This editorial represents the unanimous opinion of all 13 Outlook Editors.
In the midst of discussion regarding teacher evaluation by both the school district and the Aragon community, the Outlook sees the value of effective teacher evaluation and proposes a system that creates accountability for both students and teachers.
While various forms of teacher evaluations let students voice their opinions on teachers and offer constructive feedback, the Outlook found that these options are often unreliable due to their anonymity, allowing students to post unconstructive comments without consequences.
However, there is no doubt that there exists substantial value in student opinions regarding teaching, especially if they are thoughtful and constructive. Student evaluations, when done correctly, offer an opportunity for students to constructively criticize aspects of their teachers’ performance over the year and give helpful suggestions for improvement that teachers can consider for the future.
The Outlook suggests a form of student feedback that combines honesty with accountability. Instead of using websites, a better way to gather feedback would be through paper forms, with students writing their ID numbers to protect their identities while simultaneously keeping them responsible for what they say. These paper forms would then be filtered through the administration to prevent inappropriate opinions from being seriously considered by the teacher being evaluated. Before serious opinions reach the teacher, the student ID numbers would be removed.
Having a system of feedback connected to and administered directly by the school ensures that feedback received by teachers is from actual students rather than anonymous people on the Internet. Additionally, making these paper evaluation forms mandatory for all students ensures that a variety of student opinions are expressed, not just the opinions of those who are motivated enough to express their extreme opinions on online forums.
Though teachers are currently observed and given feedback by their fellow teachers, students give invaluable feedback, as they are the ones who interact daily with their teachers and who the feedback will ultimately affect.
