If you want to make a difference in the world, be a teacher.

Isn't this what President Obama just said a few months ago in his address to the nation.  Now  MO is trying to pass Bill 372 in the Senate which challenges that very statement to the core.  I have been on a writing frenzy tonight.  I wrote so many politicians that my fingers are beginning to hurt from all the typing.  Here is the letter I wrote.  I hope someone listens.


I am writing you in regards to MO Senate Bill 372.  I strongly urge you to take a long hard look at this bill and how it will NEGATIVELY affect the education system here in MO.  It will not "get out" the bad teachers as many think but instead cause many of your best teachers to leave the profession.  For instance,  for someone like me who has been teaching for 11 years, I will go back to probationary status and be given a contract based 50% on a yearly performance based evaluation and 50% on student performance data. So all my years of service, my hard work, my diligence, my thousands of dollars in education expenses for a master's degree to better myself as an educator will now mean nothing. All that matters is how I rate with my administrator and how well my kids test. If I don't score or my kids don't score high enough, I may take a $20,000 paycut. That's right--$20,000. Sorry, I chose to teach at a school where the kids sometimes come to school and haven't eaten since lunch the day before or may not have a home to sleep in so the last thing they care about is some TEST!!!! Teaching isn't just about scores---it is about loving, nurturing, inspiring, advocating for, and yes facilitating learning for children.  We all know that there are SOME bad teachers out there but why must the good ones be punished too? Now teachers will be competing to be at the top tier. Do you think those bad unethical teachers won't cheat to get themselves there? That will leave us honest hardworking teachers who truly want success for our kids at the bottom!  What jobs are out there that didn't first require the love, nurturing and hard work of a teacher?  The solution is not to institute performance based pay but to improve the teacher evaluation system currently in place.  Get administrators in buildings and in classrooms more to see what their teachers are teaching and how well they are teaching it.  Not only am I angry but my heart hurts at the injustice I see!  I beg you to consider how much this will affect teacher collaboration.  Who will want to share great teaching ideas and strategies for fear that some one will out perform you and you will be left at a lower tier?  How does this benefit our children?  Simple--it doesn't.  Nothing about this bill is beneficial.  There are so many things wrong with it.  I am scared for our schools, scared for our teachers, scared for our future, and most of all, I am scared for our children if this bill is voted through.  Please fight to keep this bill from becoming reality.  Please show your support for every hardworking teacher in MO.  Let our voices be heard.  Show us and our students that you truly care about our education system.  Thank you for your time.

Becky Calvert
Davidson Elementary
NKCSD
(816)797-9676 cell
(816)413-4879 school

Not sure if that letter will reach the right people or make a difference but I won't stop fighting for what is right, what is logical, what is just.  I deserve it, my colleagues deserve it, but most of all my kids deserve it!

Till next time,

Beck