Still Knocking, Gesturing

By On May 8, 2012 · 1 Comment

 
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
Reddit Facebook Twitter Delicious

One Response to Still Knocking, Gesturing

  1. Carolyn Egan says:
    May 8, 2012 at 6:17 pm

    I read your column with interest. I think your criticism of Malloy’s casting the net too wide (since school and student performance is directly linked to poverty levels – which means CT’s poorest performing schools tend to be in the poorest communities) was right on. I take issue, however, with your description of teachers as “well compensated adults.” A well loved sister arises at 4am each business day; arrives at school at 6:30am and is rarely home before 6pm, only to do more work at home. Most of her weekends are “working weekends.” She worked every day of spring break – in her school room – and nevertheless felt she had not accomplished all she should have. She is a “new teacher” – at mid-life (hard enough in this atmosphere of agist bias) with a hard-earned master’s degree and earns 41,000. a year!

    My frustration with the education debate centers around what is not being discussed. For example, most “lay” people may not realize how rigorous the certification process currently is for new teachers. As part of the certification process, they must pass two highly rigorous “PRAXIS” tests. In addition to the continuing education requirements that span a teacher’s career, new teachers must devote long hours to “TEAM” courses during their first few years of employment, while they are also building class plans and acclimating to being a teacher. And, they are continually evaluated, sometimes twice in a quarter.

    Another example of what has not been sufficiently discussed is the accountability of our students and parents. As an adjunct teacher myself, I can assure you that the attention span, motivation and discipline of many young people is almost nil. I can’t grasp why an analysis of the impacts of the culture of the moment – gadget-centeredness and family instability – have not been part of this discussion. Being an “effective” teacher in this environment, when parents are antagonistic and not supportive of teachers, and students are not encouraged at home to develop personal responsibility, is placing all the blame and all the burden on the teacher. Unfairly. And, in the long run, it won’t work.