Welcome back to another year of doing the only work that is focused entirely on insuring a positive future for our nation by preparing the future scientists, doctors, political leaders, and, of course, teachers.
Teaching guarantees that the lessons of our past are transferred to the next generation so that, hopefully, we will not continue to repeat the same mistakes over and over.
Teaching prepares the minds of our youth to face the challenges of adulthood. It holds promise for inquisitive minds to find the cure for cancer and other diseases. It yields the artists and musicians of the future.
In short, teachers and the students they inspire are the future. Unfortunately, in many cases, this is a fact unrecognized by others.
To many who judge teachers, including some administrators, the criteria is less Socratic and more a disparate set of values that apparently varies from evaluator to evaluator.
In Massapequa, this has resulted in a broad spectrum of interpretations of the new Evaluation form.
Over the summer, the MFT has examined the impact of the new form. What we have discovered is that the interpretation of the criteria for "grading" teachers varies from one school or one department to another.
While we intend to continue to monitor the evaluations and address our findings with Central Administration, the best advice we can offer at this time is to recognize that you have not changed, the grading system has changed. If you know you are doing the same excellent job that you have always done, try to accept that a “B” is the new “A” and don’t be discouraged.
Have a great year and don’t’ be distracted from what you do best: teaching.
In Unity,
Richard Goldman
President
Massapequa Federation of Teachers
(A Union of Teachers and Secretaries)
