I have been asked to write a recommendation for a teacher at our school. She is looking to relocate and is using an educational search firm. She sent me an e-mail thanking me in advance for filling out the form (recommendation) for her. I've also received a form from the search firm letting me know that all my answers are strictly confidential and will not be shared with the candidate. (I filled out one of these forms last year for a teacher without any problems.) My issue this time is that I personally do not think she is a good teacher. She is a GREAT person and we get along well. However, she has taught 2 of my children and I am not impressed with her teaching. If I am completely honest on the form, she won't get a glowing recommendation. Should I answer it candidly, or gloss over some things? As I mentioned before, she is a very nice person, just not a great teacher.
any advice?
As a teacher who has served on hiring committees, be honest but be positive. Emphasize the positive things you see in her, but be honest about what you think she lacks. Give specific examples whenever possible. It is very frustrating to hire a teacher who has great credentials and reccomendations and then to find out there were concerns.
She should have ASKED you if you'd like to be a reference before she gave your information to the search firm. That way you could have declined if you didn't feel you could give a glowing recommendation.
That said, I think you need to answer candidly. You should never be dishonest on a recommendation; it's not fair to potential employers (or students) or to other candidates who's honest references are good but not glowing.
It doesn't mean she won't get a job, it just means she'll find a place in a position that plays to her actual strengths and where her true challenges might be less of an issue (ie if she isn't great at tailoring instruction to struggling students, she won't get a job as an "intervention" teacher). Honesty is definitely the best policy here.
Answer honestly. Focus on the positive, but don't "gloss over".
Would you have preferred to have a different teacher for your 2 children? I'm sure other parents will feel the same way.
She is applying for a teaching position. I'd answer it as honestly as possible.
Hi M.,
Like for any job recommendation, you have two choices: either be totally candid in filling out the recommendation, or tell the teacher you are not able to give her a recommendation, and ask her to find someone else to do it for her. (In my line of work, if another professional tells you they will not write you a recommendation, it means they don't think you work up to standard - hint, hint).
Your decision. T
The best, most respectful, though not easiest thing you can possibly do is to tell her that you will not fill out the letter of recommendation and explain why. Honest feedback is hard to give and hard to hear, but if you respect her as a person, AT ALL, don't damage her life by giving her a negative recommendation. Don't lie. Do the right thing.
I'm a teacher, so I get asked to write recommendations for students all the time. This is my advice:
Unless you really didn't like her or thought she was a terrible teacher, write the recommendation. Telling her that you can't write it will suggest to her that you thought that she was awful. I almost never refuse to write a rec for a student.
Find a way to highlight the things that she is really GREAT at (loving person, good with the kids, etc). It will then be clear that she's only average at teaching. But she is great at some things. You then are writing a positive and honest recommendation. Anyone worth their salt will be able to read between the lines and see this person's strengths and weaknesses.
Good luck.
Answer honestly. While mentioning some of her attributes you don't agree with, mention things that are great about her as well, as I am sure she has a lot of pros and cons.
Or, you can politely decline the form and say someone else may be better suited to answer it.
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I would politely decline writing the recommendation. If you don't strongly feel that she's a good teacher to be recommended - then I wouldn't write one. Recommendations are used to prove that the person is worthy of a position and writing one that doesn't show her in a good light won't help her out at all - you shouldn't have to gloss over things either - that's not fair to you writing the recommendation. She should really find someone else that may agree with her teaching and is happy with her - not someone that is not.
Answer honestly or do not accept. Do not say she is great at things she is not great at. Then it is in the hands of whomever is hiring.
