More like reality than satire. Teacher sues parents, students for loss of her merit pay.

[madfloridian]

because they did not perform well on the tests.

There are so many truths in this piece of satire. From http://studentslast.blogspot.com/2013/02/giving-new-meaning-to-class-action.html">Students Last

It begins with a shouting match between teacher and parents. The teacher says she deserved the bonus of $5000.

What was the hullabaloo about? Several parents had discovered that they and their children were being sued by fourth grade teacher Sandra Wettfeld. In a legal maneuver widely acknowledged to be the first of its kind, the New Jersey educator filed suit against five of her former students and their families for loss of income. The basis for Wettfeld's lawsuit was explained that afternoon at the law offices of Slaughter & Hem.

Lawrence Slaughter, who specializes in educational law, described Ms. Wettfeld's case, "Basically, we are suing because under the Newark Teachers Union contract, Ms. Wettfeld can earn $5,000 if she is rated as "Highly Effective" which is largely based on her students' test scores. Several of her students did not perform as they should have which resulted in her losing that bonus money. So she's looking to be compensated by those students and their families who failed to live up to expectations."

...Wettfeld explained, "No one teaches to the test better than I do. So I knew I would get some bonus money when the scores came back." She paused to wipe a tear from her eye, "I stayed late, wrote great lessons and offered extra help but I've got students who don't come to school regularly. Students who don't sit still because they're hungry or distracted. Students who don't do their homework or go to bed on time. And those things are not my fault; they're the kids' fault and the parents' fault. Why should I suffer?"

Though not yet named as defendants, Slaughter's law partner May Hem is researching the viability of adding the school district and teachers union to the lawsuit. "Let's face it, we're going after the families because their kids failed the tests but if you want to get justice, you have to go after the clowns who thought this type of compensation was just.

An added touch is what Michelle Rhee's group might have responded to such a lawsuit:

"To paraphrase Arne Duncan's iconic quote about the education opportunities Katrina created, we believe that tying teacher income to student scores was the best thing to happen in Newark schools because strife creates opportunity."

I once had two fourth grade boys refuse to take the FCAT. They sat in the classroom with folded hands. We knew they were going to do it, the parents knew, I knew, the guidance counselor knew. They did it because they did not think the testing was fair.

At that time the zero they were given did not impact my evaluation. Today it would. So glad I am retired, so glad I don't have to take it any more.

To me and others with such experiences the idea of a lawsuit against those equally responsible for taking such a test has a certain devilish appeal.

Crossposted at DU3

[Enthusiast]

1. "Strife creates opportunity."

I guess it does for the ones creating the strife.