Leave teachers alone
Leave teachers alone
I have a master’s degree in English literature/creative writing from the University of Colorado. I am an award-winning writer. I have worked as an educator in Hawaii since 1995.
Instead of my expertise being sought by the complex, district and state, I am mandated to attend and participate in endless training, evaluations and “professional development” or be deemed “insubordinate” and therefore lose my job.
Students are asked to evaluate me, as well. One question on the bubble sheet: This class is like a happy family. Students then gave this a value: strongly agree to strongly disagree.
My classes are disrupted by numerous observations (five in September alone) by administrators, district teams and other teachers at the school in their role as “coaches” or “school design team” staff.
The principal reassures teachers that the observations are not evaluatory. We are given a copy with items checked off as yes or no.
There is a one-minute spot-check to determine the percentage of students off-task. This is not evaluation. This is mandated conformity and a sanctioned inquisition of teachers.
The state needs to trust that teachers are fulfilling their job duties as professional educators. Teachers are trained at universities. Please respect their education. Working with students, teachers receive valuable experience. Please respect their years of service and compensate them for remaining until the end of the year. Please provide opportunities to teachers that are voluntary, only.
Cut out the huge waste of middle-management administrators. Please allow teachers to do their jobs. The constant training, retraining, evaluations, observations, workshops, professional development, mandated “pacing guides” and “common assessments” — with their grid sheets, charts, and analysis — defeats the purpose of educators, which is: teaching individuals and addressing their various learning styles, interests, backgrounds and skill levels.
Susan Kay Anderson
Teacher, Pahoa High and Intermediate School
Honor Royal Court
This year, I had the opportunity to attend the Merrie Monarch Festival for the first time. It was as wonderful as I had always imagined, but there is one thing that really bothered me.
Only one of the halau I saw perform took the time to show courtesy to the king and queen of the festival before performing. Since the festival is in honor of King Kalakaua and his work to restore and celebrate Hawaiian culture, it seems to me more attention should be paid to the Royal Court, which represents the king and his family at the festival.
More photos of the court should appear in the newspaper, and they should be prominently seen in the annual video of the festival.
Each halau could easily take the time to nod in courtesy to the Royal Court before performing. Without King Kalakaua, this beautiful festival would likely not exist, and expressing respect to those chosen to represent the king and his court seems only natural and right.
Laura Buck
Keaau