The teacher's union in Cincinnati developed this program in order to address the question that was being asked about whether anyone really cared about incompetent teachers. The program is designed to take experienced teachers out of the class for two years to work with new teachers, mentoring them and provided assistance. However, controversy arose when the union decided to also write in the contract that these experienced teachers would also work with veteran teachers that were not effective teachers. These teachers were recommended for "Intervention" and were given two years to improve. The consulting teacher has the authority to recommend firing the veteran teacher, or not hiring the new teacher. Many unions outside Cincinnati feel that this puts too much power into the hands of these consulting teachers and can strain the relationship between teachers.
The plan seemed to be successful. The article only refers to the piloted cases dating back to 1991. What I found really interesting is that the teachers were noticing more teachers not making the grade versus administrators. This idea was captured in the article which referred to a teacher, "Like many teachers, she felt the traditional evaluation process was a joke." The consulting teachers were more rigorous in their observations and then stuck around to assist the teacher, recommending workshops, planning, and even doing demonstration teaching.
This article really brings to the surface the idea that teachers are very sensitive people. It is amazing the obstacles this program had to overcome to be implemented. If we as teachers are really in the profession to help students then why would we ever be offended by receiving help in becoming better. With all the jobs I have help in my life, this profession stands above the others when you discuss the idea of further training or collaboration. The atmosphere I have experienced in education the past ten years is that many teachers feel they have it down and don't need anyone else telling them how to do it. What makes us so special that we feel we have mastered something that can never be mastered. Every class we will ever teach will be completely different than any other. What works one year is not necessarily going to work the next. If we as new teachers enter this field with the same feelings of this is my class and this is how I do things, we will not affect the change that we have been talking about all year. It is imperative that we come with open minds, ready to learn what needs to be learned, and always continue to pursue new techniques and strategies. I know I talk about sports a lot when talking about education, but I feel they go hand in hand. Look at any great athlete: Tiger Woods, Tony Gwynn, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Joe Montana, etc, each has/had a coach that instructed their performance. These guys are said to be the greatest at their sport and they still had coaches helping them improve. WAKE UP TEACHERS!!! I don't care how good you think you are, you can always improve. GET OVER YOURSELF!! If you don't want to improve and work at this profession, get the hell out of it and go do something else. This isn't about you or your ego, it is about the students and making a better world for tomorrow.
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