Teachers hit out at ratings website

May 2005

A NEW website that allows students to rate the performance of their teachers has met with widespread resistance from schools throughout the country, who object to the extra scrutiny their staff are placed under.

The ratemyteachers.ie website was originally established in the US but its popularity proved so great that a similar venture was set up in Ireland in December.

While Wicklow schools actually fare pretty well, and received plenty of favourable comments, the fact that anybody can log on anonymously and say whatever they like about individual teachers has caused concern.

Teachers are rated on the grounds of easiness, helpfulness and clarity. The user is invited to check in to the school and the site gives a list of the individual teachers, allowing them to rate their teaching skills as well as post comments.

Seamus Murphy, Principal of Arklow Community College, is aware of the site but hasn’t any intentions of logging onto ratemyteachers.ie.

‘I’ve heard of it and seen the reports in the papers and on the news but I haven’t looked at the site. I wouldn’t give it any credence or the time of day,’ he said.