“IF IT AIN’T BROKE . . .”

By

Bertram Rothschild, PhD

You know it, it ends with “don’t fix it” (attributed to Thomas B. Lance, 1977). Or, if you prefer, “When it is not necessary to change it is necessary not to change (Lord Falkland, 1641). The admonition is simple; do not mess with things that are working satisfactorily. Life surely would be simpler and surely be easier. What works will remain undisturbed only to be changed only when it no longer fulfills its purpose. By that criterion, we wonder about the Douglas County School Board (DCSB) messing with their school system.

The Douglass County school system has been considered perhaps the best in Colorado and apparently has national ranking. Indeed, there is some talk about comparing it with the Japanese system, expecting a favorable outcome. Clearly, the system is not “broke”; whence the thrust to transform it?

First, out-of-the-blue, and to the astonishment of all, the DSCB promulgated a voucher system. Keep in mind that voucher systems are generally designed to give support to religious schools so we might expect that sectarian groups had agitated for such indirect financial aid. Kids get vouchers good for any private school, but they provide not nearly enough money for secular, expensive schools so the bulk of the cash goes to religious schools. Such an easing of the financial burden gratifies parents who want their children to have a Catholic or Protestant or Jewish or Muslim education. Odd, why would the DCSB prefer that? Especially since, I say, especially since because there is no credible evidence that voucher schools provide a better education.

Lately, the DCSB have decided to get rid of the teacher’s union and are free to do so. Its members campaigned on that promise and now they are living up to their word. As part of their transformation, teacher’s salaries will be based on both performance and the difficulty of the job. There will be pay scales for different levels of class difficulty. Thus, teaching math and science are deemed more difficult than art so those teachers have a better pay scale. Some districts include bonuses for teaching in difficult schools and for student outcome; whether DCSB will include such I do not know. However, I do know there is no consistent evidence that pay-for-performance systems provide better outcomes. There was one system in which, after establishing a pay-for-performance system, the teachers lost their zeal for teaching and you can imagine who suffered as of consequence.

The DCSB has launched itself on an unpredictable roller-coaster ride, with loops, twirls and drops, but with an uncertain future. They have taken a perfectly good system and, ignoring the conservative, “ain’t broke” admonition are making changes that are likely to lead to problems for their students. And, why so? Surely, they ideologically minded and worry not about the reality they face; having the Truth does not require evidence. And, and as an anonymous source explained to me, they anticipate gaining political creds for future advancement.

 All this is done in the name of the children. Alas, the changes will get rid of good teachers and the Douglass County schools will produce fewer well-educated children.