State Sen. Jack Martins has cracked open a door that should be wide open.
Who are the members the four New York State Board of Regents? Which individual assembly members appointed them? Are they paid? What are their qualifications?
What’s the totality of their responsibilities and powers? Do they have any prior experience in education?
Multimillions of dollars have been spent on Regents exams over the years, mainly to motivate students to study. Because the validity and integrity of these exams are frequently questioned parents, teachers and students are entitled to know who’s minding the store.
The expression “teaching for tests” frequently means “teaching the prescribed curriculum” rather than the loosey goosey curriculum of unbridled teachers.
But, most teachers are well-intentioned, hard working and looking for Regents who know that kids differ in abilities, needs and home support; that teachers differ in background, talents and personalities; and that American homes and families have different finances, languages, goals and aspirations.
An alert Regent will know that this country’s role as world leader can be attributed to individuals following their own goals… not to a cookie cutting mentality trying to obscure the real reason for the failures of some school systems.
Last, an alert Regent will know that, one of the most important tasks of a school administrator is to match the right teacher with the right students.
The brightest kids need a teacher who provides challenges above and beyond the call of any curriculum. And, the least gifted students need a patient, understanding, compassionate and gently prodding teacher free from the injustice of a rating system based on exam grades of students.
The natural consequence of grading teachers by pupil scores could be a public drawing to match teachers with students prior to the start of a school year.
Every competition requires equal opportunities for all contestants. But, should our teachers be competing or working together?
James Gough
New Hyde Park
