Yin Yang?

First: massive props to R. Monroe for the token of Old Bay affection. I so can't wait to Garlic and Herb my chicken. =) You RULE!

Second: today's topic.

Contradictions. They can walk, they can talk. Are they necessary? Some might say that without contradictions, there'd be no opposites and that'd throw off the balance of the world. I say they are full of crap and OBVIOUSLY haven't worked in the field of education.

We educators get used to contradictions like "Get your students to produce higher test scores...but we're going to cut your funding and lessen your resources." But what drives me even more crazy is when educators create/force contradictions on each other without realizing it.

See what you think of this one:
Professor V shares her interview story. She tells of how the superintendent was impressed that she had a portfolio since he'd never heard or seen of such a thing before. Professor V then assigns the class to create professional portfolios.

Ummm...if you only had ONE person ask to look at your portfolio only out of CURIOSITY, then WHY are you making us do them? (And I feel it's necessary to add that I had to do one in order to graduate from undergrad...I took it with me on all interviews and job fairs and because so many people never asked to see it I found myself FORCING it on others to validate all of the work I put into it.)

OR how 'bout this one:
Professor V says you should put test scores in your portfolios. Not student scores, but YOUR scores from the Praxis exams (teacher certification tests). Then, in the same breath, she says that the only thing that employers look for in the test is a passing score, not necessarily the level of achievement.

Ummm...why bother searching for your scores then? Wouldn't it be rhetorical that we passed since we're CERTIFIED TEACHERS?

Note to self: Get a Ph.D. OBVIOUSLY common sense is not necessary to complete the degree process.