Friday, April 29, 2005
37 Days Left
...and I'm counting every one. I've had (for most beginning teachers) a relatively successful two years. I had mentors and close colleagues to see me over hard spots, I had almost 3 planning periods per week, good evaluations, helpful advice, and materials and resources that I was either given or granted. I can't complain about the "setup".
I can say, however, that it isn't enough. New teachers need more planning time, more time to observe other teachers and schools, more support with handling discipline problems that aren't addressed by the school-wide discipline plan or the union contract (or, shall we say, are interpreted differently by teachers and administrators). My favorite personal experience has been giving up summer vactions or weekend plans with my own family to attend "highly encouraged", and in one case, "mandatory training/professional development" only to have to fight to get the payment check.
The list could go on and on with the end result being that teachers are not valued or made to feel important--even the good and great ones. The system chokes creativity and joy in the name of mediocrity, hypocrisy, and inconsistency. I hear that Dr. J plans to turn over more "local" control to schools that are meeting achievement goals, although it appears to be mostly procurement and budgeting type control. Anything will be a breath of fresh air, but they really need control over so much more at the elementary level. I am not an anti-standards person, but these "data driven" elementary schools have literally squeezed all the life out of students and teachers. It's not so much the testing, but the high stakes attached. The high stakes are for the adults involved. The adults become stressed which directly effects what happens in the classroom on almost a daily basis. The lessons are like browbeatings in certain situations--particularly in the spring.
I've now seen what many public schools are from the outside (as a parent) and from the inside (as a teacher) and neither picture is good. There are exceptions, but I can honestly say that right now, I don't like what public schools are and I can't see myself teaching there in the foreseeable future. I found a position in a private school for the fall that is a polar opposite of my current situation. Just walking in the door you sense that most everything that happens is about the needs of the students and not the adults involved. Children really do come first, and teachers are treated like they matter too.
So long, public education. Farewell.
Live and Learn,
DC Elementary Teacher
I can say, however, that it isn't enough. New teachers need more planning time, more time to observe other teachers and schools, more support with handling discipline problems that aren't addressed by the school-wide discipline plan or the union contract (or, shall we say, are interpreted differently by teachers and administrators). My favorite personal experience has been giving up summer vactions or weekend plans with my own family to attend "highly encouraged", and in one case, "mandatory training/professional development" only to have to fight to get the payment check.
The list could go on and on with the end result being that teachers are not valued or made to feel important--even the good and great ones. The system chokes creativity and joy in the name of mediocrity, hypocrisy, and inconsistency. I hear that Dr. J plans to turn over more "local" control to schools that are meeting achievement goals, although it appears to be mostly procurement and budgeting type control. Anything will be a breath of fresh air, but they really need control over so much more at the elementary level. I am not an anti-standards person, but these "data driven" elementary schools have literally squeezed all the life out of students and teachers. It's not so much the testing, but the high stakes attached. The high stakes are for the adults involved. The adults become stressed which directly effects what happens in the classroom on almost a daily basis. The lessons are like browbeatings in certain situations--particularly in the spring.
I've now seen what many public schools are from the outside (as a parent) and from the inside (as a teacher) and neither picture is good. There are exceptions, but I can honestly say that right now, I don't like what public schools are and I can't see myself teaching there in the foreseeable future. I found a position in a private school for the fall that is a polar opposite of my current situation. Just walking in the door you sense that most everything that happens is about the needs of the students and not the adults involved. Children really do come first, and teachers are treated like they matter too.
So long, public education. Farewell.
Live and Learn,
DC Elementary Teacher
