I’m going to step out of my usual third-person writing voice for a moment. As a parent I received a letter last week from the Kansas State Board of Education, informing me that my children’s school district had been placed on “improvement” status for failing to meet “adequate yearly progress” under the No Child Left Behind law.
I thought it ironic that our schools were judged inadequate by people who haven’t set foot in them, so I wrote a letter to my local newspaper. Predictably, my letter elicited a deluge of comments in the paper’s online forum. Many remarks came from armchair educators and anti-teacher, anti-public school evangelists quick to discredit anything I had to say under the rationale of “he’s a teacher.” What could a teacher possibly know about education?
Countless arguments used to denigrate public school teachers begin with the phrase “in what other profession….” and conclude with practically anything the anti-teacher pundits find offensive about public education. Due process and collective bargaining are favorite targets, as are the erroneous but tightly held beliefs that teachers are under-worked, over-paid (earning million-dollar pensions), and not accountable for anything.
In what other profession, indeed.
In what other profession are the licensed professionals considered the LEAST knowledgeable about the job? You seldom if ever hear “that guy couldn’t possibly know a thing about law enforcement – he’s a police officer”, or “she can’t be trusted talking about fire safety – she’s a firefighter.”
In what other profession is experience viewed as a liability rather than an asset? You won’t find a contractor advertising “choose me – I’ve never done this before”, and your doctor won’t recommend a surgeon on the basis of her “having very little experience with the procedure”.
In what other profession is the desire for competitive salary viewed as proof of callous indifference towards the job? You won’t hear many say “that lawyer charges a lot of money, she obviously doesn’t care about her clients”, or “that coach earns millions – clearly he doesn’t care about the team.”
But look around. You’ll find droves of armchair educators who summarily dismiss any statement about education when it comes from a teacher. Likewise, it’s easy to find politicians, pundits, and profiteers who refer to our veteran teachers as ineffective, overpriced “dead wood”. Only the rookies could possibly be any good, or worth the food-stamp-eligible starting salaries we pay them.
And if teachers dare ask for a raise, this is taken by many as clear evidence that teachers don’t give a porcupine’s posterior about kids. In fact, some say if teachers really cared about their students they would insist on earning LESS money.
If that entire attitude weren’t bad enough, what other profession is legally held to PERFECTION by 2014? Are police required to eliminate all crime? Are firefighters required to eliminate all fires? Are doctors required to cure all patients? Are lawyers required to win all cases? Are coaches required to win all games? Of course they aren’t.
For no other profession do so many outsiders refuse to accept the realities of an imperfect world. Crime happens. Fire happens. Illness happens. As for lawyers and coaches, where there’s a winner there must also be a loser. People accept all these realities, until they apply to public education.
If a poverty-stricken, drug-addled meth-cooker burns down his house, suffers third degree burns, and then goes to jail; we don’t blame the police, fire department, doctors, and defense attorneys for his predicament. But if that kid doesn’t graduate high school, it’s clearly the teacher’s fault.
And if someone – anyone - tries to tell you otherwise; don’t listen. He must be a teacher.
Comments
Whine much?
Doesn't sound like he's whining to me. But, what would I know. I'm just a teacher with a couple degrees and seven years teaching experience. Looks like a top-notch article with nothing but truth. I'm in Texas. Believe me, it's the same...the very same way here. Best of luck. Keep writing 'em as you see 'em, David.
David's comments ring true to me. I have been teaching for 6 years and even my own husband and his family sometimes gripe about how much money I make while getting so much time off. Of coarse, my husband didn't go to college, so he is stuck working long hours for little pay and his parents are high school drop outs and have made a living scamming the welfare and social security system. I think many parents of failing students have a negative attitude towards teachers because they need someone to blame and it surely can't be themselves.
Try spelling whiny right, then you may try to dis this man's work.
I am the wife of a retired teacher, the mother of a teacher, the mother in law of a teacher, the friend of many teachers and the list goes on. I am also the mother in law of a prosecuting attorney and the mother in law of an unemployed son in law who has two degrees and cannot get a job. My son in law who teaches qualifies for food stamps and free lunches. Does that sound like he is making too much money? He also coaches and is an athletic director who gets to listen to all the complaints from parents and armchair coaches and spends too many hours away from his own kids, but hangs in there anyway. So, Mr. Reber keep up the good writing and the good work. Teachers like you are the greatest asset to students, more so than their parents most of the time.
No kidding. "...food-stamp-eligible starting salaries..."?. Maybe the problem is that there is no equality in pay for teachers. The ones working in the shoddy district get paid nothing while the ones with the cushy jobs in the well-off districts get..wait for it...OVERPAID! Most teachers I know are overpaid and I only sympathize with those that are working their tails off in the low-income or private school realms that HONESTLY can't afford to take the summer off like their OVERPAID, wealthy district colleagues. Most of those "lucky" teachers get paid WAAAAY more than most of us with business degrees. It's like this everywhere but you don't see business grads making the news due to their more than lackluster salary offer. Deal with it and quit whining.
I am someone who previously worked in the "real world" prior to teaching. I believe this gives me a unique perspective that some teachers do not possess. Like many people, I lumped all union workers into the same categories of lazy and overpaid. I have learned how important it is for teachers to have union representation, given the huge amount of flack and discredit they receive. I'm not running for union president, but I appreciate the union leadership who support teachers when many others bash the profession.
I work in a great school district that has a supportive community that observes the benefits of education. This is because the families in our community have parents who are educated and are professionally successful as a result. This support does not exist In some school districts, where you find parents that don't value education because they made poor decisions.
I realize the public education system can be improved. However, I'd like to ensure everyone that there are hard-working teachers who care about the future of the United States. There are teachers who spend countless hours earning their pay. There are teachers who go above and beyond the 8 hour work-day and volunteer, coach, and lead extracurricular activities. There are teachers who strive to improve the way they teach. There are teachers who serve as role models for students. There are teachers who prepare students to function successfully in the "real world."
"I went to college" is not supposed to mean you deserve a high salary.
Of course our educational-industrialist workers will be the last to admit this.
I'm making reference to his article and particularly his quote at the end tonight in my Foundations of Education class I teach. Thank you. I've been in public education for 17 years at the elementary and middle level while simultaneously teaching during the summer at the college level. I'd certainly like to think experience brings SOMETHING to class for these future educators.
Whine! Are you joking? Oh yeah, I'm in the same catagory. I must not know much either - I have a Master's Degree plus 20 hours (that would be a Ph D) and 15 years of experience. I am a reading and writing specialist, physical education teacher, gifted and talented math educator, librarian and much more. In my profession I am constantly educating myself to meet the State of Michigan requirements to keep my certification (and pay for it each term of 5-6 years). What other profession do you know of that each member continuously pays to work? You think we have June, July, and August to kick back and do nothing - LOL! That's when most of us are taking graduate courses, conference, and workshops that don't fit in the regular school year. I've worked hard and paid plenty for my education to become a teacher and to continue being a teacher - how dare any of you discredit us. Who exactly is it that you want to entrust your children to - you know the kids that will be our next generation?
Whine! Are you joking? Oh yeah, I'm in the same catagory. I must not know much either - I have a Master's Degree plus 20 hours (that would be a Ph D) and 15 years of experience. I am a reading and writing specialist, physical education teacher, gifted and talented math educator, librarian and much more. In my profession I am constantly educating myself to meet the State of Michigan requirements to keep my certification (and pay for it each term of 5-6 years). What other profession do you know of that each member continuously pays to work? You think we have June, July, and August to kick back and do nothing - LOL! That's when most of us are taking graduate courses, conference, and workshops that don't fit in the regular school year. I've worked hard and paid plenty for my education to become a teacher and to continue being a teacher - how dare any of you discredit us. Who exactly is it that you want to entrust your children to - you know the kids that will be our next generation?
Beth, you and your business degree crack me up! Why didn't you get a teaching degree? I keep hearing from you "business' types that we have an easy job and overpriced salary! Could it be that its not that great of a job or maybe you aren't smart enough to pass the program! Which one is it???
Very good article... but your next to last sentenced should say " if a kid does not graduate FROM high school"
I'm not a teacher... but I have four children... and I agree with David wholeheartedly. For those with children, why not spend a great deal MORE dollars on our in-class teachers? They are making the investment not only for our children, but for OUR future. I would vote in an instant to take just HALF the money we invest in sports and entertainment and distribute among in-class teachers... In all the years I've witnessed my children educated, there have been some crappy teachers... and there have also been extremely concerned, smart, gifted teachers who are able to use new ideas and methods to get 'old' information across to kids. Teachers can not be expected to do all the work for your children... parents and students must give equal amounts of effort. Yes, get rid of those teachers who truly have no interest in whether children have the opportunities for a successful future... and give BIG increases to teachers who have that knack or talent to teach in a more effective important way, and are brave enough to try new methods. Cut the 'arm-chair' positions and put that money back into the classroom... to the teachers and future teachers of America... I stand behind you 100% as a parent.
For those of you who feel that ANY teacher has a cushy job hasn' been in a classroom expected to teach ALL children to pass tests. we are no longer able to teach children to think and rationalize their ways through problems. ALL children must learn to pass the tests. I teach in what once was a middle class school. We are now a Title one school in which 61% of my students are on free or reduced lunch. Many come from parents who at least finished high school. Things have changed not only do parents not have time to get involved because they are working, but they are being told that if their kid doesn't graduate, BLAME THE TEACHER! Don't blame your kid for skipping class, sleeping or just refsing to work - th teacher must not know how to engage them. We are creating a society that does not value education and LEARNING. Our government wants everyone to be able to go to college while they slam teachers (many hold 2 or mor degrees). Why in the world would education be important when the very people TEACHING are held in such disregard?
Whining? This man is telling the truth... we who are teaching are only as effective as we are allowed to be. When will we hold our legislators to the same standards as teachers are held to? I say that for every year the budget isn't balanced, their pay gets cut and they get put on a plan to "help" them become better at their jobs!
Interesting that someone who states "whine much" took the time to read this. Must be a politician.
Troll much? Damn. I guess you do. Look at everyone who took the bait!
I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard the comment, "I don't know how you do it. I could never teach."
I could then retire on my pension and not have to get a second job to make ends meet. To those of you who disrespect and degrade the public education system, quit your complaining, go back to school, get your degree in education, and start teaching. Oh, and by the way, how did you learn to read, write and communicate. That's right - thank a teacher.
This is the most accurate reflection on the profession that I have read in a while.
I used to be a teacher. When my husband left me with three small children and initially refused to payr child support, i had to find a way to support my family. I couldn't do it on a teacher's salary. Now I'm a Soldier and i get paid very well. Wait, did i say that? Aren't Soldiers supposed to be underpaid too? Hmmm. I couldnt get paid enough to support my family doing the job i was highly educated, trained and professionally certified for so I went into a field in which I did not need a college degree. A field in which many still complain they are underpaid. How could that be???
Here is the Letter to the Editor and the comments: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/aug/27/offensive-letter/
Um.... I wouldn't talk since you spelled course incorrectly.... and you are a teacher... =)
"Countless arguments used to denigrate public school teachers begin with the phrase “in what other profession….” and conclude with practically anything the anti-teacher pundits find offensive about public education."
You are purposely misleading folks here, David. There was not one comment on the Lawrence Journal World site with those words.
You are correct, those words aren't there. But if you read carefully, you will see that I never said they were, either. So no, I'm not trying to mislead anyone.
What I am doing is describing a mindset that is very common among people who, for a variety of reasons, have contempt for public school teachers. I'm not talking about exact words, I'm talking about a mindset or premise that is used to portray public school teachers in a negative light.
Go back and read the comments on the Journal-World forum. Note the glee with which some point out their discovery that I am a teacher - or worse, a teacher interested in politics, policy, and school finance. They refer to having won the lottery and say "there IS a Santa Clause".
The conclusion these people have reached is that, upon discovering I am a teacher, no further evidence is necessary to refute my points.
I stand by what I wrote.
Anonymous,
Seriously? "...purposely misleading.."? if I had a dime for every time I've heard a sentence begin with, "in what other profession..." as folks like yourself begin the anti-teacher rant I might have enough cash to fund a decent elementary science lab.
Do you object to assessments such as the SAT's or ACT's, too? Or just the assessments that can tie the students' progress and proficiency (or lack thereof) to you?
The SAT and ACT test scores are only indicative of one's ability to prepare for the SAT or ACT. Nothing more, nothing less. That's why more and more colleges are moving away from using the SATs and ACT as part of entrance requirements.
If you can find such an assessment, please, let us know.
The only thing that got me a high score on the SAT & ACT were the SAT & ACT courses, which taught me how to TAKE the test, as opposed to taught me subjects that would benefit me in college (or the future beyond college.) The ACT & SAT was somewhat like a game- you had strategies of how to best figure out each problem & essay.
Of course, this is just from my personal viewpoint.
Funny- I could almost always predict how well a student would do based on how often the child's parent would sign the homework planner.
The agencies who develop and administer the SATs and ACTs are adamant that those tests are only to be used for evaluating a student's likelihood of succeeding the the American college system - and have no validity in assessing the performance of a K-12 school system.
To which assessments are you referring? Please let us know, because I'd be really interested to see an assessment that can determine that a child's success or failure is 100% tied to their teacher's performance. I'm most interested to see how the child's home environment and learning ability was taken out of the equation. If you could post a link to the assessments you are speaking of, that would be fabulous.
ONE test cannot tie student progress to the teacher. Many many students refuse to take the tests or just write random answers because they can. I say that's lack of discipline on the parents part, not how well a teacher can teach the content!
What about when half the classroom is filled with special needs students on IEPs? Is it fair then to judge the teacher on their performance in comparison with the rest of their grade?
What do you do for work? I am asuming you work. If you don't then you, not teachers, are a waste for society! By the way, I have been teaching for 17 years. I have, by choice, taught in schools where the majority of the students are at risk, poor, underachievers, etc. However, I hold my students to a set of standards that requires them to work hard and do well---just like the majority of my colleagues. Yes, there are slacker teachers-just like there are slacker lawyers, quacks for doctors, and members of other professions who do not value their jobs, so they do them poorly. However, I agree with David. Education is the only profession in this country that is governed, judged, and legislated by so many who have never participated in it for even one day.
In what other profession could you write a completely coherent, logical letter about that very profession and have people examine and re-examine every word striving to point out how every last detail is based on flawed thinking, greed, and vengeance? Shame on you for thinking you can express your opinions on education without suffering the wrath of those who disagree! Why can't you just do the job you're meagerly paid for and quit using your teaching experience and your college degree as an excuse for having some sort of knowledge. What are you going to whine about next? The fact that schools are poorly funded? Maybe you'll tell us that, as a parent, you think being highly involved in your children's education is a good idea? Give us all a break and keep it to yourself. Nobody wants to be bothered with any of that. Now on the other hand, if you can tell me how to harvest my fields even more quickly in Farmville or share some juicy tidbits about Lindsay Lohan I'm all ears!
He is expressing his opinion just as you are here. Ignorance. Maybe david could have taught you that.
That may have been my favorite comment of all of them to be honest.
I don't know which I like more, Chris' comment, or the one where "Anonymous" accuses Chris of "Ignorance" :)
Let me guess. Your kid's are failing their classes and sit at home and play video games while you sit on a computer talk to you friends and ignore them entirely. If so you probably should just quit being so ignorant and actually try to make your kids do better, or blame yourself for bad parenting. Its up to you but I'm guessing its not a bad teacher.
Wow, you really wrote all this here? Aren't you just laying it all out for everyone to see. Your stupidity that is.
delicious sarcasm.
Thanks to those of you who pointed out my ignorance it was well-deserved. And in response to one of the comments, not only am I a bad teacher, I'm a poor parent too! In fact, as I sit here and type this comment, my children--all 12 and younger--are playing a video game where they are shooting and killing people! It's called "Berzerk" and they are playing it on the Atari 2600, the only gaming system I could afford on my teaching salary. But hey, who are we kidding? I'm just a glorified babysitter handing out endless worksheets to keep those kids busy. As a matter of fact, I'll let you in on a little secret that us teachers have been sitting on for a long time: anybody can do our job! In the classroom next to mine they actually have a trained monkey watching over those kids--don''t worry though; it's only the low-income kids in there that nobody, including the government, cares about. Talk about your Wiki-leaks!
Thank you also to those of you who have an appreciation for sarcasm, including David Reber. It is sarcasm that is often the only way to get the point across to some people, to piss off the people that you know will never see your side of things, and to completely baffle those who think facts are what they see on entertainment-news channels such as FoxNews.
The ACT and SAT are fine, because of the demographic taking the test, and the way test results are interpreted and used. For starters, kids taking those exams WANT to do well; thus they try. There is no random filling in of answers without reading the questions - yes, that does happen when an entire public school population is required to take a test. Any teacher can verify that (the question is, will anyone listen?).
Second, those test results are used to determine the knowledge and skills of the STUDENT; and thereby make predictions as to how they will do in college. Used in this manner, the SAT and ACT have proven valid and reliable. But there is no way those same tests could be a valid measure of ONE school or ONE teacher.
If a student does very well on, for example, the English section of the ACT; that reflects not just on that student's CURRENT English teacher, but on every teacher that kid ever had; as well as on the home life, etc., of that student - all of which contribute to how the kid performs.
NCLB however, takes one test and uses the results to evaluate that students' current school. There are far too many reasons why this is not valid to spell them out here. I suggest you read "Adequate Yearly Diddily Poop" - scroll back through my articles to, I believe, April 2010. Also, "We Must Fire Bad Doctors" also addresses many of the problems with holding public schools and teachers 100% accountable for student test results.
In the medical field, we call the overall problem a "Self Care Deficit". As a parent of 3, I find that this concept transcends the adult population. These same adults who will not take care of themselves also will not support the growth or development of their children's academics and impart on them the same responsibility deficits. This really makes it difficult if not impossible for a child to succeed academically, no matter the teacher or education system. Good thing we will always need fast food workers and grocery story help.
Without true dedication to educating our country's children, a public school teacher would not last long in a classroom. Our teachers face head on, every day, all the failures of our society and yet continue to work for the development of their students. Why now, when they are trying to tell us that government policy regarding public education has taken a wrong turn, are they being met with such derision and disregard? Incredible!
In ten years, there is projected to be 45,000 Primary Care Physicians serving a population of 300,000,000+ in the U.S. Most doctors look at the specialties related to primary care and say, "F that".
Talented, dedicated teachers will soon do the same. Sooner or later we will be *forced* to avail ourselves of your services on tired-of-being-screwed-so-learn-from-me-for-double-the-price-online.com
I, for one, look forward to that.
If I get a cavity, is it my dentist's fault? Shoud he lose his job? What if he's told me floss and I ignore him, is it still his fault? What if I have genetically bad teeth, is it his fault? What if the previous dentist gave me a bad crown which caused me to get a cavity? Is it the new dentist's fault? There are too many variables to education that one teacher cannot be held accountable for. I've been to the dentist at least twice a year for 40 years. Am I qualified to tell you what is wrong and how to correct the dental system? No. The gist of this article is that people will ask dentists and doctors and other professionals what is wrong and how to fix their systems but not ask those who are in the classroom everyday, for years, because they have a passion for students and teaching, what is wrong. And yes, I am a teacher, and I am proud of it.
But there is a choice of dentists. Most parents do not have school choice. They pay high property and income tax that is redirected to public schools and are left without enough funds to afford private tuition. Further, tenure virtually guarantees that a teacher will remain in place regardless of performance.
When a dentist does harm a patient he can be sued for malpractice. When a teacher fails to educate a student it is blamed on the test.
Tenure for teachers and civil servants serve two functions: 1) they'll be free to follow objective best practices, 2) politicians can't fire them for following best practices, i.e. not kowtowing. Whether or not individual pathetically underpaid public employees follow best practices is admittedly questionable, but that purpose of having internal reviews and procedural evaluations. While we may all have gone to school, that doesn't make us all experts on teachers, just as riding in a plane doesn't make us pilots. The person most qualified to evaluate a pilot's performance is another pilot, and likewise the people best suited to fire teachers for misconduct are other educators.
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