Not Simply a Math or English Score

Several states have reported a large drop in enrollment to the schools of education in their state universities and a drop in individuals applying for a teaching license. In one state they invited veteran teachers to share their thoughts on why. The first few comments reflected on how hard teaching is today. I agree. Teaching is much more difficult today than it was just ten years ago. A teacher can no longer show up right before school starts and beat the students out of the building (if they ever could and be good). Teachers have greater demands and greater accountability than ever before. The consequences for not meeting those demands are the severest they have ever been. 

Teaching isn’t for everyone. I cannot tell you how impressed I am with teachers today. Teachers put in long hours. They show up early and stay late. When they get home, they spend time answering emails, grading papers, and writing lesson plans. Teachers create their personal learning networks on their own time. Then they take the public ridicule for not doing their job or failing our students and only working 180 days. Teaching is hard work!

I hate that a state or federal standardized test is the only means in which a school and teacher is being labeled a success. These tests don’t measure the full impact teachers have on students. They can’t measure the interest teachers peak in a student toward a subject or career. They can’t measure the incredible impact a smile or kind words from a teacher to a struggling student will have. They can’t measure the confidence teachers build in a student through believing in them and never giving up on them. They can’t measure the creativity teachers foster through a project, activity, question, or pat on the back. Some of the biggest things teachers do for our students cannot be measured.

Leaders need to be careful that the complete value of a teacher is not solely based on the results of a standardized test. Leaders need to make sure they are encouraging teachers and recognizing the value they add to students’ lives. Leaders need to make sure that they let teachers know they appreciate their hard work. Leaders have to be the cheerleader for teachers.

Yes, teachers work hard to make sure all their students can pass tests and score well on the standardized assessment, but teachers do more than that. Teachers work hard to change a student’s life.

Thank you.