When a new evaluation system started tagging veterans as ineffective, my union took a closer look at the data. Turned out that nearly all teachers struggling in the classroom were dealing with life events like divorce or a death in their family; substance abuse (alcohol most commonly); or chronic illness. The union was able to negotiate leaves of absence, connection to services, or early retirement in most of those cases. As you observe, teachers don't just "go bad".
Related I think to your topic is G.M. Baker's recent discussion of the Eden Myth. Some people have a mythical utopian view of something perfect that never existed and they have an overly simplistic way to get their utopia or bust. 🤦♀️ Here's the discussion
When a new evaluation system started tagging veterans as ineffective, my union took a closer look at the data. Turned out that nearly all teachers struggling in the classroom were dealing with life events like divorce or a death in their family; substance abuse (alcohol most commonly); or chronic illness. The union was able to negotiate leaves of absence, connection to services, or early retirement in most of those cases. As you observe, teachers don't just "go bad".
Related I think to your topic is G.M. Baker's recent discussion of the Eden Myth. Some people have a mythical utopian view of something perfect that never existed and they have an overly simplistic way to get their utopia or bust. 🤦♀️ Here's the discussion
https://gmbaker.substack.com/p/the-persistence-of-the-eden-myth?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email