Whitewashing of the Education Debacle (Part 1)
There is something terribly wrong with how American communities are looking at education reform and why they buy into the buzzified jargon the pied pipers play. Several iconic tales of mythology, folklore and fairy tale spring to mind every time I hear the media portray our Nation’s current education dilemma. Buzz words and phrases of the architects of the new education paradigm make the former used car salesman in me blush. I am also mystified at the lack of moral and ethical compass demonstrated and encouraged through mainstream media associated with all things education. The media reports on school failure as a result of faulty instruction rather than a social problem we are all faced with. Several weeks ago I witnessed a television news personality, hosting a segment involving students from a local area school making a charitable contribution, make a statement that brought tears to my eyes. After the students presented their schools message the news person thanked them for being on the show and then commented to one female student regarding her attire. He said “Are those jeans painted on?” I was stunned at the casual familiarity assumed by the news person and heartfelt for the teen that was neither prepared for the incident nor even cognizant of its reach. I found the remark to be distasteful, sexually harassing, disrespectful and endangering to a minor. A teacher would be out of a career for that remark but a news personality can talk to your children that way? If we disrespect our selves we will let others disrespect us and loose the opportunity to regain our dignity.
As a teacher who takes full ownership of instructional and surrogate responsibilities in the classroom I am outraged by the actions being committed against young people in the name of education reform.
I think the most important thing our country can do to brighten its hope for a prosperious and secure future is to focus on education reform. Our children are indeed our future and we need to pave for them a wide path towards success; enriching, encouraging and instilling in them a passion for lifelong learning.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time on your blog but I look forward to reading more of your articles and joining in on the conversation of education reform. I have two young children myself and this is a topic that is dear to many parent's hearts.
Thank you! Do keep reading and please pass the word to other parents. One of the most important things to be aware of is that help is needed to create a better education system. It is not the help from prophets of education who hold themselves high in others' sights but the help of families, communities and people who are involved with your children. It involves the people they can trust. Also we cannot get so involved in the emotional aspect of education that we lose sight of the fact that it is a huge financial entity that we all hold stock in as tax payers. You pay for the juice...your children drink the juice. Why should you pay for the education and have your children come home thirsty while the "silver tongued" administrator swims in it?
ReplyDeleteSo, is reform in education really education reform or is it merely a facade for how education money, your tax dollars, gets spent to needlessly enrich an administrator who is not likely to be long term and has no real connection to your children or their future? This is not the case everywhere however it is the prevailing scenario throughout our Nation and most predominantly in our cities and regions of highest population density. Not surprisingly where the need is greatest, the income is the least and parent involvement is proportionately the least. Keep in mind a little bit of your taxes do go to cities like Hartford, New Haven & Bridgeport. The wealth is spread around by the state to ensure an opportunity for those who have less at the expense of those who have more. It is not something you opt for. It is done for you.
I think the reform we need to see is in how parents and community members are heard as a controlling interest in the control and use of school budgets. Maybe we can't have it all. Maybe we will lose some programs. It's sad but realistic in view of the economy. Presently our students are less likely to succeed than many others from other nations, even lesser developed nations. Is it really all about "old", "stale" teachers? I don't think so. Is it really about the unions, oh no. In fact the unions are caving to the administrators…not protecting any teachers other than perhaps themselves. Tenure is not an issue as it is a scapegoat. New administrations talk about paying teachers based on productivity. On the one hand this makes the administration the new union and while they say they will pay “good” teachers more they are in fact letting you know that they will allow non productive teachers to teach your children, for less, until they can find another “good” teacher, by chance. Such a bargain! Do not wait for your tax rebate because not enough “good” teachers can be found to go around. Just for their effort the administrators will sponge up the left over budget money in bonuses.
Keep reading the entries for the Whitewashing of the Education Debacle.
Thanks Again!!