Today, because I have more guts than sense, I'm opening a whole new can of worms on my blog. If you are a teacher, or married to a teacher, or know a teacher, then you are probably going to be really, really pissed at me after reading this. I'm sorry in advance.
I realize that the educational system in this country is lacking. It's all about teaching the students how to pass the standardized tests so that the school districts get the money. They teach the kids how to pass the TAKS test. Or whatever the abbreviations are this year. Realistically, because they aren't actually allowed to "teach" they are glorified babysitters. Ouch. Sting much? If I were to get pregnant, I would homeschool my children. Period. They have to know the material for the tests, but they also still get a quality education. They would get to learn about things that schools aren't teaching anymore because of their political correctness factor.
I hate that teachers are losing their jobs. But then again, I hate it when Engineers, Doctors, Lawyers, Grocery Sackers, pool boy's, and ear wax remover's lose their job too. It's hard, no matter what field or area you work it. But the question remains...why should teachers be immune? Why shouldn't they have the same worries as everyone else? Why should they have job security when the rest of the country doesn't? Why do they get better benefits? Better retirement? Why shouldn't an engineer or a doctor get the same benefits? Why are teachers "better" than everyone else?
They aren't. Pure and simple. Yes, the job they do is tough. Yes, they have 30 kids that they have to corral and try to teach them. I agree that their job is hard, but so is a rocket scientists' job. I hate that schools are having their budgets cut and that they are losing money, that programs will be cut, that jobs will be lost. I hate that for anyone, teacher or not.
We put such a high value on education, yet we forget to teach. History is important so that we don't repeat the same mistakes. By teaching the kids how to pass the tests so that their district gets the most money, what are we really teaching our kids?
How to milk the system? How to get the most reward for the least amount of effort?
It's sad that teachers have the greatest opportunity to shape our children, yet they have the least amount of control to do it. They have someone standing over their shoulder telling them that the holocaust wasn't important, so they share that message with our kids. Which is to bad, we need to learn from the mistakes of the past to avoid making those same mistakes in the future.
~A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. ~Henry Adams
~The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book. ~Author Unknown
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Hey, It's Okay
12 hours ago
As a former teacher, mom, and member of society, I can relate to a lot of things you said. Many teachers will share the SAME frustration with you. We do "have" to include a lot of things that the state finds important. A good teacher, though, can find the time to also teach things she finds valuable to her students. Things not on the test.
ReplyDeleteAs far as teachers having better pay, benefits, and job security, I think that's a misinformed opinion. Many many many teachers lose their jobs every year due to district cut-backs. Many teacher's aides are at-will, and can have their jobs "non-renewed" without any notice or fault on their part.
Non-tenured teachers can be "non-renewed" or asked to resign because a few parents don't like them, because their hair is ugly, or because they aren't in the "in" crowd. Coaches can lose their jobs if they have a losing season or an enemy on the school board. They are looked at under a magnifying glass and all their relationships, activities, social lives, and backgrounds are under scrutiny. A non-tenured teacher can be non-renewed for NO reason at all. They are constantly trying to balance pleasing the parents, board, students, and administrators and do what ALL those people think is most-needed for the kids.
Their pay is merely a drop in the bucket compared to that of a doctor or rocket scientist, and while the retirement and benefits are good, they're probably no better than any other job that offers them. Many teachers work weekend jobs, summer jobs, or teach summer school to help make ends meet for their family.
In addition, teachers are required to sponsor extra-curriculars, orchestrate activities, and supervise school functions (like dances, ball games, and field trips). Add at-home planning and grading to their mountain of tasks. Good teachers worry about teaching well, worry about their students, worry about the standardized tests, worry about their jobs.
I agree whole-heartedly that the education system in America is whack and needs a TON of work. It needs REAL teachers and educators helping to perfect it, not a bunch of bureaucrats in ties who have never even set foot in a classroom.
But most teachers I know do a hell of a job considered what they're given to work with, and few of them would say their job is secure or easy. But none of them would trade it for the world.