The last two columns in the Springfield News-Leader by Larry Campbell have hit a bull’s eye on my educational pet peeve target. When I first began teaching at Branson High School in 1972, I spoke with a friend of mine who was on the Branson School Board at the time. I asked him if it wouldn’t be productive to have the teachers fill out an annual evaluation of the administrators. I figured it would fit right in with their then-present policy of having students evaluate the teachers. His response? “Why would we want people to evaluate their own bosses?”
It became immediately clear to me that the board was operating on a business model. So, it was no surprise that the district was hiring its “minions” according to business interests: punctuality, attendance, loyalty, etc. Later, when I had left teaching and was elected to the school board, my former principal was heard to say, “That’s just what we need . . . an educator on the board.” He didn’t say “Bah!” but it was felt. No one on the board disagreed with his exclamation of disgust.
I was not very successful as a school board member. Needless to say, the votes were often 6-2 or 7-1. I was happy to be the gadfly, but I don’t feel that I accomplished much. However, I felt great pride and satisfaction a few years later when I moved to Springfield and ran into a former principal . . . a man who had been the high school principal when I first began teaching there. Introducing me to his new wife, he said, “This is Mike Brown. We taught together in Branson.” If administrators and boards were as interested in education as they are in the “bottom line” or profit motive, hiring good teachers might not be any easier, but at least we would be looking for the most promising characteristics in the candidates. Maybe we could even get a few students involved the hiring process, too!
About The Author
Mike Brown began his interesting and varied career teaching Freshman English at University of Missouri – his future wife Claudia was a student in his very first class!) After obtaining his Master’s, he taught for 4 years at the USAF Academy Preparatory School.
In 1971, he and Claudia returned to Branson, MO, where they purchased the Sammy Lane Resort from his parents, which they ran for 30 years. During that time, Mike taught English at Branson High School (1972-85), sat on the Branson School Board (1990 – 1996) and on the Branson City Council (1986 – 1992). He calls the overlapping years on the council and the board “interesting” and lets it go at that.
Mike and Claudia now live in Springfield, MO.
Mike,
I really appreciate your insightful comments. With respect to teachers evaluating their “bosses” research has shown that the most effective principals are those who work with teachers, not simply “manage” their teachers. Such principals do whatever is necessary to provide teachers with an environment/resources that enable them to do what they do best – help students learn. Having worked with many teachers/schools/districts over the years, I have seen then in the most effective schools (where all students learn) there is a healthy two-way partnership between teachers and administration.
The practice of applying a business model to education has made its way into higher education as many universities now refer to their CEO instead of their president. Students are often referred to as “customers” (how can we better meet the needs and demands of our customers) and there are now more levels of administration, an increasing emphasis on record keeping, etc.
Thanks again for your spot on observations.
Terry Goodman
Good comments, Terry and Mike!!
Hey, Larry,
That woman who was in my first Freshman English class has worked out pretty well. Today is our 47th Anniversary! I’d give her an A all over again 😉
Happy Aniversary Mike!!
Mike Brown. What a guy.
1990 – 1999 were the best years in BHS history. From an anthropological standpoint, there was something quite special about the classes of ’92, ’93, ’95 and ’97. ’96 could have been in there, but the coolest dude bailed for the east coast.
Bias aside… there was some kind of influence felt throughout the school when Mike was mixing it up with the board. Gadfly or voice of dissent, it was in perfect unison with the students of Generation X, and the lost generation that followed… the one I claim. Pop culture has cleverly referred to it as Generation Catalano. If you are one, you know exactly what it means.
Always a joy to read/hear Mike’s voice.
Good to hear from you, too, James!! Thanks for your thoughts!
Larry
Thanks, James! I forwarded this copy of After Math to Zach. I appreciate your comment regarding my tenure on the Branson school board, and I think Zach will like your nuanced nod toward him, as well. Can’t believe the state of Missouri still carries him on the record book as a high school dropout.
Right on Mike Brown! I suggested the same think at an institution where I taught and got pretty much the same response. It never ceased to amaze me that it seemed to be a stupendous idea to collect evaluations of professors from students, but really stupid to think that might system might work some good at the administration-faculty level, and why didn’t I see that. Now that I am retired my evaluations are done by my wife who does not use a business model; she uses the Joseph Stalin model. (Just kidding.)