Should teachers be held accountable?

Question

My thinking is that teachers should be held accountable. I've seen too many kids that were passed to the next grade, even though they weren't ready. Teachers that move students to the next grade before they're ready should suffer some type of consequence.

Thoughts?

Answer 1

I agree with you that too many kids get pushed onto the next grade level before they are ready. I am a teacher and believe me I see it every year. However, it is only partly in our control. If a child has any kind of IEP (for speech or special ed) they cannot be held back, even if they are several years below grade level. It is the law. Also, parents can override any decision you make. Last year I recommended retention for one boy, filled out the paperwork, all of that stuff, only to have the father refuse. And, I had an autistic boy who was mentally the equivalent of a three year old, and is going into 3rd grade next year, albeit at a special school, but STILL!! So, the MOST teachers can do is express our thoughts that the child needs to be retained, but after that, it is up to the parents or laws dictated by special education. It is very frustrating in some cases where parents are not at all involved with their child's education, don't show up to conferences where I need to discuss how far behind their child is, then at the end of the year deny retention. But, to get back to your question, no, teachers cannot be held accountable as it is mostly out of our control.

p.s some of the rest of you need to get better informed!

Answer 2

I worked at inner city school for about a year. Here is what I saw:

1.) Textbooks did not arrive until 3 months into the semester even though the administration promised the books would be there the first week.

2.) Shuffling of students schedules for the first two weeks of classes. Hardly any of the students that were in the class the first day remained in that class.

3.) Poor support and backup for any disciplinary issues from the administration.

The teachers I worked with were very dedicated and worked hard. They were not allowed by the administration to hold too many kids back. To blame teachers for performing poorly in these types of situations is placing the blame in the wrong area.

Answer 3

Hello it's not the teachers but the administration and No Child Left Behind. The teachers hands have been tied by these 2 things, As always it comes down to the almighty buck. Our schools are losing good, decent teachers because of this.
Also the students are not being held resposible for their education and this is the parents failing. They are so ready to place the blame somewhere other than the student.

Answer 4

Just because the teachers should not be held accountable if the child becomes a criminal, they should not be exonerated from any obligation. They have a responsibility to teach, just as the parents have a responsibility to make sure their kids learn. The sad fact is that many teachers are incompetent and apathetic, as too many parents seem to be.

Answer 5

This is not always the choice of the teacher. In fact, often teachers argue to have students held back but administration, district, state and federal regulations prohibit them from doing that. As long as the teacher is doing their job, I do not think they should suffer consequences. It is most often not their choice who is retained, also check out the impact No Child Left Behind and how it affects children not being held back.

Answer 6

I think it would be difficult to draw the line on how to determine if a child was ready or not. "Not ready" can involve various areas like social skills, academics, obedience, maturity same as peers etc. And then, what if as child excels in one area but he fails in the other. Is he not ready?

I think it should be the responsibility and decision of the teacher as well as the parents. Hopefully this can also get parents to be more involved in their children's education. I don't think it should be soley on the teacher. As far as consequence goes, what kind of consequence do you think there should be for teachers who advance kids prematurely? I'm not sure what kind of reprimand would be appropriate because it is such a complex issue.

Answer 7

hahahah! Please! Do you realize that most students that are passed on when they aren't ready due to the fact that the parents pressure the teachers to do so? They threaten to go to the school board if Little Johnny who can't read to save his life isn't passed on? And it's not just the teachers who decide, it includes the parents, administrators and others as well.

Parents need to take responsibility for their kid. If they can't read or whatever, tell the school they need to be held back. If its true the school will hold them back.

Answer 8

They don't have a choice anymore. One of my sons was blah in the second grade, too immature and flunked it all--I met with his teacher and told her not to even give him a report card. I blamed it on me for years until he tried to stuff it up my nose at 19 then I told him the real reason he was held back. Passing them is not as scary as knowing they can't read, can not do any simple math with a pencil and many never learn cursive writing. Beam me up!!!

Answer 9

Accountable for what, poor students? Unfortunately the success a student has in school is a combination of his or her desire to succeed, natural abilities, time investment, and the capability and performance of those teaching.

The teacher can only be responsible for his or her performance.

Answer 10

Yes teachers should be held accountable, but that goes hand in hand with their administrator who need to support them. Currently it is easier to fire a government worker than it is for a teacher to remove an obnoxious Lil brat from their class.