| It always amazes me to hear about "Teacher | | | | 60% of the population can actually graduate from |
| Performance Ratings" especially when you | | | | high school. These can be compared to baseballs |
| consider the criteria used, the questions asked, | | | | "balls" and we know them as the generally |
| qualifications and or the agendas of the | | | | "un-hitable" pitches that come our way. |
| evaluators. | | | | Many unrealistic politicians, new age consultants |
| I like to use professional baseball statistics as a | | | | and self-deluded idealists say that teachers have |
| basis for comparisons. Baseball statistics are | | | | to bat 100% with all of their students. |
| usually very simple to understand. | | | | Can you imagine any politician trying to make a |
| The batter goes to the plate and is presented | | | | rule that pro baseball players have to hit 100% of |
| with a number of pitches or opportunities. We can | | | | the pitches or successfully hit 100% of the time |
| use pitches and students as the base unit. | | | | that they are up at bat. These politicians would be |
| There is the "wild pitch" that is dangerous to the | | | | laughed out of the stadium, laughed out of office, |
| batter, catcher, umpire, spectators and without | | | | made fun of by Stone, Jay, David and Conan. |
| proper safety equipment or reflexes can lead to | | | | To properly evaluate teachers we have to use a |
| serious injury or even death. We have all read the | | | | real criteria that evaluates what the teacher |
| headlines when the students murder teachers and | | | | starts with, what the potential of the student is, |
| students. | | | | what learning actually took place. |
| The lead hitters are placed early in the batting | | | | It would be nice to see teachers properly credited |
| order to take advantage of their established | | | | with helping students over achieve and perform |
| performance rankings. Many of them are | | | | at 110% of their potential or even turn students |
| baseball's best and yet they fail over 70% of the | | | | from being chronic underachievers at 20% up to |
| time they are at bat. | | | | 80% of their potential as students. |
| We know that statistics from medical sources, | | | | Teachers need a new Commissioner, a new |
| psychology sources, IQ testing and academic | | | | league and trained umpires to protect the integrity |
| potential testing sources show that only 40 to | | | | of their game. |