Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Education
In reply to the discussion: Why Not Teacher Evaluations by Students? [View all]chillfactor
(7,694 posts)35. I was not involved in K-12 education....
but I was a university professor for 25 years.....I had my students do evaluations of my teaching three times in the course of a quarter.....it helped me to improve my teaching concepts..I understood what students were understanding and where I could improve my teaching lesson plans
adults are able to give valuable feedback...but I am not sure that K-12 students are capable of doing the same thing...too many factors would influence their reactions to their teacher especially students who are struggling....
I had time in my schedule to tutor students 1:1 if they were having difficulties with a given concept but K-12 teachers operate under severe time restraints and do not have the same flexibility with time that I had...
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
82 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Students traditionally are powerless. Letting them evaluate teachers would go against tradition.
NYC_SKP
May 2013
#4
I don't know. I think that teacher evaluations by a bunch of hormone poisoned kids...
Buzz Clik
May 2013
#5
What the poster described is not pseudo-science. And to liken it to phrenology is quite bizarre.
Squinch
May 2013
#67
Yes, I do think most teachers of adolescents ask them on some basis to say what was good and what
mbperrin
May 2013
#77
Your wording is very careful. In what capacity did you spend most of your life in schools?
Squinch
May 2013
#31
And if the children's opinions of their teachers becomes part of the evaluation, how are you going
Squinch
May 2013
#65
Here's one. I teach seniors. Young lady spills a drink in class, so I hand her some paper towels we
mbperrin
May 2013
#78
If your attitude is shared by other adults in these kids' lives, then they don't have much chance.
NYC_SKP
May 2013
#9
And you'd be willing to let them have decision making power over your employment?
Buzz Clik
May 2013
#11
I would not give them sole power, any more than I'd use just one form of assessment for them.
NYC_SKP
May 2013
#12
I do find the fact that Hentoff joined the Cato Institute one of life's great mysteries
Addison
May 2013
#6
There are teachers who should be banned from the classroom until the end of time.
Buzz Clik
May 2013
#8
We have a pretty good idea what kids in grade school need to know. Even Bill Gates.
Squinch
May 2013
#19
What you are suggesting has nothing to do with giving children credit for their intelligence.
Squinch
May 2013
#33
Ask a first grader "how many times they are called on to interact with the content," and his answer
Squinch
May 2013
#66