Assessing teachers  In response to “Pointed reminder on teacher
evaluations” (Editorial, June 19): I was a teacher for 27 years
and have had my share of evaluations.  I had no control over the
“raw materials” I was given to work with, as opposed to
manufacturers who do. Students were put into my high school
algebra class who had math skills far below what is required to
be successful.  So, if teachers’ evaluations are supposed to
include “the hard evidence offered by student performance,” I
would have been fired a long time ago. Even students who failed
my class have told me it wasn’t my fault they failed, but they
were unprepared for the material taught and that I was actually
a pretty good teacher.  Allen Stanko   The goal in education is
not to develop “Jeopardy!” champions who know a lot of facts;
the goal is to develop people who can think.  Standardized
testing mainly tests fact knowledge, but the more important part
of education cannot be evaluated that simply. Highly trained and
experienced administra