regents? We'll never know, but Mr. Harris' former student Joel Klein says: "I really believe I am chancellor today in no small measure because of Sidney Harris." Read a handful of these narratives and then ask yourself if we should evaluate teachers primarily based on their students' test scores.
Mr. Harris’s expertise was in physics but what he taught me went far beyond science. He pushed me. He shaped the way I thought about my future. And he set expectations for me that were, before then, unimaginable.
What was his value-added on this kid's Physics Regents? We'll never know, but Mr. Harris' former student Joel Klein says: "I really believe I am chancellor today in no small measure because of Sidney Harris." Read a handful of these narratives and then ask yourself if we should evaluate teachers primarily based on their students' test scores.
We encourage lively debate, but please be respectful of others. Profanity and personal attacks are prohibited. By commenting, you are agreeing to abide by our user agreement.
All comments are public.