I have watched conditions unfold over the last 30 years that have led me to believe that the problems in education are not the educators, but the expectations placed on educational institutions and the teachers.
Schools are one of the focal points within communities. Public schools are mandated by law to accept all eligible students. Schools become the crucible in which children of all differing abilities, cultures, social economic statuses, race, religions, learning traditions, and families are cast into, with the goal of becoming literate members of society. This was a goal of Horace Mann the father of American Education. Not only was he the strongest 19th century proponent of universal public education, but he founded the “normal schools” for the training of teachers. He felt that the crucible effect would positively benefit not only the individual student but society as a whole. The universal school system has been instrumental in forming the singular American identity.
Educators have been trained to educate. They are not trained to be psychotherapists, psychologists, social workers, nannies, nurses or conflict mediators. But, social problems requiring the skills of these other professions are what precisely teachers must deal with on a daily basis. On top of that, many teachers are standing alone without the support of student’s families or the support of the community. School administrations are also unable to deal with the avalanche of problems that walk through the door. They are lucky, in some circumstances, to be able just to maintain order and protect the students and teachers from physical harm.
Many of the schools that have the lowest performance are also the schools that are inundated with the most social problems. These schools are normally serving the most impoverished communities with the least amount of public support for the school and the educational process. When these troubled schools are compared to schools found in other areas that are not subjected to the immense social problems; it is not surprising that schools in the suburbs and rural areas perform much better. Even the most dedicated and competent teacher would have difficulty in the problem schools.
When we evaluate teachers, are we evaluating their competency as teachers or are we evaluating them on managing the social problems of their students. It is clear to me that remove the social issues interfering with learning, then performance will raise to that of rural and suburban schools.
Let’s keep our expectations real for education and schools. Teachers have unjustly been scapegoated for the school’s inability to overcome the social problems, which lead to unsatisfactory performance.
Facts are rather important to me… that is ONE cultural difference that clearly differentiates THEE from ME. “It is not racism that is holding back our school under the leadership of a black president.” President Obama is half-white – a white mother and a black father – and yet YOU call him a “black president.” Bi-racial is an interesting concept, as is the simple concept of President Obama… CONTRIBUTORS TO AMERICAS DECLINE: Devaluating the arts, science, mathematics education, while extolling FAITH American Exceptionalism Devaluating Professional Teachers Divisiveness in America Meaningful, living wage, employment opportunities Racism Vulture Capitalism Extraordinary greed Shifting from a manufacturing to a service based economy Offshoring Lack of accountability from a bought-and-paid-for congress ALEC Citizens United These are just a few areas that you may care to focus on, if you are honestly looking for causes and potential solutions to some of America’s more salient challenges, all of which have quite an impact on education and our future standing in the world. Alternatively, you could slip on your newest 2nd century loincloth, stroll down to the nearest intersection and shout at the top of your voice, AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM, while PRC, India, South America, Asia, etc., eat our lunch and we all become Neanderthals…
It would appear that you and I may hold entirely different views on Christian Humanism. These Christians do not see themselves as the ultimate expression and in many ways hold a much more fundamentalist belief. Although religion is integrated into there everyday lives, there are other cultural variables. Women in this community are much more likely to attend church and other religious activities. This is consistent with the matriarchal society that has evolved. They have a different interpretation as to a number of Christian ideological principles not shared by mainstream European Protestant denominations. Christianity, as practiced, by a number of African-Americans focuses on achieving a better place in heaven with G-d and Jesus. This was a consistent theme with Roman Catholics prior to the Reformation. Humanism no, afterlife rewards yes. Your expectation that increased knowledge will necessarily will reverse the decline is inaccurate. Knowledge and economic presence are entirely two different things. Follow me on this: If function is conditional on Social Economic Status and economic resources, then dysfunction is an indication of the absence of favorable conditions, such as higher SES and lower economic resources.
I don't agree with fake doctor notes either. I place it at about the same level of disingenuous behavior as sliding ALEC union-busting into what was publicized as a "budget repair" bill. If we had a national health plan, we'd eliminate the middleman insurance company altogether. Teaching is a noble profession, I agree.
Her boss did giver her the option of putting the sign (not a bumper sticker) on the floor of the car (not displayed), or parking across the street. She refused. She was sent home and told not to report for work the next day. After she got a lawyer involved, she has since been invited to return to work. It seems pretty clear that the firing was related to the pro-Walker sign...
The Democrats did not have complete control of the government for the first 2 years; the Democrats had 57 members in the Senate – 2 of these seats were being actively contested and these folks, Roland Burris for Obama’s seat and Al Franken for Norm Coleman’s seat… could not be sworn in because of ongoing litigation. It is completely disingenuous to say that the Democrats had COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR TWO YEARS AND DID NOTHING… It has been increasingly difficult for the Democratic Party to get any bills passed through the Senate, as the Republicans have either threatened a filibuster or just went ahead and filibustered. It takes 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, and get something passed through the Senate. I will applaud the intellectual dishonesty, once again, of my good Christian friend, JB… The only party fighting to get the poor job training, welfare-to-work, Pell Grants and an education is the Democratic Party – Republicans just say, “NO!” Republicans, on the other hand, want their base to be kept poor, disabled and uneducated; the base, FL, Al, AZ, MS, LA, GA, AR. SC. TN, TX, KY, UT, OK. These folks have had so much GOD and AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM pumped up their derriere that they cannot see straight. These are the poorest and least educated, residing in the Bible belt, maintaining their fundamental Christian faith, low wages and rigidly voting REPUBLICAN… just the way the Republican Party wants them to be…
BTW, I've experienced all the things you griped about related to work - including various unflattering opinions about what I do for a living offered up by those who've never done it. I'd say the same goes for most folks I know and, no doubt, the majority of folks who've spent anytime in the work force. Most of us just realize how foolish and out of touch we'd look if we griped about it at every opportunity.
Your offer is intriguing. If can fit it into my schedule, I will let you know.
Again, if you wonder why teachers often times aren't respected as professionals, you don't have to look much further than that. You demonstrate an attitude I've seen most often amongst blue collar laborers rather than one consistent with true professionals, such as doctors and lawyers. Unfortunately, you're not alone in that regard. I've seen much the same expressed here and elsewhere by teachers. So maybe it's too much to expect that you or others in the same position as you were can step away from the resentments and self-focused attitude long enough to actually focus on the issues that plague districts like MPS in a serious fashion.
It's not about you. It's not about teachers. Even Lyle has made that clear in his heading. You're so narrowly focused you can't see the forrest for the trees, so you're of absolutely no use in this discussion. That being said, if you want to behave like and align yourself with blue collar workers while being respected as professionals (I'm sure the guy unloading trucks at the distribution center would like a secretary too, but he's not gonna get one) you're fighting a losing battle. You want praise for doing your job, none of the responsibility, all of the sympathy, more of the money and perks and we're just supposed go along with that because you're a "teacher". You folks never learn. The world doesn't revolve around you. As for doing your job, I'd offer you the same opportunity if I could afford the risk of losing all my customers to your bad attitude. I don't want you anywhere near my job.
http://www.prwatch.org/node/11763
John Wilson is in some serious need for facts about the Koch Bros: http://www.kochfacts.com/kf/
Hoffa has taught community college courses in the past and he didn't complain about a single thing, unlike your constant and nonstop belly aching!
The only nation on earth that spends more on public education than the US is Switzerland. Every other nation on earth spends significantly less on public education than we do, and yet they attain much higher results. And you want us throw even more taxpayer money into the pot for public education? Apparently, you and the rest of the blue fisters were absent the day that they taught about efficiency and effectiveness in public education!
Case in point: you.
Two names for you guys - Jaime Escalante and Joe Louis Clark. They should be the standard, not the exception! Instead the standard is cry babies like Koven! Koven should be ashamed for all the whining he's done on this blog, but Hoffa knows he's not.
Maybe if you were actually highlighting problems, we'd pay attention. But as McBride has pointed out above, all you're doing is playing the victim card here! You're making it out to be all about you, the teacher, instead of making it out to be about the kids. Jaime Escalante accepted the challenges he faced without any bellyaching and he had it far worse than anything you could have possibly ever experienced! I don't think you'd find a single conservative that would bad mouth Escalante. But you know who did bad mouth Escalante - his fellow pro-active union teachers for making the rest of them look bad.
BTW - if college teaching is so great, why did you leave it? No wait, don't answer that.