Teachers Are Heroes . . . Why Aren't They Treated That Way?

First, in the interest full disclosure, I am a teacher.

In fact, I am the third generation of teachers in my family.

Now to make me even more suspect in the minds of some - I work for a teachers' union. I know that we have been lead to believe that unions are evil - it is easy to forget that the middle class, the social strata from whence most of us have sprung, would never have existed without the activity of said unions. But I digress.

The other day I was out visiting blogs and I came across what I think is one of the saddest posts I have read in a long time on the blog Sidewalk Shoes:

You know, I get lots of comments from people saying, how do you do it all?  How do you work full-time, cook all these foods, take pictures, read a zillion books, post to two blogs every single day, have 2 grandchildren, 4 cats, husband, 3 daughters??? 

Well, you know what, sometimes I don’t do it all.  Like today.  See that pie?  I didn’t make it.  I bought it.  And then I took a picture of it, because I knew that I might need a gimme, an easy day.  A day when I didn’t feel like typing in a recipe.  Today is the day.

Because I am tired.  I don’t get political on this blog because I like it to be entertaining, and I find nothing at all entertaining about politics.  Politics gives me a headache.  You know what else gives me a headache, teacher bashing.  I’m tired of it.  I’m tired of being the root of all evil in the education system.  Walk a day in my shoes, people.  I spent one entire day last week, with one of my students.  A particularly needy and troubled student.  A student who has anger issues.  I spent the day trying to help him control his anger and to not get in trouble.  He needs to be in a special behavior class to help him control his behavior, but guess what, there is no funding for that.  So, instead I spent the day with him, instead of providing services to the other 19 students on my caseload.  As for academics, what does he care about algebra, when he is just trying to not get arrested again?  But yet, when his test scores come out,  I will be considered a bad teacher.  Because his home life, numerous arrests, behavior issues, none of that matters, I am the only thing causing him to have low test scores.  I am a bad teacher.

I remember when I used to be proud to say I was a teacher.  Now, I feel like I should say it in hushed tones, all apologetic like, because apparently everything wrong in the education system is my fault.

It used to be that teachers were the light in our society - recognized as the heroes they are for working hard to make the next generation better than the one before. Last month I was at a conference in the US and was shocked to hear the stories from my American colleagues. Teachers, as this blogger talks about, being blamed for all that is wrong with the education system.

One of the folks I follow on twitter is Diane Ravitch - never have I seen a more tireless advocate for teachers and public education. From 1991 to 1993, she was Assistant Secretary of Education and Counselor to Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. She was responsible for the Office of Educational Research and Improvement in the U.S. Department of Education. As Assistant Secretary, she led the federal effort to promote the creation of voluntary state and national academic standards.

Now she is travelling the country rallying support against the so-called education reform movements that are being promoted by those with private school educations and strong corporate agendas.

She is a vocal opponent of Obama's flawed education policy 'Race for the Top' and suggested that what we really needed was:

a strong, highly respected education profession; a rich curriculum in the arts and sciences, available in every school for every child; assessments that gauge what students know and can do, instead of mindless test prepping for bubble tests. And a government that is prepared to change the economic and social conditions that interfere with children’s readiness to learn.

Well said, Diane, well said.

She is coming to Toronto in three weeks and I was lucky to be selected as one of the people who get to hear her.

I hope for the sake of the teacher I quoted above, all teachers actually . . .  heck - all of us! That more people listen to Diane, make some noise, and tell governments everywhere that the last thing they must to is to make cuts to public education - nothing holds more promise for the future than public education.

Teachers needed to be treated like the heroes they are because without a well-trained, well-respected teaching force, working in properly funded public schools, we don't have much of a future to look forward to.

The alternative is just too frightening to contemplate.

Comments

[mstoddard]

I can so relate after 40 years of education. Diane Ratvich was one of my inspirations.

I taught math in middle school and high school mathematics. I was a mathematics consultant for Saxon Publishers for 13 years.

The politics of the textbook adoption process of some states is restricting the educational progress.

The roadblocks for teachers are getting greater and not becoming helpful.

[sheri]

Love this entry, Jerry! May I post a link to it on my FB Page? My many disheartened teacher friends would love it too!

[JDeQ]

mstoddard - welcome to the blog! I know what you mean about those roadblocks. So many teachers say 'if I could just teach . . .'

Share away sheri. I thought of you when I typed it actually. *smile*

[Kathy (Trekcapri)]

Hi Jerry, very thought provoking post. I know some people who work in the school system and I really feel for the challenges they face daily these days and for their frustrations. I am so impressed with their dedication, given their challenges.