Teachers Feeling Unappreciated by Secretary Duncan

[proud2BlibKansan]

Teacher Appreciation Week got off to a rocky start for Arne Duncan. He posted a letter to America's teachers, acknowledging our frustration, but expressing his determination to push forward the agenda that has us so frustrated. His letter was posted in three places that I have seen. Here, on Teacher Magazine, where there are now 76 responses, only about three of which could be interpreted as vaguely supportive or even neutral. The rest ran the gamut from skeptical to caustic. On the Huffington Post, and the Department of Education web site, here, where there are 74 comments, the response is similar.

I posted my response on Monday, and Sabrina Stevens-Shupe wrote an open letter that raised many of the same points raised in my letter. These posts, combined with the overwhelmingly negative comments posted in response to Secretary Duncan's letter, prompted Department of Education press secretary Justin Hamilton to respond in the Huffington Post. He said:
"It's disappointing to hear that someone feels that way, but we don't think that's how the broader teaching community feels about it," said Justin Hamilton, a spokesman for the Education Department.

In response to teachers' claims that Duncan was disingenuous in saying he intended to work together with students, Hamilton noted that the Education Secretary has visited 169 schools in close to 45 states. "Everywhere he goes he sits down with parents, educators, education stakeholders, community members," Hamilton said.

I read some of the other responses that were posted. One was especially telling.

A commenter named becut wrote on the Huffington Post:

Arne Duncan visited my school. The school cleaned the main building spotless, put up large university banners and huge glossy pics of students enjoying themselves at school. Mr. Duncan visited a second year "Teach for America" teacher's classroom. Her (period) 3 students were rearranged with only the good students. Her record was touted for raising some of the lowest math students test scores.

more . . . http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2011/05/teachers_feeling_unappreciated.html

[MadHound]

1. Unappreciated, hell, most I know feel under attack by this man and his policies

Thankfully our teabagger legislature finally saw the light and accepted the state's share of ed stimulus funds, so hopefully I might get a job this year.

But still and all, public teaching is a profession that is under attack from all sides, all parties.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Yes but they are still trying to get rid of tenure

AND there's another bill that's even worse - that one takes away payroll deduction for union dues.

[MadHound]

3. Yeah, I know

Hopefully, hopefully our Democratic governor will backstop all of this. We'll see what happens.

Meanwhile I'm just happy that they finally saw the sense of taking the stimulus money.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. They have a veto proof majority

[Starry Messenger]

5. k&r

[madrchsod]

6. my favorite comment to the dems national party`s questionnaires..

'i`m giving to my local candidates instead of the union busting national party"...maybe a little harsh but it`s how i feel.

[treestar]

7. They should try a Republican Secretary

All of us feel unappreciated, no matter what our job/profession.

[Bluebear]

8. "Underappreciated" would be OK if that was all it was. nt