EXPERIENCED NEED NOT APPLY – ONLY THOSE WITH NO CLUE ARE WELCOME

                Prior to resuming, I need to emphasize my support of Governor Sandoval; I voted for him and would vote for him yet again; excluding, of course, another Conservative candidate leaped forward that was eager to pay heed to a teacher like myself.

            It has at this moment developed into law; knowledgeable teachers are no longer embraced or appreciated in the Clark County School District.  Governor Sandoval authorized AB 229 into law to “provide that layoffs of educators must not be based solely on seniority.”  At present it does not appear that experience teachers necessitate concern, however when the Governor autographed the bill he had this to declare, “Today, we have replaced traditional tenure with an evaluation system that allows for the removal of ineffective teachers from the classroom and dramatically alters the practice of using seniority as the only factor in school district lay-offs.”

                I have been inquiring in excess of a year for someone to define an “ineffective teacher.”   I, even now, have not acquired a legitimate answer.  Even in the debate, the assembly acknowledged they have no established answer.  Pass the bill and “then we can work out the evaluation process.”  Those were the Governor’s senior policy adviser, Dale Erquiaga words, not mine.

                Bear in mind money may be the impetus on behalf of this law; understand that in place of one experienced teacher the school district will receive a return of two pristine teachers that have never instructed in a classroom before.  The Governor said, “I am convinced these reforms are going to make a big difference in our kids’ lives.”  Yes, it will create a big alteration; students will get away with more and ascertain less and there will be added riches in the budget.

             In addition AB229 establishes a pay-for-performance agenda so educators are rewarded for positive outcomes.  “Performance and effectiveness must now be included in teacher evaluations, as will student achievement data,” is what the Governor expressed.  I anticipate the conclusion of the first semester of the 2011 -2012 school year; Ninety percent of all students’ grades will raise no less than one mark.  At least if teachers aspire to continue to educate or receive a salary increase. 

             AB225 purportedly alters post-probationary status for educators by demanding they be placed back on probationary status if they receive negative evaluations for two concurrent years.   I am not certain of what this law transforms.  Currently, if you have two concurrent bad evaluations, the third consecutive one is an inevitable termination. 

              The thrust of what I am striving to disclose is – since when did experience and know-how develop into something appalling?  Was it when it turned out to be more costly? And it is not merely in education this appears to be occurring; I have learned it transpires in corporations as well.  Perhaps it is time we returned to admiring those loyal individuals that deplete their lives working for some corporation, business or agency.  Can you envision if we terminated General Patton and placed some private in command?  I assure you America would not be attempting to formulate English as America’s only language.

            We have disregarded two ole adages, “You get what you paid for; and you get what you deserve.”  Green teachers will reduce students’ knowledge and providing you persist on permitting students to manipulate our schools you will observe America’s education system collapse into absolute obliteration.  And that, my friends, will be what we deserve if we do not fix the problem and stop fixing the blame.

Jim Blockey                                            
Teacher/Author “Teachers… It Ain’t Your Fault.”