Grocery Delivery Service
By
Paige Turner
While perusing the shelves at a local grocery store one beautiful fall afternoon in the valley, I was approached by an obviously irritated acquaintance. “What’s wrong with our schools Mrs. Turner? Why are they failing? What’s the problem with teachers? This is why I homeschool my children!”

My first thought was, “This is why markets should have free grocery delivery to all teachers, especially after the state releases school grades!”  I just smiled and asked what he was talking about because I wasn’t aware of any schools or teachers failing. He went on to inform me about the breaking news from the local paper. I hope he didn’t see my eyes roll!
As I sit here next to my stack of papers to grade on this beautiful, yet icy January morning, savoring a cup of coffee and reflecting on that conversation, I want you to know that schools are not failing. Teachers are working diligently to provide the best educational experience for every child. Are there a few bad apples? You bet! Just as there is in every profession.
Education is a profession. Teachers spend years of their lives and lots of money to earn their education degree, whether it be a bachelors, masters, or doctorate. We also continue learning through professional development and lifelong learning. We are professionals.
Are we treated like professionals? In my humble opinion, no. For example, the New Mexico teacher evaluation system is degrading to teachers. Under the most current system of teacher evaluation, the components of teacher evaluation are the classroom observation by the administrator, teacher attendance, student test scores, and the student’s evaluation of their teachers. Yes, you correctly read that last part.
What’s wrong with that, you might wonder. Well let me explain. I have no problem with the first component, classroom observation by my administrator. I welcome observations. I want an evaluation. I want to know what I can do better as a teacher. But, I also want to be treated fairly and with respect. According to my administrative observation, I’m a highly effective teacher. Once the other elements of the teacher evaluation system are factored in, I am labeled an ineffective teacher by the state. Thank you, Ms. Skandera and Governor Martinez.
Another component is teacher attendance. Teacher sick leave is a contractual agreement that can be accumulated over the years. Three personal days each year are also available that cannot be accumulated. Regardless of sick leave and personal days being in teacher contracts, evaluation points are deducted after the use of 3 days. You read that right. Imagine being given sick days in your job and then penalized for using those days.
Teachers don’t want to be sick. Teachers don’t want to prepare for a sub. It’s easier to go to work sick than prepare for a sub. Teachers work in buildings with hundreds of students. We are going to get sick, it’s inevitable. We are humans!
The next component is the student survey. Yes, students are given a survey to complete about their teacher and those survey points are calculated into teacher evaluations. Imagine if you will, an eight year old’s opinion of you being part of your evaluation.
Then there is the assessment component. Yes, you guessed it! It is an unfair part of the teacher evaluation. Most importantly, it is unfair to students. Why? Any assessment given to students over 4-5 consecutive days either on paper or the computer is not an accurate tool to determine students acquired learning and growth. Many students developmentally do not have the required attention span to accurately display their knowledge when sitting for 90-minutes in a chair staring at a piece of paper or a computer screen. The developers of these assessments obviously know nothing about child development. I’ve witnessed students stressed to the point of tears over the assessment because they are not finished, but their time is up and they must stop the test. There are those who complete the assessment in 5-minutes and then proceed to fall asleep. Finally, there are those students who do wonderfully on the assessment.
Due to my label as ineffective teacher, I may not be able to get my teaching license  renewed in a few months. I have taught for over half my life. I have loved every minute of my teaching career teaching grades K-12 in Texas and New Mexico.  I have seen students become successful in their chosen professions and some not so successful due to the life path they have chosen. I have had wonderfully supportive parent involvement and others parents that I have never met. I have had children of former students. I have loved my career choice that I may have to abandon because of use of sick leave days and student test scores.
Are our schools failing? Absolutely not.
Are our teachers failing? No they are not.
The New Mexico Public Education Department led by Hanna Skandera as appointed by Governor Martinez is failing our schools, our teachers and our children.
I need to go to the grocery store. I wish they had grocery delivery service for teachers. Maybe that will be my next career choice.