VOL. XXIV, NO. 7
APRIL 27, 1983
Riffing system needs change
Next fall there will be 33 teacher and board positions empty as a result of administrative cutbacks. Riffing, reduction in force, has been a common word in District 207 for the past few years.
So far Riffing has been accomplished by using the seniority method, teachers in their respective departments with the most experience in this district are kept, while younger teachers are Riffed. We see this practice as a most ineffective and harmful method of deciding the teachers fate in this district. Younger teachers are often enthusiastic about their work and are familiar with the latest teaching methods. The enthusiasm that teachers exemplify through their work and extracurricular activities tends to make students more enthusiastic about school, while it heightens student interest.
For nine months a year, five days a week, seven hours a day, students and teachers must coexist. Using only one method of teaching may become too commonplace with students and teachers. We propose that a blend of traditional and progressive teaching methods be used in District 207. But by ousting only young teachers through our current Riffing procedures, their new methods will never be seen by students and fellow teachers.
So far Riffing has been accomplished by using the seniority method, teachers in their respective departments with the most experience in this district are kept, while younger teachers are Riffed. We see this practice as a most ineffective and harmful method of deciding the teachers fate in this district. Younger teachers are often enthusiastic about their work and are familiar with the latest teaching methods. The enthusiasm that teachers exemplify through their work and extracurricular activities tends to make students more enthusiastic about school, while it heightens student interest.
For nine months a year, five days a week, seven hours a day, students and teachers must coexist. Using only one method of teaching may become too commonplace with students and teachers. We propose that a blend of traditional and progressive teaching methods be used in District 207. But by ousting only young teachers through our current Riffing procedures, their new methods will never be seen by students and fellow teachers.
We are not suggesting the Riffing of older teachers either, what we are proposing is a new system of judging a teacher's competency.
A solution to the decision on who gets Riffed should be determined by a test at the end of a semester. Students would be tested on required material to determine if a teacher has effectively taught his students. This way teachers doing effective jobs would have the test data for proof. These statistics would force teachers who are not getting through to their students to use updated methods of teaching. Teachers would take greater strides in preparing lessons that students can identify with and learn from.
A "required material test" would be one way to insure future generations of the knowledge that they badly need. There comes a time when old ideas must be cast aside and new ones introduced because a teacher cannot teach unless he, himself, is constantly learning.
A solution to the decision on who gets Riffed should be determined by a test at the end of a semester. Students would be tested on required material to determine if a teacher has effectively taught his students. This way teachers doing effective jobs would have the test data for proof. These statistics would force teachers who are not getting through to their students to use updated methods of teaching. Teachers would take greater strides in preparing lessons that students can identify with and learn from.
A "required material test" would be one way to insure future generations of the knowledge that they badly need. There comes a time when old ideas must be cast aside and new ones introduced because a teacher cannot teach unless he, himself, is constantly learning.
