SOCRATES FAILS TEACHER EVALUATION
by Heidi Hayes Jacobs
So, it came down to one day, one test, at the Acropolis as the young men of Athens took out their #2 chisels to answer 30 questions on stone tablets. It is the annual timed test to prove the students’ knowledge and competence as they seek to become philosopher-kings. This valued test is the ultimate prize demonstrating not only the achievement of students, but also serves as the one key evaluation of the teacher.
Credit should be given to the test making company for developing multiple choice items with one correct answer given the challenging subject matter: philosophy and governance. Short answer constructed responses are a bit easier in those fields.
The results were posted in the Agora for all to see the quality and performance of their teacher. Socrates failed. He simply spent too much time asking them to think. A walk- through evaluation by his supervisor (undisclosed), determined that “ sometimes Socrates’s students meander through endless dialogues examining challenging questions that do not have one right answer.” Hopefully, he will be replaced or perhaps go through an intensive summer professional development program in Sparta.
Chris_Sousa
24 Apr 14, 02:37 PM
Love this. They needed No Philosopher Left Behind.
Juliet_Mohnkern
01 Apr 13, 11:27 AM
Margaret_Aisicovich
11 Jan 13, 10:52 AM
Yvonne_Scirpo
09 Oct 12, 01:38 PM
David_Hall
11 Apr 12, 03:06 PM
Heidi_Hayes_Jacobs
14 Apr 12, 09:39 AM
Heidi_Hayes_Jacobs
14 Apr 12, 09:43 AM
Heidi_Hayes_Jacobs
14 Apr 12, 09:44 AM
Heidi_Hayes_Jacobs
09 Apr 12, 11:50 AM
Erik_Palmer
02 Mar 12, 05:24 PM
Additionally, Socrates spent far too much time with oratory. As we now know, teaching students to speak well is not important and not test worthy. www.pvlegs.com
Ross_Brewer
02 Mar 12, 02:05 PM
It is rumored that Anytus decided to pursue this case and that it was instigated by Meletus. We hope that Socrates was fortunate enough to be sent to PD Boot Camp.
Michael_Fisher
02 Mar 12, 12:27 PM
Excellent post! Best metaphor I've seen so far!
This was also posted on the Curriculum 21 Blog and the Ning. There's even more conversation about this and other Common Core Related issues at http://www.curriculum21.com/
Jeanne_Tribuzzi
01 Mar 12, 08:31 AM
Hahahaha! Great post Heidi!
Poor Socrates! Maybe his improvement program and subsequent plan from Sparta will bring about the required changes and he'll learn to stick with the script!
Jeanne