Some numbers from ABQ Journal April 14, 2013 editorial on teacher evaluation:

• Teachers rated “satisfactory”                 99%
  
• Students reading at grade level          48%
• Students proficient in math                   43%
• High School graduation                        63%
• Need remedial help for college           45%I

 While the editorial didn’t state which school year was being reported or what the sources of the numbers were, the pattern does seem to argue for a re-thought, teacher evaluation system. Perhaps the proposed one is at least a step in that direction.

In another article titled, “The Disney Way,” by Claudia Buck from the Sacramento Bee, one bullet point seems to be a supportive general reminder:

“KEEP IT HUMAN:  Customers aren’t “attendance numbers” or “per capita units.” (Doug) Lipp (former Walt Disney exec) says he makes the same point, whether he’s talking with McDonald’s franchise owners of doctors’ groups. ‘We get so focused on processing hamburgers or processing patients (or students, teachers, principals) … we forget we’re dealing with humans. They’re not just numbers on a spreadsheet.’ “

Educators unveiled new guidelines on Tuesday that call for sweeping changes in the way science is taught in the United States — including, for the first time, a recommendation that climate change be taught as early as middle school.

Read article

What we were taught, therefore, what we know, affects … what we teach.

So, might “This is just the way our world really appears to be.” want to be re-examined after 500 years?

Eye opening. Thought provoking.

http://www.upworthy.com/we-have-been-mislead-by-an-erroneous-map-of-the-world-for-500-years

Erica Goldson speaks against schooling

High School Valedictorian in 2010 presents her experience, frustration, and thinking on what her education consisted of … and resulted in.  My opinion? I think she makes some pretty valuable observations – uncomfortable and valuable.

And two years later speaking at TED BeloHorizonte, Brazil you can get a feel for what “individual possibility thinking” looks and sounds and lives like. The 2-3 minute reprise of her valedictory talk is worth wading through to hear her develop her thoughts for the balance of the talk.

Very cool – enjoy.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-02/outsiders-should-evaluate-students-and-teachers.html

This article is long-ish and a bit high-sounding. While it is thought provoking, I found the real juice to be in the comments following the article. Lots of different individuals walking around the challenge and sharing their differing and engaging views.