Timeout for a little common sense: A few words in defense of teachers

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/11749969-418/phil-kadner-a-few-words-in-defense-of-teachers.html

Phil Kadner: A few words in defense of teachers

Phil Kadner [email protected] April 6, 2012 8:12PM

Let me say a few words in defense of teachers: They don’t get much help.

It is popular these days to criticize teachers, and there’s a lot of data that demonstrate that too many of our schools are failing to educate children.

But most of the criticisms I hear people spouting are garbage.

Let’s take the merit pay argument, for example: If only good teachers were given raises, this argument goes, there would be more of them. I usually respond to this by asking these folks if they’ve ever worked in the private sector and if they thought all pay raises were distributed fairly in their workplace.

About 90 percent of my random sample responds, “No.”

[KG]

1. y'know, I don't recall ever having a 'bad' teacher. a few i didn't like, but none i'd call 'bad'

teacher are taking the rap for a sea change in society that administrators have either refused or been unable to adjust to.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Same for me

And it seemed like for everyone I didn't like there was someone else who liked the heck out of them.

All I know is they had a rough job. Even decades ago. And I know it hasn't gotten easier over time.

Don

[dkf]

3. I'm not sure what a bad teacher is anyway.

If I got through the class by doing the rote motions but not really understanding the concept is that the teachers fault or my own?

I never felt like I has a good understanding of the higher level maths and sciences. Yeah I could follow the rules they gave me but once I forgot those processes there isn't a good foundation.

[Brooklyn Dame]

4. High five for teachers...

...as the daughter of a retired educator, I saw first-hand the abuse to which teachers are subjected.

http://borderlessnewsandviews.com/2012/03/one-teeny-tiny-problem-with-teacher-evaluations/


http://borderlessnewsandviews.com/2012/03/a-sixpence-for-education/

http://borderlessnewsandviews.com/2012/02/we-do-need-an-education/