Formal Evaluations

Last week I was in my classroom, sitting at my desk and helping a student, when my principal came in and sat down quietly. “Formal Evaluation,” I thought, “and somehow she always manages to come in during 5th period – right after lunch. Right after all these kids have had their fill of sugar and energy.” Of course, my concern for my principal’s presence quickly died and my focus returned to the young lady at my desk and the graphing paper she held in her hand.

The next day, my principal informed me that I was expected I her office during my planning period to discuss her observations of my class. At 1: 20, the bell rang, and I began the walk to the main office. When I arrived, her door was shut and I already knew she had stood me up (of course, this was not the first time). I looked at the secretary, smiled, and asked in my softest voice (soft because I don’t want anyone to suspect how ridiculous and frustrating I believe this whole administration to be), “Is she in?”

“Oh no, she’s been a meeting all day at the district office.”

I smiled and didn’t say a word, just walked away and silently screamed at her in my head.

The next day I approached her office door before I clocked in and asked if there was a welcome time to reschedule. Again, she asked me to come in during my planning period. Again, I arrived at the office to find her door closed, and myself – stood up.

Does this person realize that she is taking away my planning period, the time where I have to switch classrooms and set up for a completely different prep? Are the teachers she works with any kind of concern? How is this person evaluated? Does someone come in and distract her while she’s working, pulling lesson plans and important papers off of her desk while she is trying to focus on twenty-five other people?

After I finally managed to meet with my principal, it struck me that the formal evaluation was the silliest little piece of paper, and the biggest waste of time. I believe that it actually hurts a school district to send their principals into the classroom to sit down and check off seventy little boxes, while looking to see if my hygiene is appropriate, my fire exits are posted, I am making an effort to incorporate other subject areas, etc. Who decided that this is what makes a good teacher, and why is it the principal’s job to evaluate these things?

I think the districts need to come up with a more efficient method of evaluating teachers. Stop wasting the principal’s time, when he/she could be attending to more important issues (hopefully); stop wasting my students’ time by coming in and standing around, rummaging on top of my desk and causing a distraction; but, most of all, please stop wasting my the teacher’s time. We have so little time as it is, and still you want to keep us waiting and the sit us down to tell us trivial details about the term “butt stays in your seat” being a “risky rule to hang on the wall.” Please.

I’m not saying that an evaluation is not necessary, only that there must be a better way to do it. Why not have someone – who has the time – to interview students and staff members. Perhaps a video camera could be placed in class to avoid interruptions (although, I suppose that would be infringing on a person’s rights…or something like that. Although, I really don’t think a video camera would change the way I teach or the way a student learns… but, that’s just me). Whatever the particular procedure for evaluating a teacher, I believe that there is one better than what many of us are asked to take part of.