Florida teacher explains why VAM is a scam...

...http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2012/06/a_florida_teacher_explains_why.html


Excerpt:

So why does it matter if most teachers are moved to annual contract status? Surely administrators and districts only want the "best and brightest" teachers in their classrooms?

Surely you jest if you are at all familiar with school site and district staffing decisions. You're a veteran teacher with a PhD pulling in $70,000? You're fired. The district can get two new teachers for the price of one. Teach social studies and you can't coach a sport? You're fired. The Principal's nephew would like to try his hand at this teaching thing but there are no openings? You're fired. You're a woman in her reproductive years that keeps getting pregnant? You're fired. Dare to speak up at a faculty meeting? You're fired. Have your name mentioned on the front page of a major newspaper because you have 54 students in one period and your students are learning in conditions reminiscent of a Bangladeshi squatter encampment (see earlier blog post)? You're fired.