No Dentist Left Behind

[KarenCee 3]

This is an interesting take on "No Child Left Behind." Teachers will

enjoy it, parents will be informed and politicians should consider it.

No Dentist Left Behind

My dentist is great! He sends me reminders so I don't forget

checkups He uses the latest techniques based on research. He

never hurts me, and I've got all my teeth.

When I ran into him the other day, I was eager to see if he'd heard

about the new state program. I knew he'd think it was great.

"Did you hear about the new state program to measure effectiveness

of dentists with their young patients?" I said.

"No," he said. He didn't seem too thrilled. "How will they do that?"

"It's quite simple," I said. "They will just count the number of cavities

each patient has at age 10, 14, and 18 and average that to determine a

dentist's rating. Dentists will be rated as excellent, good, average,

below average, and unsatisfactory. That way parents will know which

are the best dentists. The plan will also encourage the less effective

dentists to get better," I said. "Poor dentists who don't improve

could lose their licenses to practice."

"That's terrible," he said.

"What? That's not a good attitude," I said. "Don't you think we

should try to improve children's dental health in this state?"

"Sure I do," he said, "but that's not a fair way to determine who is

practicing good dentistry."

"Why not?" I said. "It makes perfect sense to me."

"Well, it's so obvious," he said. "Don't you see that dentists don't

all work with the same clientele, and that much depends on things we

can't control? For example, I work in a rural area with a high

percentage of patients from deprived homes, while some of my

colleagues work in upper middle-class neighborhoods. Many of the

parents I work with don't bring their children to see me until there

is some kind of problem, and I don't get to do much preventive work.

Also, many of the parents I serve let their kids eat way too much

candy from an early age, unlike more educated parents who

understand the relationship between sugar and decay. To top it all

off, so many of my clients have well water which is untreated and

has no fluoride in it. Do you have any idea how much difference

early use of fluoride can make?"

"It sounds like you're making excuses," I said. "I can't believe that

you, my dentist, would be so defensive. After all, you do a great job,

and you needn't fear a little accountability."

"I am not being defensive!" he said. "My best patients are as good as

anyone's, my work is as good as anyone's, but my average cavity count

is going to be higher than a lot of other dentists because I chose to

work where I am needed most."

"Don't' get touchy," I said.

"Touchy?" he said. His face had turned red, and from the way he

was clenching and unclenching his jaws, I was afraid he was going to

damage his teeth. "Try furious! In a system like this, I will end up

being rated average, below average, or worse. The few educated

patients I have who see these ratings may believe this so-called

rating is an actual measure of my ability and proficiency as a dentist.

They may leave me, and I'll be left with only the most needy patients.

And my cavity average score will get even worse. On top of that,

how will I attract good dental hygienists and other excellent dentists

to my practice if it is labeled below average?"

"I think you are overreacting," I said. "'Complaining, excuse-making

and stonewalling won't improve dental health'... I am quoting from a

leading member of the DOC," I noted.

"What's the DOC?" he asked.

"It's the Dental Oversight Committee," I said, "a group made up of

mostly lay persons to make sure dentistry in this state gets improved"

"Spare me," he said, "I can't believe this. Reasonable people won't

buy it," he said hopefully.

The program sounded reasonable to me, so I asked, "How else would

you measure good dentistry?"

"Come watch me work," he said. "Observe my processes."

"That's too complicated, expensive and time- consuming," I said.

"Cavities are the bottom line, and you can't argue with the bottom

line. It's an absolute measure."

"That's what I'm afraid my parents and prospective patients will

think . This can't be happening," he said despairingly.

"Now, now," I said, "don't despair. The state will help you some."

"How?" he asked.

"If you receive a poor rating, they'll send a dentist who is rated

excellent to help straighten you out," I said brightly.

"You mean," he said, "they'll send a dentist with a wealthy clientele

to show me how to work on severe juvenile dental problems with which

I have probably had much more experience? BIG HELP!"

"There you go again," I said. "You aren't acting professionally at all."

"You don't get it," he said. "Doing this would be like grading schools

and teachers on an average score made on a test of children's progress

with no regard to influences outside the school, the home, the

community served and stuff like that. Why would they do something

so unfair to dentists? No one would ever think of doing that to

schools."

I just shook my head sadly, but he had brightened. "I'm going to

write my representatives and senators," he said. "I'll use the school

analogy. Surely they will see the point."

He walked off with that look of hope mixed with fear and

suppressed anger that I, a teacher, see in the mirror so often

lately.

If you don't understand why educators resent the recent federal

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT, this may help. If you do understand,

you'll enjoy this analogy, which was forwarded by John S. Taylor,

Superintendent of Schools for the Lancaster County, PA, School

District.

This is also one of the many reasons some teacher get "burned out" in this profession. *sigh*

[Ban Hammer 13,641]

[ChristinaM 0]

I have a couple of friends who are teachers, and I've forwarded this on to them. They will appreciate it.

Thanks for posting, Karen.

[Marriednow 4]

This is an interesting take on "No Child Left Behind." Teachers will

enjoy it, parents will be informed and politicians should consider it.

No Dentist Left Behind

My dentist is great! He sends me reminders so I don't forget

checkups He uses the latest techniques based on research. He

never hurts me, and I've got all my teeth.

When I ran into him the other day, I was eager to see if he'd heard

about the new state program. I knew he'd think it was great.

"Did you hear about the new state program to measure effectiveness

of dentists with their young patients?" I said.

"No," he said. He didn't seem too thrilled. "How will they do that?"

"It's quite simple," I said. "They will just count the number of cavities

each patient has at age 10, 14, and 18 and average that to determine a

dentist's rating. Dentists will be rated as excellent, good, average,

below average, and unsatisfactory. That way parents will know which

are the best dentists. The plan will also encourage the less effective

dentists to get better," I said. "Poor dentists who don't improve

could lose their licenses to practice."

"That's terrible," he said.

"What? That's not a good attitude," I said. "Don't you think we

should try to improve children's dental health in this state?"

"Sure I do," he said, "but that's not a fair way to determine who is

practicing good dentistry."

"Why not?" I said. "It makes perfect sense to me."

"Well, it's so obvious," he said. "Don't you see that dentists don't

all work with the same clientele, and that much depends on things we

can't control? For example, I work in a rural area with a high

percentage of patients from deprived homes, while some of my

colleagues work in upper middle-class neighborhoods. Many of the

parents I work with don't bring their children to see me until there

is some kind of problem, and I don't get to do much preventive work.

Also, many of the parents I serve let their kids eat way too much

candy from an early age, unlike more educated parents who

understand the relationship between sugar and decay. To top it all

off, so many of my clients have well water which is untreated and

has no fluoride in it. Do you have any idea how much difference

early use of fluoride can make?"

"It sounds like you're making excuses," I said. "I can't believe that

you, my dentist, would be so defensive. After all, you do a great job,

and you needn't fear a little accountability."

"I am not being defensive!" he said. "My best patients are as good as

anyone's, my work is as good as anyone's, but my average cavity count

is going to be higher than a lot of other dentists because I chose to

work where I am needed most."

"Don't' get touchy," I said.

"Touchy?" he said. His face had turned red, and from the way he

was clenching and unclenching his jaws, I was afraid he was going to

damage his teeth. "Try furious! In a system like this, I will end up

being rated average, below average, or worse. The few educated

patients I have who see these ratings may believe this so-called

rating is an actual measure of my ability and proficiency as a dentist.

They may leave me, and I'll be left with only the most needy patients.

And my cavity average score will get even worse. On top of that,

how will I attract good dental hygienists and other excellent dentists

to my practice if it is labeled below average?"

"I think you are overreacting," I said. "'Complaining, excuse-making

and stonewalling won't improve dental health'... I am quoting from a

leading member of the DOC," I noted.

"What's the DOC?" he asked.

"It's the Dental Oversight Committee," I said, "a group made up of

mostly lay persons to make sure dentistry in this state gets improved"

"Spare me," he said, "I can't believe this. Reasonable people won't

buy it," he said hopefully.

The program sounded reasonable to me, so I asked, "How else would

you measure good dentistry?"

"Come watch me work," he said. "Observe my processes."

"That's too complicated, expensive and time- consuming," I said.

"Cavities are the bottom line, and you can't argue with the bottom

line. It's an absolute measure."

"That's what I'm afraid my parents and prospective patients will

think . This can't be happening," he said despairingly.

"Now, now," I said, "don't despair. The state will help you some."

"How?" he asked.

"If you receive a poor rating, they'll send a dentist who is rated

excellent to help straighten you out," I said brightly.

"You mean," he said, "they'll send a dentist with a wealthy clientele

to show me how to work on severe juvenile dental problems with which

I have probably had much more experience? BIG HELP!"

"There you go again," I said. "You aren't acting professionally at all."

"You don't get it," he said. "Doing this would be like grading schools

and teachers on an average score made on a test of children's progress

with no regard to influences outside the school, the home, the

community served and stuff like that. Why would they do something

so unfair to dentists? No one would ever think of doing that to

schools."

I just shook my head sadly, but he had brightened. "I'm going to

write my representatives and senators," he said. "I'll use the school

analogy. Surely they will see the point."

He walked off with that look of hope mixed with fear and

suppressed anger that I, a teacher, see in the mirror so often

lately.

If you don't understand why educators resent the recent federal

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT, this may help. If you do understand,

you'll enjoy this analogy, which was forwarded by John S. Taylor,

Superintendent of Schools for the Lancaster County, PA, School

District.

This is also one of the many reasons some teacher get "burned out" in this profession. *sigh*

Girlfriend, you have gotta be a teacher. This is sooo hilarious and appropo... Debbie (Special ed teacher for 34 years.... )

[Cassandra+Yuibi 0]

Not only an excellent analogy- but entertaining as well

[KarenCee 3]

This is an interesting take on "No Child Left Behind." Teachers will

enjoy it, parents will be informed and politicians should consider it.

No Dentist Left Behind

My dentist is great! He sends me reminders so I don't forget

checkups He uses the latest techniques based on research. He

never hurts me, and I've got all my teeth.

When I ran into him the other day, I was eager to see if he'd heard

about the new state program. I knew he'd think it was great.

"Did you hear about the new state program to measure effectiveness

of dentists with their young patients?" I said.

"No," he said. He didn't seem too thrilled. "How will they do that?"

"It's quite simple," I said. "They will just count the number of cavities

each patient has at age 10, 14, and 18 and average that to determine a

dentist's rating. Dentists will be rated as excellent, good, average,

below average, and unsatisfactory. That way parents will know which

are the best dentists. The plan will also encourage the less effective

dentists to get better," I said. "Poor dentists who don't improve

could lose their licenses to practice."

"That's terrible," he said.

"What? That's not a good attitude," I said. "Don't you think we

should try to improve children's dental health in this state?"

"Sure I do," he said, "but that's not a fair way to determine who is

practicing good dentistry."

"Why not?" I said. "It makes perfect sense to me."

"Well, it's so obvious," he said. "Don't you see that dentists don't

all work with the same clientele, and that much depends on things we

can't control? For example, I work in a rural area with a high

percentage of patients from deprived homes, while some of my

colleagues work in upper middle-class neighborhoods. Many of the

parents I work with don't bring their children to see me until there

is some kind of problem, and I don't get to do much preventive work.

Also, many of the parents I serve let their kids eat way too much

candy from an early age, unlike more educated parents who

understand the relationship between sugar and decay. To top it all

off, so many of my clients have well water which is untreated and

has no fluoride in it. Do you have any idea how much difference

early use of fluoride can make?"

"It sounds like you're making excuses," I said. "I can't believe that

you, my dentist, would be so defensive. After all, you do a great job,

and you needn't fear a little accountability."

"I am not being defensive!" he said. "My best patients are as good as

anyone's, my work is as good as anyone's, but my average cavity count

is going to be higher than a lot of other dentists because I chose to

work where I am needed most."

"Don't' get touchy," I said.

"Touchy?" he said. His face had turned red, and from the way he

was clenching and unclenching his jaws, I was afraid he was going to

damage his teeth. "Try furious! In a system like this, I will end up

being rated average, below average, or worse. The few educated

patients I have who see these ratings may believe this so-called

rating is an actual measure of my ability and proficiency as a dentist.

They may leave me, and I'll be left with only the most needy patients.

And my cavity average score will get even worse. On top of that,

how will I attract good dental hygienists and other excellent dentists

to my practice if it is labeled below average?"

"I think you are overreacting," I said. "'Complaining, excuse-making

and stonewalling won't improve dental health'... I am quoting from a

leading member of the DOC," I noted.

"What's the DOC?" he asked.

"It's the Dental Oversight Committee," I said, "a group made up of

mostly lay persons to make sure dentistry in this state gets improved"

"Spare me," he said, "I can't believe this. Reasonable people won't

buy it," he said hopefully.

The program sounded reasonable to me, so I asked, "How else would

you measure good dentistry?"

"Come watch me work," he said. "Observe my processes."

"That's too complicated, expensive and time- consuming," I said.

"Cavities are the bottom line, and you can't argue with the bottom

line. It's an absolute measure."

"That's what I'm afraid my parents and prospective patients will

think . This can't be happening," he said despairingly.

"Now, now," I said, "don't despair. The state will help you some."

"How?" he asked.

"If you receive a poor rating, they'll send a dentist who is rated

excellent to help straighten you out," I said brightly.

"You mean," he said, "they'll send a dentist with a wealthy clientele

to show me how to work on severe juvenile dental problems with which

I have probably had much more experience? BIG HELP!"

"There you go again," I said. "You aren't acting professionally at all."

"You don't get it," he said. "Doing this would be like grading schools

and teachers on an average score made on a test of children's progress

with no regard to influences outside the school, the home, the

community served and stuff like that. Why would they do something

so unfair to dentists? No one would ever think of doing that to

schools."

I just shook my head sadly, but he had brightened. "I'm going to

write my representatives and senators," he said. "I'll use the school

analogy. Surely they will see the point."

He walked off with that look of hope mixed with fear and

suppressed anger that I, a teacher, see in the mirror so often

lately.

If you don't understand why educators resent the recent federal

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT, this may help. If you do understand,

you'll enjoy this analogy, which was forwarded by John S. Taylor,

Superintendent of Schools for the Lancaster County, PA, School

District.

This is also one of the many reasons some teacher get "burned out" in this profession. *sigh*

Girlfriend, you have gotta be a teacher. This is sooo hilarious and appropo... Debbie (Special ed teacher for 34 years.... )

Yup....teacher...13 years, 11 of them Special Ed...grades 3-5