Students argue that if teachers grade them, they should be able to evaluate teachers in return. As students are the people who spend the most time with their teachers during the school day, it is only right that they are the ones who get to evaluate them. Through student evaluations of teachers, the district can gain valuable data on aspects of teacher performance, such as how well they know the material or if they have effective teaching methods or not.

As we enter an increasingly digital lifestyle, schools are starting to create surveys for students to take and evaluate their teachers. The Core program at Cleveland High School has a survey for students to take at the end of the year that evaluates the teachers individually, as well as the curriculum itself. Students answer a set of questions that rate the teacher’s performance and knowledge on the subject, and then answer some free response questions on what the teacher does well and how they can improve.

Esther Jung, a current student at Cleveland, says “... I think the surveys were a really good tool to lets us voice our own opinions about what we think about the teachers and our curriculum, too.”

Karen Park, another student at Cleveland, agrees. She says “It allows for teachers to self reflect and learn from the students on what they can improve, and do better for students they will teach the next school year.” If they think one of their teachers has to improve on something but is scared that the teacher will find out it was them, they do not have to worry, as these surveys are anonymous.

<Nichole Kim Cleveland High School 10th Grade>