Teachers should not be scapegoats for problems they can't control

[FBaggins]

Consider what it takes to be a teacher.

At least five years of college -- at a cost of about $15,000 to $20,000 per year. You might have to work as a substitute for several years, with a small daily salary and no benefits.

Once you get a full-time job, you'll probably be making at least 20 percent less annually than you would if you had chosen another field requiring a master's degree. The work is physically and psychologically exhausting.

In the summers, you'll go back to school, take required training programs and get some time to catch up on your household chores that you had to put off because the school year is so incredibly full, with classroom teaching, preparing lessons and tests, grading the tests, going to meetings, attending student activities and so on.

Most teachers love their students and love their work. They have to, although, like anyone, they sometimes complain. But we can only expect so much of them. They are often heroes. We should never ask them to be the scapegoats for poverty, racism, crime, violence, drug and alcohol abuse and rest of the things kids take to school with them every day.

http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20100307/OPINION02/3070312/Teachers-should-not-be-scapegoats-for-problems-they-can-t-control

X-post from Education - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=219&topic_id=21058&mesg_id=21058

[bluestateguy]

1. It's time to hold parents accountable and yes that might mean firing a few of them

and also get rid of the the incorrigible troublemakers. Just give 'em the heave ho from school all together and watch those test scores go up.

[maryf]

4. Its time to change the educational system, actually the system as a whole...

You aren't totally off about some parents/kids. but so many parents are worn to the bone trying to feed and house their families...
do away with the tests and their scores, neither the kids nor the teachers gain anything from them, just data mining and busy work to keep kids from really learning and teachers from really teaching...K&R

[FBaggins]

5. How does one "fire" a parent?

And who designs the assessment?

[Taitertots]

20. The illusion of statistics

The test scores are not going up when you kick out bad students. The AVERAGE test scores can go up while individuals score exactly the same.

[FarCenter]

2. 5 years of college? Some of my elementary school teachers had only 1 year.

And they taught grades 1 through 8, all subjects, at the same time.

[WinkyDink]

3. Not this century. :-)

[FarCenter]

9. 1950s rural America

And no, I don't feel short-changed. They did a really good job, and the student developed the ability to learn independently.

[maryf]

6. Can't be a public school...

Do tell...

[FarCenter]

12. It was a public school -- my father was on the school board

Which wasn't unusual, since almost all families in the neighborhood took turns on the board.

He made it through the 6th grade before having to quit to work full time.

[maryf]

18. self delete, answered above

[SmileyRose]

7. And you walked 12 miles to school - uphill - both ways - with no shoes - in 4 ft of snow.

:crazy:

[FarCenter]

10. It was 1 and 3/4 miles -- you forgot 20 degrees below zero

[FBaggins]

13. I suppose we do need to respect you WWI veterans

I didn't know there were many of you left around. :)

[HubertHeaver]

26. You are old.

My mother taught on a 2-year certificate until she retired in 1978.

[liberal N proud]

8. Ever had a child with learning disabilites?

And a school system that would not deal with them?

[FBaggins]

16. You mean a private school that would not deal with them?

I don't think that public schools have a choice (and few would want one).

[Odin2005]

23. I was one of those kids.

It took my mom threatening the school with lawyers to get them to follow my IEP.

[LostInAnomie]

11. Parents hate accepting blame for their shitty kids.

[bluestateguy]

14. That's true

Everybody wants to believer that their child is "special".

Sometimes we have to have the heart to say "no, Mr. and Mrs. Parent, your child is not special. Actually he is rather mediocre".

[KingFlorez]

15. But they do need to be evaluated and held accountable

There is a good degree of scapegoating, but at the same time many teachers just aren't up to the cut. Teaching is a public service and one needs to be prepared for what it brings, it's a profession one really has to want.

[frazzled]

17. But teachers should not be satisfied with the status quo, either

Some schools are having success with students struggling with poverty, crime, violence, drug and alcohol abuse. Others are not. Even within the same school, some teachers with the same population of students manage to achieve better results than others. There could be ways to improve the situation in failing schools, and teachers need to be receptive to new ideas and experimental means. Many, I'm sure, are. Some are not.

Today's Sunday Times magazine article is pretty interesting ... although quite a long read. I'd be curious to hear some opinions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/magazine/07Teachers-t.html?ref=magazine

In the end, I'd agree that teachers are not responsible for all the problems their students have. But they are also not exempt from trying new methods to fix them. I don't think anyone is blaming the teaching profession as a whole. Of course there are good teachers and poor teachers: that's true in any field. In general, they're a dedicated bunch. I think what most of the discussion revolves around currently are LABOR issues. When schools need new approaches and techniques, labor and compensation issues are taking precedence over educational ones. I think this is difficult in a time of recession, when many people have no job or are having to do the job of several people.

I honestly don't think it's helpful to keep repeating the (false) meme that teachers are scapegoats. It's alienating the public. It's not an accurate assessment of what's going on. And it makes it sound as if you're throwing up your hands and saying there's nothing you can do. Everyone has a stake in this, not just teachers and administrators, but families and regular citizens, too.

[FBaggins]

19. Of course they should not... and the vast majority ARE NOT. n/t

[Orlandodem]

21. I will hold Obama accountable for his policies! He won't have my money, time or vote in 2012!

nfm

[HubertHeaver]

27. Get that notion out of your head!

If the Republicans think they will get blown out in 2012 they will run Sarah. If they think they have a chance to win they will run Jeb. We really do not want another Bush.

[Taitertots]

22. Parents need to be teachers as well

Instead of passing their children off and refusing to accept their integral part in their child's education. Teachers are but one step, in a life long educational journey. As a parent it is THEIR responsibility to make sure THEIR children are learning. It is the job of the PARENTS to make sure their children behave in school.

Parents need to take their children to the library. They need to read to their children. They need to oversee them doing their homework and be available to help them. They need to raise them with discipline and self respect so they will behave.

We pass the fundamental duties of parents to teachers and complain when they can't do it. Of course they can't take hooligans and turn them into pillars of the community. They were never supposed to do that in the first place.

[Lindsey]

24. Absolutely agree. One of my best friends who's been a teacher

for 10 years is about to get laid off because of the horrible situation in California. It's disgusting. I'm wondering where the lotto
money is going. A big portion is supposed to go to education. There's very little in my mind that it's going elsewhere. I'm sickened by the whole thing. Public education in California is simply horrible.

[YvonneCa]

25. Lottery money in CA is a very small portion...

...of the total education budget.

[anonymous171]

28. I agree in spirit, but how else can we judge them? nt