Teachers Under Attack

I promise this blog isn't going to be all about the politics of teaching.  I know this post will make two in a row, but I had to share an article from The Examiner that was circulating this morning.  I would sincerely love to teach in a society where politics and the outside pressure of people who haven't set foot in a classroom since their days as a student didn't come into play.  However, education is under fire in America right now.  Most of us are confronted by it daily. This article is over a year old, but I find it sad that so many of the things he discusses are still relevant. 

Yes, there are ineffective teachers out there.  Yes, there are failing schools.  Yes, there are things all of us could do to improve.  There are also quality teachers, schools committed to success for all of their students, and districts open to change when it isn't structured as top-down by those who have no idea what we're dealing with every day. 


I'm finding that when it comes to schools and teachers, people either love us or hate us.  I get, "Oh, you're a teacher. Bless your heart. That's one of the hardest jobs.  It takes a special person to teach."  Then you read the comments section of the newspapers or listen to politicians and their supporters.  We might as well be overpaid, under-worked babysitters who are out to eat little children, one at a time, with pleasure.  I wish they'd come to our classroom for just one day.  I agree.  It's time for a change!


Without further rambling, here's David Reber's article.  What do you think?