One of the points made loud and clear at the last Vigo County crackerbarrel session is that much of the legislation regarding public education has not been carefully thought through.
Here’s one example. After a second try at a crackerbarrel session for an answer to the question, what about merit pay for areas that don’t have any standardized test like music, there still wasn’t an answer. The Republican, Heaton, pretended to answer the question, and when pressed by teacher Chris Williams, a music teacher in West Terre Haute, to please answer the question, Heaton could still not give an answer.
Rep. Baird, a Republican, also could not provide an answer. The two Democrats, Sen. Skinner and Rep. Kersey, sat there silently. Why? Because they know it is not addressed in this legislation, which was precisely one of the points of the Democrat boycott. Much of the pending legislation has not been examined thoroughly, and some of the experts on education, including educators Skinner and Kersey, are continually dismissed as being “too close to the problem.”
It is disturbing to see what many consider “life-altering” legislation being whisked through the House and Senate without much thoughtfulness or consultation with the experts. The concept of merit pay for teachers is not something many educators are opposed to, but how is this going to be fairly and accurately assessed? That’s the point of disagreement.
The Indiana legislation proposing this initiative does not provide an accurate way to assess the quality of educators. I was at a meeting at which Tony Bennett suggested that teachers should be part of this process of evaluating their colleagues or an outside agency can come in. (Where’s the funding for that?) Imagine being party to the reduction in your close colleague’s pay. Using standardized tests may appear to be an unbiased way to assess teacher quality, but consider these questions: what about the test scores of the special education population being connected to teacher pay? What about teachers who teach the honors and advanced classes with the most studious students? They will surely get higher tests scores from their students.
What about all of those areas without a standardized test, such as art and music? Does a standardized test best assess learning? What about those students who I haven’t taught from day one of the course? Is there really any money for merit pay and will some teachers have reduced pay in order to provide the money for merit pay? The administrators at my school are already working long days, more than five days a week. How many extra hours will it take them for this additional evaluation process? How many hours are administrators expected to work? And what about me, a teacher who happily works many extra hours every week already? How many additional hours a week am I expected to work?
As a teacher of science, I can tell you that the problem-solving component of science education is mostly missing from any standardized test. I do many hands-on activities in my classroom, which by their very nature are loaded with many simple little problem-solving tasks, simply because students have to manipulate the lab materials. I won’t stop teaching science this way even if the standardized test is the link to my paycheck, but expect this from some other teachers who are more motivated by money, or simply need the money more because they are raising a family. If you want to take the joy out of science, take away the incentive to do the valuable hands-on activities which are not assessed very well on any test.
I do feel like I am being attacked as an educator, despite what Tony Bennett, the Indiana Superintendent of “private schools,” suggests. Teachers work hard at creating a favorable classroom climate for learning, but Bennett and Daniels have failed to create a positive environment for education in the state of Indiana.
Folks, when these pieces of legislation are passed, they become law, regardless of the missing pieces and problems with the verbiage. It is ridiculous that so many in our Statehouse have so little knowledge of what truly happens in our public schools, yet are so willing to vote for legislation they don’t fully understand and has loads of problems in it.
And, lastly, those of you who think I have this cushy job with all these luxurious conditions and benefits, why are you not rushing to join us educators? I think I know why. You may know that teaching is a profession that is all-consuming, requiring a huge dose of patience and compassion every day, is truly a challenge that is not for everybody, and to be really good at it takes a trunk load of skills that many people simply don’t possess. And, if you do have these skills, you can probably make a lot more money doing something else.
— Denise Marie Sobieski
Biology Teacher at Terre Haute North Vigo High School
Brazil
Flashpoint
FLASHPOINT: Inadequate thought has gone into state’s educational reform effort
- Flashpoint
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FLASHPOINT: A legislative session of missed opportunities
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FLASHPOINT: Again in 2013 General Assembly, middle class generally ignored
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FLASHPOINT: Indiana lawmakers reinforced school safety mechanisms
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FLASHPOINT: Lessons from the legacy media — get it right, first
Enough mistakes and maybe we’ll learn: When in doubt, leave it out.
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FLASHPOINT: Hoosiers got steady hand in recent session
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FLASHPOINT: Time has arrived for overhaul of TV news
Former FCC Chairman Alfred Sikes gave an address in 1992 in which he claimed television news was too superficial and too focused on visuals.
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FLASHPOINT: Fiscal cliff, Obamacare have already raised taxes enough
Our history is rich with stories of people who have immigrated to the United States for a chance at the American Dream. The American Dream, in its truest form, is the opportunity to achieve success by working hard and playing by the rules; to make it on your own and to say, “I earned this.”
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FLASHPOINT: Expanding Medicaid coverage makes sense for Indiana
Since last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act effectively gave states the option to expand Medicaid, policymakers across the country have debated if and how to extend health programs to millions of uninsured Americans.
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FLASHPOINT: Improve public education, stop experimenting with it
In January, the four of us who serve as the Democrats on the House Education Committee outlined our hopes for the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly, particularly in joining with Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz to offer common sense solutions to improve the quality of education for our children. With the halfway point of this session past us, we remain optimistic that positive steps can be taken … but that optimism is tempered by the reality that education policies are being directed by a legislative majority that has a radically different agenda.
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Healthcare law anniversary no reason for celebration
March 23 marked three years since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law, yet this is not an anniversary that deserves celebration.
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FLASHPOINT: Defending state’s authority is attorney general’s obligation
The law of the land recognizes the authority of states to license marriage.
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FLASHPOINT: Stability key for state’s future
Hoosiers have the unique luxury of being the fiscal envy of the nation due to the sound fiscal policies of the last eight years.
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FLASHPOINT: House budget offers Medicaid solution for Indiana
This week, my U.S. House Budget Committee colleagues and I introduced a federal budget resolution for fiscal year 2014. Our budget is a responsible plan that stops spending money and balances in 10 years — largely through making key reforms to drivers of our debt like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
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FLASHPOINT: Problem gambling in Indiana: A new understanding of community concern
The week of March 3 was designated as National Problem Gambling Awareness Week.
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FLASHPOINT: Eastern time in Indiana defies common sense
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Praying for civil resolution to debate over gun control
Guns are lively ammunition for passionate debate these days.
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FLASHPOINT: It’s not too late to expand health services
This week, state leaders euthanized the biggest, boldest Hoosier jobs proposal of the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly.
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FLASHPOINT: You can’t go back again — and that’s OK
Our progressive colleagues have been telling us for years that the 1950s were a horrid time.
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FLASHPOINT: The fierce urgency of now — nation needs to protect youth
The alcohol-fueled alleged serial rape of a 16-year-old Ohio girl by two of her similarly impaired classmates — not to mention the drunken videotaped commentary of others — points yet again to the imperative that adult America renews its commitment to address as a true national community those issues that most threaten the health, safety and forward development of youth.
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FLASHPOINT: A pastor speaks out against Sullivan’s ‘traditional prom’
I am a pastor in Sullivan, Ind., and I am outraged.
Recently, two young students applied to walk the Grand March together in the school prom in Sullivan. -
FLASHPOINT: 0wning firearms is a First Amendment exercise, too
Following the hysteria generated by gun prohibitionists in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, a nationwide rush on gun stores began as citizens bought semiautomatic modern sporting rifles, handguns and ammunition, in effect “making a political statement” about proposals to ban such firearms.
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FLASHPOINT: Maintaining the priority
Recently a newspaper article has been written about a change in the by-laws of the Indiana High School Athletic Association which speaks directly to attempted undue influence exerted upon students below the level of grade nine and their parents.
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FLASHPOINT: The fairness of marriage
What is the current Indiana law concerning marriage? Our state defines marriage in a singular way — between a man and a woman.
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FLASHPOINT: We ask state legislators to abide by their oath of office
All of us relish giving unsolicited advice to our elected representatives.
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FLASHPOINT: Mentoring is having major impact on public education
While managing local utility services, Mike Martin found a new way to energize his community, and students are starting to benefit.
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FLASHPOINT: Common Core standards should be common sense
Years ago, when state officials and education experts came together to create new model standards for schools, they probably never expected it to be controversial.
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FLASHPOINT: Milestone year for Rose-Hulman
The Rose-Hulman campus traditionally quiets down this time of year, yet for me I sense a renewed energy from the phenomenal year just closing.
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FLASHPOINT: ISU’s reasoning flawed in flight school planning
ISU and the taxpayers of Indiana and Vigo County are being led down a path of deception once again.
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FLASHPOINT: Incessant attacks on Christianity by the ACLU
It is obviously apparent that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is continuing its onslaught against religious freedom in the United States.
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FLASHPOINT: Americans deserve more value for their tax dollars
While traveling the 8th District and listening to fellow Hoosiers during my first term in Congress, I have reached the conclusion that many constituents do not believe they are getting value for the tax dollars that come out of their paychecks and are sent to Washington, D.C.
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