Off to Beat Dead Mules

I just love colorful language. Last time at the table I was accused by the other side of beating dead mules to get farts.

That is what we were doing at the table according to the district. What they wanted us to do was to significantly change the evaluation forms for teachers. They wanted to align them with the state teaching "standards." They couldn't understand why we wouldn't jump on the bandwagon and make the changes. After all there was a committee of teachers and administrators (teachers even appointed by us) that came up with these changes. Furthermore they had been cooperative when it came to what we wanted. Also it would only effect the new teachers that were trained this way too. We feel that teachers should be evaluated on what is clearly observable and not what is political. We should not be responsible in our evaluation for students that are not emotionally or physically engaged in the learning process. I think of dad in church. there wasn't a sermon that I remember that he didn't close his eyes and listen. Mom often accused him of falling to sleep but that wasn't the case.. or so we thought. The efficacy of the sermon should not be judged by the people who close off their visual mode just to listen to the auditory track. They want our teachers judged by the goal that all learners will be engaged in the classroom.

We were stalling from their position. And thus earned this colorful piece of language.

Our marching orders have been very different than there expectations. Their side has sent up a trial balloon this week about moving to a place that would be less harmful.

The question today is how do we get to that spot to see if it would be acceptable to our Executive Board. So we are ready to provide a counter to show what we don't like in their proposal but we are also ready to slide into a more neutral spot that will allow us to move on to safety and remuneration.

It will be an interesting day.. at the District Office.

I hope you got Monday off for the vets.

: ) Pat