Comments on: The Best Teachers http://www.beckyances.net/2010/01/the-best-teachers/ Doing all three in China Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:53:52 +0000 hourly 1 By: erick http://www.beckyances.net/2010/01/the-best-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-74 erick Sun, 10 Jan 2010 01:36:29 +0000 http://www.beckyances.net/?p=571#comment-74 Man, that sounds like an awful system. I hope I didn't come across as a jackass, just letting you know my thought. Again, I am glad that you and Ryan are doing so well. Oh, and Alicia and I are planning to do something with our kids to celebrate Chinese New Years (what with all the talk about China we've been doing). And ideas? Man, that sounds like an awful system. I hope I didn’t come across as a jackass, just letting you know my thought. Again, I am glad that you and Ryan are doing so well.
Oh, and Alicia and I are planning to do something with our kids to celebrate Chinese New Years (what with all the talk about China we’ve been doing). And ideas?

]]> By: becky http://www.beckyances.net/2010/01/the-best-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-73 becky Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:59:46 +0000 http://www.beckyances.net/?p=571#comment-73 First off, it's not most "popular," just the highest rated. Each student "grades" their teacher and Ryan and I got the top two grades of the foreign teachers. I'm not exactly sure how the grade is complied but I know there is a questionnaire type form each students fills out. Grading each teacher is something that is policy in the Chinese educational system. The teachers pay (and even hiring and firing) is based almost entirely on this. To make it worse, the Chinese teachers "grade" each other, which I hear causes major problems. (Because when you get jealous of another teachers success, you can grade them low. Or if you don't like someone you can organize the other teachers to give them low marks regardless of their ability, etc.) Also, the students know what kind of power they have and use it. I've heard that they will tell a teacher they are too tough and will get a low grade if they don't make the class easier. Also, some teachers will intentionally make a class easy, watching a lot of movies, giving no classwork, hoping to get a high grade. Luckily, as foreign teachers we are outside of that system (we have a contract and even if we get a low score they can't break the contract until it expires.) And we are graded every semester (twice a semester actually) so it wouldn't be a good idea to not try anymore. Especially as we will have almost all new students. Also, nobody knows our grades except for the administration. The students don't know and it isn't something that is announced. I think a merit bonus is a good idea maybe, but merit pay is a bad idea. I mean, teachers really do change their teaching style if the fate of their pay is in the students hands. First off, it’s not most “popular,” just the highest rated. Each student “grades” their teacher and Ryan and I got the top two grades of the foreign teachers. I’m not exactly sure how the grade is complied but I know there is a questionnaire type form each students fills out.

Grading each teacher is something that is policy in the Chinese educational system. The teachers pay (and even hiring and firing) is based almost entirely on this. To make it worse, the Chinese teachers “grade” each other, which I hear causes major problems. (Because when you get jealous of another teachers success, you can grade them low. Or if you don’t like someone you can organize the other teachers to give them low marks regardless of their ability, etc.)

Also, the students know what kind of power they have and use it. I’ve heard that they will tell a teacher they are too tough and will get a low grade if they don’t make the class easier. Also, some teachers will intentionally make a class easy, watching a lot of movies, giving no classwork, hoping to get a high grade. Luckily, as foreign teachers we are outside of that system (we have a contract and even if we get a low score they can’t break the contract until it expires.)

And we are graded every semester (twice a semester actually) so it wouldn’t be a good idea to not try anymore. Especially as we will have almost all new students. Also, nobody knows our grades except for the administration. The students don’t know and it isn’t something that is announced.

I think a merit bonus is a good idea maybe, but merit pay is a bad idea. I mean, teachers really do change their teaching style if the fate of their pay is in the students hands.

]]> By: erick http://www.beckyances.net/2010/01/the-best-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-72 erick Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:09:22 +0000 http://www.beckyances.net/?p=571#comment-72 In thinking further on this post. What was the purpose of the voting? Was this something that the students just do, or was it organized by the College. If so, I wonder the motivation behind it. If you're voted the least popular teacher, how does that affect your teaching. Do you think, "Well, Chirst, I'm not even going to bother to try anymore." Or does it motivate you to teach better. I'm just thinking about this idea, as there's a (pretty strong) movement here in the US to institute merit pay for teachers. In thinking further on this post. What was the purpose of the voting? Was this something that the students just do, or was it organized by the College. If so, I wonder the motivation behind it. If you’re voted the least popular teacher, how does that affect your teaching. Do you think, “Well, Chirst, I’m not even going to bother to try anymore.” Or does it motivate you to teach better. I’m just thinking about this idea, as there’s a (pretty strong) movement here in the US to institute merit pay for teachers.

]]> By: erick http://www.beckyances.net/2010/01/the-best-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-70 erick Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:09:25 +0000 http://www.beckyances.net/?p=571#comment-70 Great job. But, from one who is a teacher, just remember popular doesn't always = good. I'm not saying that's what you are, but it can be easy to just coast on a wave of goodwill. Keep up the hard work! And tell Ryan I am happy for him too. And what happened to his postings? Great job. But, from one who is a teacher, just remember popular doesn’t always = good. I’m not saying that’s what you are, but it can be easy to just coast on a wave of goodwill.

Keep up the hard work!
And tell Ryan I am happy for him too. And what happened to his postings?

]]> By: Dave Seidel http://www.beckyances.net/2010/01/the-best-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-69 Dave Seidel Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:52:27 +0000 http://www.beckyances.net/?p=571#comment-69 Congratulations! Must be very gratifying. Congratulations! Must be very gratifying.

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