Sunday, August 04, 2013

Joplin Schools Watch: Globe blew it with teacher turnover story

Judging from what I wrote last night and what Joplin Schools Watch wrote today, Joplin Globe reporter Scott Meeker could not have missed the target with his story in today's edition on R-8 teacher turnover by more if he taken a wrong turn and questioned Neosho officials about it.

On the Joplin Schools Watch blog, written by JHS students, it was pointed out that not only has the teacher turnover been high (far higher than the self-serving numbers given to the Globe by R-8 Administration), but the percentage of principals who have been given the boot by Superintendent C. J. Huff and Assistant Superintendent Angie Besendorfer, has been even higher:

Teachers, however, are not the only ones leaving schools. Only three principals have remained in the district since 2008.
In spite of the teachers and principals who have turned in their resignations, the number of 21st-Century Learning Coaches and Teaching and Learning Coaches have increased. These coaches describe what Dr. Huff mentioned earlier, as they are former teachers who observe classrooms and ensure new initiatives are being implemented. From 2009 to 2013, the number of individuals in these positions grew from 9 to 15.
The Globe did not mention many of the reasons for teacher flight that were mentioned in a letter Joplin Schools Watch received earlier this summer.
Last month, a group of teachers from the Joplin school district wrote to Joplin Schools Watch about state of the district. They also gave insight as to why teachers were leaving the district, “All of the pressure is on the teachers, who are supposed to simultaneously get students to pass classes, get high scores on tests, and put up with disrespectful behavior at the same time.”

Perhaps Scott Meeker should contact the high school students next time he ventures into writing about the R-8 School District.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

“All of the pressure is on the teachers, who are supposed to simultaneously get students to pass classes, get high scores on tests, and put up with disrespectful behavior at the same time.”

Well that explains it. Can you imagine the nerve of the admin to insist the teachers not only teach - but teach WELL!!! On top of that crazy demand they also want them to be in charge of the students in their classroom?

That is so ridiculous. If you sell cars, your boss is always going to pressure you to sell more than you did last month. If you are a cook your boss will expect that you will improve as you gain experience. If you teach every year you should get better and better at your job.

Anonymous said...

He should interview students to find out why the teachers are leaving? That makes sense...

Anonymous said...

If you sell cars, your boss probably would understand that each salesman has his/her individual characteristics that make them effective. And if the sales people were constantly being asked to change their approach and were also being asked to make repairs on the vehicles during their "spare time", their sales performance might suffer. You suppose?

Anonymous said...

To 11:13,
If you must compare TEACHERS to car sells people I will continue the analogy.
"This is so ridiculous. If you sell cars, your boss is always going to pressure you to sell more than you did last month. If you are a cook your boss will expect that you will improve as you gain experience. If you teach every year you should get better and better at your job."
Yes as a teacher you should get better and better at your job, as a cook better and better at cooking, car salesman better and better at selling cars. What you have overlooked is that these other professionals deal with THINGS not PEOPLE and each class of students may not get "better and better". Class are completely and totally different from year to year, and comparing one year's class to another year's class is what is "ridiculous".
This is one of the reasons the "general public" doesn't get education. We are not comparing products! These are children!
And while we need to get our children to benchmarks, sometimes, when children are behind it is not reasonable for them to make more than a year in gains in a given school year.
You can't expect a car sales person to make at 1995 Buick run like a 2013! NO matter how good you are as a sales person!