Rate My Teacher

Have you seen the RateMyProfessors.com website? This unique web tool allows students to leave comments about their teachers. The website then ranks teachers according to student ratings. I did a search of my undergraduate alma mater and found, among others, these comments: "Good quality." "Very easy. Just attend class and do the assignments." "She was extremely understanding of students' problems and needs." and "He's hot! I loved listening to him and watching him all through class." And as I did a little more digging, similar comments surface at most schools. Many students give serious critiques of their instructors; many others focus on how attractive (or not) the instructors are.

Websites like RateMyProfessor.com have their benefits - they allow students to express their opinions anonymously while also giving students the opportunity to pick and choose the classes they'll take based on peer reviews. Unfortunately, a similar system for K-12 schools hasn't existed ... until now. A few months ago, reporters at The Los Angeles Times requested from the local school district seven years of language arts and math elementary-school test scores. An economist hired by the newspaper then used value-added analysis, a statistical formula, to determine student progress from year to year under different third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers. Of the approximately 6,000 teachers analyzed, results were highly variable. Some students showed superb comprehension and retention while others made little stride.

The value of a ranking system for K-12 teachers is evident to any parent of a school-aged child. As a new school year approaches, parents worry that their students are placed in the right classroom setting with a teacher that is caring, compassionate, learned, and relate-able. I applaud pushes for such an unbiased ranking system. School districts often act as though all their teachers are equally qualified and successful at instructing. An appropriate third-party ranking system allows the school district to honestly evaluate teacher performance and to mentor and encourage teachers who may need guidance in dealing with behavior problems, struggling students, or special circumstances. The idea is not about firing teachers who aren't up to par, but in helping teachers to do their jobs better.

Photo Credit: Torley