Editor:
The recent column by Walt Cobb, FSA tests help evaluate teachers (Thursday, Feb. 10 Tribune Viewpoints), forgets to mention certain factors in regards to teaching.
First and foremost Mr. Cobb is viewing teachers and the education system in B.C. through small conservative glasses.
Teachers, unlike other occupations, have a demanding job that taxes both physical and mental being on a daily basis.
Most teachers I know and have talked to love their jobs, not for the big paycheque (most of their wages go to cover costs lost to budget cuts) or the fact they have July and August off (most find summer employment), but for the rewarding work they do in helping our younger generations prepare for their futures.
The FSA (Foundation Skills Assessment) does not do the education system justice.
I took a sample test on the Ministry of Education’s website, and found that some questions presented language and phrases that are far above the vocabulary or understanding of a nine-year-old child. Testing only provides scores that pertain to one person based on their understanding of the material presented in the test. So how fair is it to use Bobby’s score to critique his teacher?
The credibility of a teacher should not be evaluated by how their students learn, especially if a student has a learning disability or refuses to listen to the lesson provided by the teacher.
If every school district in the province evaluated teachers performances based on Mr. Cobb’s methods there would be a higher need for teachers in B.C.
Mr Cobb needs to realize that most occupations, regardless of pay, don’t evaluate the performance of their employees based on tests.
If the worker does their job to the satisfaction of the requirements, then they have fulfilled their duties.
Teachers are mandated to a standard set by the Ministry of Education. If the student’s comprehension of what is being taught is behind that of their provincial counterparts, then maybe it is the ministry’s standard that needs evaluating.
Bill Sheridan
Williams Lake
