Ignore website ratings, schools urged

– Shaun Inguanzo
A WEBSITE where students and parents can publicly name and shame their teachers should not be taken seriously, say principals.
The website, Rate My Teachers, allows students and parents to anonymously post ratings and comments about teachers at the school of their choice.
But the anonymity of the commentators – and swag of destructive comments posted on the site – has left the Victorian Principals’ Association (VPA) shaking its collective head in disgust.
Greater Dandenong schools and teachers already rated on the site include Keysborough’s Haileybury College, Dandenong High School, Chandler Secondary College and Lyndale Secondary College.
The schools refused to comment on the website, and VPA president Fred Ackerman told Star he endorsed the approach.
“It is a sensible response,” he said.
“If they do not promote it, then it will have a low profile.”
But Mr Ackerman admitted some teachers would take offence to the website.
“I predict there will be some teachers who are very distressed by this sort of material we hear is being posted there,” he said.
“Not much of the material appears to be constructively critical.
“It’s not saying ‘you could make history lessons more exciting or take more notice of my needs’ – there is some out and out nasty use of the site, and terribly derogative language that will hurt people.”
Mr Ackerman said the VPA would not take any action against the site’s operators, instead choosing to ignore it.
He said schools already welcomed feedback from parents and students.
“We have hardcopy surveys for parents and students that we take seriously,” he said.