How Will We Know Who is "Grossly Ineffective"?

In the wake of the Vergara decision in California and the copycat cases pending in the hopes of destroying teachers' tenure nationwide, I look around me and wonder how we will be able to identify the "grossly ineffective" teachers.  Here are some hints:

1.  Look for "grossly ineffective" teachers working in public schools in impoverished neighborhoods.

2.  Look for "grossly ineffective" teachers working in schools with a disproportionate number of students with special needs.

3.  Look for "grossly ineffective" teachers working in schools with many immigrant children who are only now learning the English language.

4.  Look for "grossly ineffective" teachers working in City schools where students are sitting in overcrowded classrooms or trailers and the teacher-student ratio is very high.

5.  Look for "grossly ineffective" teachers working in underfunded classrooms across America.

6.  Look for "grossly ineffective" teachers among the lower paid persons in the profession, working to help the sons and daughters of lower paid workers in America.  

7.  Look for "grossly ineffective" teachers in classrooms where students spend more time developing social skills, creativity and an understanding of current events, rather than prepping for tests. 

Look into your own heart.  If you work in situations fitting any of the descriptions above, you might have mistaken your gross ineffectiveness for a do-good impulse to help where your help is needed most.  You're sorely mistaken!  Don't let your gross ineffectiveness further destroy the lives of your students.  It's time to turn yourself in!

Don't even think of looking for a "grossly ineffective" teacher among the T.F.A. or in a charter school though.  If this thought even crossed your mind, you know what, you're hopelessly "grossly ineffective"!