I'm fortunate that my kids like me. I work really hard to cultivate a relationship with them. I make my room as comfortable and conducive to learning as I can. I really work hard to go that extra mile. A lot of my co-workers think I'm nuts. But, now, students in our school get to tell the Tennessee Government what they think of us, they may not think I'm so crazy. Especially if these student surveys go to decide our pay or even our jobs.
I don't know how the results will come. I'm certain I'll be fine on my reviews, but I could be surprised. However, I already know from probing some of the students that they plan on trashing several teachers. Many of the students are salivating at the chance! "Oh, I can't wait to get Mrs. Smith (not her name)" said one of my students. "Why?" I asked. "She's horrible. She's so mean. She's always yelling at us, her class is boring, she gives way too much homework, she just doesn't know what she's doing!"
"Mrs. Smith" is a first-year teacher. She works very, very hard to get students to do their homework. She has many kids failing her class, however, the large majority of the kids failing are doing so because they have not turned in their homework and have several 0's. She follows the lesson outlines that the County provides, demanding that she teaches certain things on certain days.
A Social Studies Teacher down in 7th Grade is beloved, though. Year after year, his scores are okay on the standard assessments, but when I get the kids the next year, they can't tell me anything he was supposed to teach them. I spend a good chunk of the beginning of the year going back over map skills because the students I get know nothing from the whole year of map study they were supposed to get. Yet, I know "Mr. Jones" will get raving scores from the kids.
Should students get a say? I have to admit, often, I agree with their assessment of many teachers. However, I also think that they can be very unfair. 8th Graders are not really able to put themselves in the shoes of other people to have that understanding. Will teachers get fired or lose money if students don't like them, even if the students are learning?
I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Tennessee seems determined to go forward on this.