Questions about the Worst Teacher in New York

The New York Post recently labeled Pascuale Mauclair New York "city's worst teacher."

Such writing is evocative of the snarky style prevalent on the Internet which has bled into the print media. I'm not against snark, but I do think there should be some consideration as to when and where it is applied. Entertainment stories sometimes require a bit of snark to digest. Sports has it's moments, too. Politics is almost always laughable, otherwise you'd cry. However, why use it here?

Such a label creates a character, just as the Internet does, just as reality television does. The incestuous media picks up on the character and uses it for its own needs. Characterization is a concern of writing and serial writing benefits from an established character. There is no need to do work explaining or creating the character. You can jump right into the story. It saves valuable space on the paper. Sometimes the character, or rath the particular characterization catches on. British tabloids called Michael Jackson "Jacko" first, US tabloids followed).

In nay case, sensationalism has always been a part of journalism and also has a long history. Red Scare, Yellow Journalism, these themes sold papers, changed policy and hurt countless innocent people. In this case, the New York Post targeted a single individual.

So, since the Post isn't the only paper doing and, and this isn't the first time, I guess that makes it okay, right? Did the paper do its job?

Here's my question to the authors of the articles as well as the editors and the unseen forces that created this title for this woman: Does the reporting of this story fix the problem?

I assume the problem is low test scores. First, I would argue that the tests are faulty, not indicative of the takers ability let alone the ability of the teacher to teach. We can't ask the world to be experts in everything, so you can't expect the journalists to know that there is a vocal lobby that denounces these tests. So, let's just continue.

My next question is, since higher test scores seems to be the desired result, does the reporting of this story help achieve that goal? Does it improve the teacher's ability or shake her confidence? Does it somehow better prepare the students? Does it fix the fundamental flaws of the test? Does it educate the public about the situation that lead to the result? I see a lot of opportunities for stories, but I don't see a lot of interest in pursuing them.

A reporter might argue that his or her goal to inform. Fine. After, this article who was informed that didn't already know? Do these new people have the power to fix the problem? I know it upset some parents. I saw one parent suggest that the teacher be fired and her salary given back to the school. Okay. If we do that, how does that improve the scores to the tests?

I see a lot of reactions to incomplete information and no solutions to the real problems. And, I do realize that many would argue that the problems have little to do with the tests themselves and more to do with factors out of the control of educators. However, I do believe that educators should continue to find solutions. Humiliating a human being is not a part of the solution.

I don't know this woman I have never been taught by her and I've never observed in her class. I have, in my travels, encountered teachers I did not like personally, teachers who were poor communicators, and combinations of the two, but none of them deserved this treatment. I do not see how the public humiliation of a woman leads to her being a better teacher? I don't see how her removal guarantees a better performance on the test in the future? I don't see how any of this helps the children who took the test achieve better test scores.

And even if somehow the test scores are the most important thing to you, and somehow, you can prove that this woman was the sole reason the goal was not achieved, let me ask you this, after all the teachers you've encountered, all the stories you've read involving teachers: Is this woman really the Worst Teacher in New York? The Worst? Really?