Teachers Always Take The Hit

[BOBK]

I don't know about you, but I am tired of hearing the blame laid at all teachers' feet, when things aren't going well in schools.  Sure, there are bad teachers, but most of them are working their butts off, for administrations who only think about their own reputations with the Federal government, not the students of that school.

This thought was prompted by yet another article in one of the major magazines entitled: How To Make Better Teachers.  Although it seems like a reasonable statement, my wife -who is a teacher- and I discuss this topic frequently.

Every new idea comes from some other source, not even related to the area in which the school resides in.  Teachers are forced, more and more, to attend endless workshops and meetings, many of which have little to do with how to better their own school's situations.  It seems more about using Federal money, to get more Federal money.  But you can't just use the money in the way that seems best for you and your school.  You must use it for this convention, or that series of  text books, or to go this presentation by some fly-by-night new author. 

There have been so many instances when I can recall the teachers of certain schools being forced into unwanted, and unneeded, changes in text books and reading programs, for instance.  New-fangled methods and, so-called experts are brought in, but no one ever bothered to ask the teachers what they thought.  It's as if their opinions don't matter at all, yet they are the ones dealing with our children day-in, and day-out.

Over, and over again, I see these new ways as fads, that are here now, and then discarded -only to be replaced by yet another, and another, new fad.  All they had to do was ask the local teachers what they think are the issues for that particular school's problems, and more often than not, they would have some good ideas.  So many times it seems that if they were aloud to just simply go back to basics, and just stick to that, everything would start improving. 

It always comes back to the same thing: Federal Money.

[Rainier]

The system isnt right.

In this state, they're trying to push a merit type of thing for teachers. If their classes are doing better, they get paid more, or get more resources, etc. This is BS because it's not always the teachers' fault. Take me for example: terrible student. Didn't do an ounce of homework ever. The teachers did everything they could to motivate me, but I wouldn't get on the ball. Teachers shouldn't be punished for having students like me.

[achilles118]

I havent maid up my mind on the merit system yet.
Im like rainier, I did no homework and sweaked by in every class but wood shop and weight lifting, a. because those fit my presonality and b. I didnt care about anything else. but somethimes I feel like teacher could do more to lead and motivate students. but then again I've only been back in this country for 6 months and I havent been in a public school for 4 years now. Hard for me to look at fact from a distance.

[Rainier]

The only classes I did the actual work in were English, Woodshop and the music classes.

Other than that, I didn't do any work, just the tests. Which I passed 98% of the time (without cheating)

[MONOLITH]

There's two issues, interconnected;

The teachers biggest problem, is the latest generation of idiot parents who have raised disrespectful, out of touch children.

The merit system will fail the children most of all, because teachers who need to be paid regardless, will pass through students that should be smacked in the head instead.

[BOBK]

MONO:

the latest generation of idiot parents who have raised disrespectful, out of touch children.

...which, in many cases, is because their parents are disrespectful, and out-of-touch, themselves. 

Sometimes, I see that flash in my head -the "hidden cave, where they won't find you" thought, and then I shake it off, and realize I that somehow, I have to overcome these hurdles on behalf of my children.  I must help my own find their way through this mine-field of degrading, defeatist attitudes, and every-other-word fowl language, which goes on no matter what the age of the child near them is, etc.   I must find a way to teach my children how to deal with this, yet not succumb to it!!    

[BOBK]

P.S.  I also think the merit pay idea is no good, as it will breed back-stabbing, and unnecessary competition.

At my wife's school. outsiders who have come in to work, such as subs, usually comment on how appreciative they are to find a school where the teachers compare notes, and generally work together.  We do have standards, so if that were the main goal, and there was more-or-less acceptance of them, there would be less of an issue.

[Dr.Jeckyl]

I'm not keen on the merit system either. I think that a lot of blame does and should fall on the parents. In my daughter's classes you can definitely tell which kids' parents are more involved in their classwork and classroom. Be it activities, a class "Mom" or just the occasional volunteer work for the holiday festivals. Those kids tend to be more productive in class. The teacher-parent relationship is paramount to any letter that is meant to be sent home telling of how your kid is doing.