Why public education should be scrapped

[mbperrin]

39. Thanks. No, I would never say that either group is working harder than the other.

They're different groups, certainly.

In Texas, where I am, K-4 are capped at 22 students per class.

When I was talking about assessment that takes unduly long, I meant because the grading required was time-consuming and unnecessarily, such as a new teacher last year who seemed to feel that she needed fill in the blank AND short answers AND an essay AND some multiple choice, often in excess of 150 questions per test. The multiple choice goes to the scantron, of course, but the other 125 or so must be hand-graded across 180 students, delaying needed feedback to students.

I didn't mean to blur the line between complex information obtained from evaluations and evaluations that are just too long, mechanically complicated or otherwise tedious to the point of interfering with results. I agree with you completely that much information can be gathered with a rather straightforward tool.

The other big difference is that I don't have to assist students in tying their shoes or going to the bathroom, just to name two. (Which is good; as a clumsy child, I couldn't tie my own shoes until junior high nor ride a bike nor skate.)

My fondest wish is for every teacher to find success and fulfillment. I began teaching because of the many terrific teachers I had, who didn't quit on a socially awkward, physically clumsy, shy to the point of tears, poverty background kid from the bus side of town.

Best wishes to you.