PRINCIPALS SHOULD DO TEACHER EVALUATIONS

PRINCIPALS SHOULD DO TEACHER EVALUATIONS

By Domenick J. Maglio, Phd. Traditional Realist

There has been a great deal of discussion concerning how to evaluate teachers to improve our educational system. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other educational groups are devising multi dimensional matrixes to measure teacher performance. In each case criticism has arisen by teachers who are evaluated by these instruments and felt they were not valid.

Evaluating teacher effectiveness has always been a complicated task, as each different educational approach requires unique skills and personalities to successfully do the job. This has become more difficult as schools have expanded in size and number of students. Principals getting to observe and know a teacher and her interactions with students, other teachers and administration becomes almost impossible. There are increased administrative responsibilities, school district and state mandated meetings.

Finland has a different educational approach. It has consistently scored high on its PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) ranking of international education. The educational system of this country has made significant reforms by rejecting large schools and teacher evaluation-student performance driven centralized models of most of the advanced nations. In Finland the teacher evaluates the student’s learning through observation and evaluative tests. Mandatory standardized exams are not given until a student is 16 years old. Experienced teachers mentor new staff through sharing their observations and debriefing them about their teaching practices. In Singapore and South Korea they also have teacher mentoring for 15-25 hours weekly. The focus is to help new teachers be more effective. The local principal in Finland is the evaluator of the teaching staff as it should be in America.

These straight-forward and accountable practices are some reasons why the schools are on top of the international school rankings. They decided to continue to use the principal as the evaluator of his staff although the US is moving toward a more complex teacher evaluation process correlated to student performance.  

The use of student progress in the multi-dimensional teacher evaluation model, no matter how integrated, is as effective as the evaluators accurate scoring of the teacher. The easiest method of completing any teacher evaluation is to rate high to minimize the teacher’s resentment.

In the USA with much input from others, less than 1% of all the teachers have received an unsatisfactory grade under its present comprehensive teacher evaluation. This may be partially the result of our politically correct culture although the fear of union retaliation probably is the greatest contributor to this shirking of administrative power and accountability.

A major drawback to US education has been the unmanageable growth in the size of the schools. Large schools are more cost effective per student but not for student performance. “One of the most effective ways to improve student achievement and curb school violence is to reduce the size of the nation’s schools. Hundreds of studies have found that students who attend small schools outperform those in large school on every academic measure from grades to test scores. They are less likely to drop out and more likely to attend college.” “Small Schools Vs. Big Schools,” Institute for Local Self-Reliance, May 19, 2012. Yet our schools continue to bloat.

Quality of educational supervision is negatively impacted by staff size regardless of the number of assistant administrators or staff supervisors. Second hand information filtered by the assistants is less meaningful and accurate to the principal than direct interaction and observation by him in completing a teacher evaluation.

A principal has to build a close-knit team to execute his philosophy of education in order to get quality results. He has to observe his staff with students, colleagues, parents and administration to know their strengths and weaknesses with different elements and settings within the school community. His personal knowledge of his teachers gives him the insights to realize who would complement each other to provide a balanced and enthusiastic school social climate.

This firsthand knowledge of his teacher’s performance with each segment of the community will enable him to differentiate compensation or require removal. Student’s improvement performance is a strong indicator although teacher growth in communicating, planning, organizing, disciplining, motivating and following through are also strong factors in the evaluation equation.

The principal has to take into account the needs of the school as well as the teacher. The teacher may have personal issues that are affecting her overall performance that would have to be weighed against many other school factors.  The scorer has to have a vested interested for the sake of the functioning of the whole school program and be as honest and straightforward as he can be. The head of the school has to consider the cost and benefits to the entire operation of the school.

A principal with relevant knowledge of a teacher’s behavior in a variety of settings can accurately and comprehensively evaluate a person’s ability to do the job the principal has envisioned for the school. This teacher evaluation approach is feasible in manageable smaller schools.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.

THERE IS ONE RACE: THE HUMAN RACE

THERE IS ONE RACE: THE HUMAN RACE

By Domenick J. Maglio PhD. Traditional Realist

In different periods of time it was advantageous to be from one racial group or another. During the pre Civil War period many people in the USA attempted to “pass” for white. People who had only 8% black blood were legally considered to be black even though 92%, a vast majority of their ancestors, were white.

In our present “white privilege” culture some whites are motivated to identify themselves as black. The head of the NAACP chapter in Oregon, Rachael Dolezal, stated that she started to identify herself as black around 5 years old although her parents, who are white, said she was raised as a white child. Her parents said they were concerned about her distorting her past. She now calls herself “transracial.” Shaun King, a leading activist in the “Black Lives Matter” charade claimed to have a black father. He won an Oprah Winfrey college scholarship as a black male but both his parents are white. His identity and claims of attacks by “rednecks” have not held up under scrutiny. These are indications of how confusing the concept of race can be.

In the 2000 United States census citizens were told to self-identify their race from a long list of choices including Pacific Islanders. Some checked more than one box making them multi racial. This program of racial self-identification further muddies the racial waters in determining a person’s race.

President Obama had a particularly difficult racial dilemma. His father was an African from Kenya while his mother was a white woman from the Midwest. He was as much a white man as a black one. President Obama self-identified as a black man. This emphasis on his father’s Kenyan roots gave him a decided advantage in his national election for president. He received 94% solid support in the past election.  His self-identification as black rather than white made him a trailblazer. He became classified in the media as the first black president of the United States. This underscored the absurdity of the false notion of race since he is as much white as black.

The precept of race is a very fluid and arbitrary one. Adolf Hitler spoke about Germans belonging to the “Aryan race” and viewed Jews as being Semites. In the Roman period people around the Mediterranean were considered to belong to their own race. Indians from the Americas were considered to be from a “red” race. The people from India are considered Caucasians even though their complexion tends to be dark. Everyone has color. There is much overlapping of complexion in each group. So-called “white” people have complexions ranging from albino to very dark. While so called “black” people can range from ebony to white. The same can be said for Asians.  

In the turn of the 20^th century there were 6 million Italians that emigrated from Italy.  Most of them left the southern provinces. Many of them were classified as “colored” by the government because of their dark complexions. Presently these American-Italians are classified as white.

Currently Hispanics are considered as an affirmative action racial group although it is not a particular “race.” They come from Spanish speaking countries all over the world regardless of their physical characteristics. The conquistadors mixed with natives and Africans. Hispanics share a cultural identity, not a racial one. The Portuguese that come from the same Iberian Peninsula as Spanish people and are physically similar people settled Brazil. Portuguese are not considered in the group of Hispanics while 60% of Argentinians who originated from Italy are.

Scientific studies show genetic differences are very weak. DNA indicates that most physical variations, 94% are within the racial group and only differ in 6% of their genes. Anthropological studies are uncovering more migrations of past civilizations than previously thought.  People from different geographical regions have biologically mingled due to conquest.

Race is a construct of the human mind not a creation of God. Even if there ever were distinctly pure races, those days have long passed. People from all over the earth have intermingled eliminating distinct racial differences.

There is no genetic evidence that specifically identifies any particular race. There are more similarities than differences in so-called “racial” groups. Race is divisive, dividing rather than uniting us.  The “black lives matter” movement is missing the point. It is not about race. It might be partially about culture but it is certainly about justice.

We should not only be color-blind but feature-blind.  We should treat everyone as a human being. As Martin Luther King said, all people are human beings and should be judged by their character not the color of their skin.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.

CITIZENS CAN NO LONGER IGNORE POLITICS

CITIZENS CAN NO LONGER IGNORE POLITICS

By Domenick J. Maglio PhD. Traditional Realist

“Ignorance is an evil weed which dictators may cultivate among their dupes but which no democracy can afford among its citizens.” Sir William Beveredge

Most people rationalize that they do not follow politics for two reasons: one they are too busy and two, they get nauseous watching the political circus. These are cop-outs for not doing their civic duty in a constitutional republic that can cost all of us our rights, freedoms and nation.

We are in a subtle political revolution. The two sides are the progressive statists and the conservative constitutionalists/free enterprise adherents.  The confusion for most people is that politicians of both parties say things that mislead people to believe that they are constitutionalists when they are not. These politicians cannot be taken at their word because they outright lie.

The Democrat members of congress are more openly progressive in their rhetoric. At times they express traditional conservative sentiments but ultimately support progressive legislation by their votes. The party leaders allow less vulnerable congressional members to vote against an unpopular progressive bill when they already have the votes to pass it. These devious political shenanigans are commonplace in both parties.

The Republican Party members are split into big corporate advocates and small government conservatives. The establishment republicans are heavily influenced by the Chamber of Commerce policies of supporting big government progressive policies when it appears to assist large corporations. This wing of the Republican Party is less concerned about individual freedom and opportunity for everyone and more about attracting corporate contributions by doing their biding to keep themselves as part of the ruling class.

The steadfast conservative members are targets of attack from both the Democrat progressive media establishment and progressive Republicans. They also receive harsh criticism by the RINOS (Republican In Name Only) progressive wing of the Republican Party. Being a true conservative is not politically correct. They are often politically assassinated by the press putting words into their mouths that they never said and are called out for imaginary or minor transgressions according to the progressive worldview.

Political correctness is a tool to limit free discussion by commentators who put emphasis on particular words, purposely misquoting or adding words. An example of this was the constant ridicule of Sara Palin by the media. She was quoted as saying she could “see Russia from her house” when in reality it was said by Tina Fay a performer on Saturday Night Live.  Mitt Romney was assaulted for stating that Russia was our number one adversary in the world.  Recently our military establishment echoed that assessment. We are currently witnessing this same phenomenon in the media coverage of the 2016 Republican presidential candidates. It has advanced from “gotcha politics” to “obliterate the ideological opposition through any means.”

There is only one way to counteract this insidious marriage of progressive politicians with the progressive mainstream media and that is by becoming self-educated in the political arena. Understanding the complex game of politics is not an easy or pleasant activity. One learns how self-serving and vicious some of our leaders can be.

The problem with a hands-off approach to politics is these representatives hold our existence in their hands. Without careful examination of politician’s promises and actual actions we will be unable to keep our freedom and everything we have worked for and earned.

Aware and conscious citizens are the safety valve protecting our Republic. When well meaning though lazy citizens become commonplace the nation’s freedom, stability and quality of life lessens and eventually falls apart. Citizens need to be politically aware or suffer the full force of evil.

Ignorance may temporarily leave us in a calm state of delusion but it will end in the loss of what we cherish. The lack of vigilance to know what is happening in politics among our honest and hardworking citizens allows and encourages evil to overwhelm the good.

All law abiding, freedom-loving people need to expend time and energy to keep evil at bay to protect the future. It is the minimal price to pay to preserve out precious republic.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.

THE DONALD TRUMP PHENOMENON

THE DONALD TRUMP PHENOMENON

By Domenick J. Maglio Ph.D. Traditional Realist

The political experts are dumbfounded by Donald Trump’s popularity with many types of voters. He is defying all the conventional wisdom of politics.

Donald Trump is the fearless head of a billion dollar firm, television host and public relations extraordinaire. Confidence exudes from every pore of his body. The man speaks without a teleprompter, rarely uses notes but always speaks in a direct manner. The man is not phony, he is who he is and is not ashamed of it. He does not finesse his beliefs and ideas; instead he forcefully hits his audience over the head with politically incorrect reality. He is not a politician.

In his kick-off speech for president in June he shocked and alienated every established Republican by attacking illegal immigrants. He noted that too many illegals are not Mexico’s best but are wanted criminals. His statements were supposedly so over-the-top in the “ruling class” world the pundits were elated that he would lose his following. Initially the media and the Republican Party attacked him. He lost contracts with Macys, Univision and NBC dropped his The Apprentice Show and the mayor of NYC threatened to break all the city contracts it had with him. Then the Kate Steinle killing in San Francisco happened. This incident showed that Donald Trump was on target concerning illegals. After this intense negative media blitz he gained even more support, temporarily silencing his critics.

In the first debate on Fox he was aggressively asked by Megyn Kelly about some anti women references he has made over the years. He deflected the question with a joke about Rosie O’Donnell and confronted Ms. Kelly by stating: “I have been very nice to you although I could probably not be based on the way you treat me.”

The media chieftains, including the Republican strategists predicted this would reverse his fortunes. His numbers only rose. The first question in this debate asked the candidates if they could pledge not to run as a third party candidate. Trump was the only one to raise his hand. This incident was supposed to implode his candidacy. He kept his options open until he maintained and expanded his lead. He then decided to sign the Republican Party pledge once again baffling and outmaneuvering the Republican establishment.

The Des Moines Register newspaper called for Trump’s withdrawal from the campaign. He banned them from his press conferences. Jorge Ramos, the top Univision celebrity reporter was told he was out of turn asking questions in a press conference. Mr. Ramos was escorted out by security and shortly returned to ask his questions. They were answered. Again there was no pushback from the voters to any of these so-called “gaffs.” Rather his poll numbers kept rising.

The political “experts” had to admit he was rewriting the rules of the campaign game. Yet they continue to cling to the hope he would be a summer flash in the pan and fade. Mr. Trump has caused the beltway and the media’s eyes to roll around in their heads. They have no idea why the voters have not booted him out for his politically incorrect answers.

The public is tired of eloquent promising politicians who talk BS and do not deliver. They want a man with courage who tells it like it is and gets things done for the betterment of America.  Mr. Trump’s politically incorrect utterances have stirred the political pot dissolving the fear of censorship. His leadership style is refreshing compared to the pandering ones used by professional politicians. This has encouraged others to speak their minds opening up debate on issues.

He has certainly shaken up Washington by his masculine presentation. He does not unnecessarily attack his opponents but if an attack is initiated he counter attacks with little mercy.  He comes out on top. His answers to most questions are usually straight forward, not evasive.

Candidate Trump admits he has played the lobbyist game of spreading his money around to advance his businesses. He has openly said he has donated to both parties to grease the wheels. He used the fact that Hillary Clinton went to his wedding because he donated to her. He is a doer not an ideologue. Obviously he hires people who are competent and “get the job done “ not intellectuals who talk in circles to each other.

The reason that even the most ardent conservative pundit is confused about Mr. Trump is because they have no idea that Americans are tired of conservative ideas!

They want conservative action and he has the ability and bravado to deliver it.

Mr. Trump says he loves the United States and wants to make it great again. Many Americans believe him because he does not owe the ruling class anything. He is the ruling class’s biggest nightmare, which has entertained many citizens.

The major danger the public has in voting for him is the possibility that in the end he sells out for personal greed. Hopefully he is sincere and his 10 billion dollars is enough for this man to make the right decisions that will earn him a place in the history books as a great patriotic leader who made America great again.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S RACIAL STATEMENTS FAN THE FLAMES OF HATRED

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S RACIAL STATEMENTS FAN THE FLAMES OF HATRED

By Domenick J. Maglio Ph.D. Traditional Realist

President Obama campaigned for president in 2008 as a “uniter not a divider.” He was going to have a discussion on race to bring us together. This promise like many others turned out to be the exact opposite.

The discussion of race started with black Professor Henry Gates’ incident in July of 2009.  President Obama stated,“I don’t know not having been there and all the facts what role race played in that. But I think it’s fair to say: Number 1 any one of us would be pretty angry. Number 2 that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting someone when there was proof that they were in their own home. And number 3 what I think we know separate and apart from the incident is there is a long history of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately.”

This statement illustrates a pattern for president Obama’s prejudice against law enforcement personnel with emphasis on discrimination as an excuse for lawlessness.  First he speaks before all the facts are present, second he rationalizes the black arrestee in this case by dismissing Mr. Gates’ possible disrespect toward the police. Finally he ends his statement by constantly accusing the US institution of law enforcement of the discrimination of blacks.

This happened with the Trayvon Martin-George Zimmerman incident where he inserted “ Trayvon could have been my son.” This is a subtle warning. He emphasized African-American frustration over the verdict, which did nothing but undermine our legal system.

President Obama’s initial reaction to the Ferguson riots was to send this message,” Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the family and the community at this very difficult time.” When a white cop is assassinated by a black man there never has been a White House official present at the funeral. This sends a message.

The President further stated “it was an oppressive and an abusive situation in Ferguson.” He noted the report of the justice department that “Ferguson used traffic citations as a revenue generator.” This is the case in many small towns regardless of race. He called Ferguson a “clearly broken and racially biased system.” President Obama stated, “We may never know exactly what happened. But Officer Wilson, like anybody else who was charged with a crime benefits from due process and a reasonable doubt standard. And if there is any uncertainty about what happened then you can’t charge them anyway just because what happened was tragic.” This statement does little to support the process of our legal system. The President never declared that, “hands up, don’t shoot” was false according to a thorough federal investigation. This omission encouraged black rage throughout the country and allowed the “black lives matter” movement to take root and fester.

The anger towards law enforcement spread to NYC where two policemen were killed in cold blood while sitting in their car. The killer, Ismaaly Brinsley, wrote, “I  am putting wings on pigs today.” This incident led to an organized march in the streets of NY. The anarchistic crowd chanted on cue. “What do you want? Dead cops. When do you want it? Now.” This is outrageous and repulsive to the members of law enforcement and strikes at the heart of law and order.

“All lives matter,” is what democrat presidential candidate, Governor Martin O’Malley stated and then retracted after bring shouted down by ‘black lives matter” radicals. This is not the open atmosphere where President Obama promised to share ideas that would improve racial relationships. We have moved from “all lives matter” to “black lives matter” to “all whites and law enforcement should be targets for death.”

In a carefully crafted statement President Obama condemned the Baltimore riots and decades of inequity against blacks by the police. This added more justification for the “black lives matter” frenzy. In 2013-14 there was an 89% increase in the killing of police officers. There have been 28 killings of policemen by blacks this year. Police Officer, Darren Goforth, was killed execution style. He was shot in the back 15 times, while pumping gas in Harrison, Texas. A Memphis police officer, Sean Bolton, was killed during a traffic stop. Both of these white officers were killed by black men. So much for President Obama’s calming the waters of racial divide.

The day after the assassination of Officer Goforth in Texas “black lives matter” paraded in Minnesota shouting “Pigs in a blanket- fry ‘em like bacon.” This is inciting the murder of policemen and a take-off on cop assassinator Brinkley’s statement above.

The radio show “Sunshine F---ing Opinion Radio” members of the FYF or

FUKYOFLAG and Blacks Matter movement called for the lynching and hanging of white people and cops. FYF911- “tonight we continue to dismantle the illusion of white supremacy.” This is race hatred that needs to be confronted by authorities.

After years of decline, more than 30 cities’ rate of violence has increased. More than double the number of whites are killed by policemen than are blacks. The number of blacks killed by police in the last few decades is down 75% yet the hate crimes against police have increased. President Obama’s words do matter.

President Barack Obama should recognize that if he wants America to unite he has to focus on positive racial achievements and integration not on stirring up racial disunity. Peaceful interaction, not vilifying rhetoric of whites and policemen will result in improved racial relations. The nationalizing of our local law enforcement agencies or racial riots will not heal the nation’s racial resentment. Only a strong condemnation by our leaders of these hate crimes will restore the ability to have a civil discussion, law and order.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.