For the past couple of years, if most teachers are honest, they will tell you that they feel beaten up, under-appreciated, over-worked and the political victims of whatever people feel ails American education. Any time someone has a gripe, teachers have been in the first line of fire whether it’s over test scores, the decline of America’s youth, the graduation rate, or unions financially strapping municipalities.
In Virginia, not to stray too far from home, legislation has tinkered with teacher accountability, teacher evaluation, and teachers’ job security, especially along the lines of continuing contract. More is being asked of teachers and less is being given to them in the way of reward and compensation. In Virginia, teachers now must pay their own VRS. Elementary teachers still don’t have adequate planning time and secondary planning time is often encumbered with meetings and other wastes of time. Teachers often plan from their own homes, far in to the night.
On the one hand, teachers are trusted less which is evidenced by the frequency of evaluation, and general supervision by administrators, as though the teachers are the students. Ironically, more is being demanded of these same people.
Several national emergencies of epic proportion have brought the dedication of teachers and the sacrifices they make to the forefront. There is no greater sacrifice than laying down one’s life for a student. That is exactly what was done at Sandy Hook Elementary School and in the schools in Moore, Oklahoma. In the case of Sandy Hook, 6 educators lost their lives protecting their students. In Oklahoma, the stories are still pouring in about teachers shielding students from the ravages of the tornadoes with their own bodies.
The American public should think of these scenes the next time a teacher asks for a raise or some idiot politician comes up with some other meaningless hoop for teachers to jump through, all so the politicians can chest-thump over what THEY are doing for education. Keep your eyes and ears on your TV as we watch the people of Oklahoma try to reconstruct their lives and gather their families, pets, what is left of their belongings. Each hour you will hear yet another story of bravery and the dedication of teachers as a wild beast of a tornado bore down on at least 3 schools full of kids and staff and no underground shelter. Teachers should emerge as the new unsung heroes.
Think of the Oklahoma and Sandy Hook teachers the next time your municipality wants to go on the cheap and deny teachers a meager raise or when some politician wants to tighten the reins on the public employees.
The fact that not one person felt it appropriate to make even a half assed pleasant comment about all the teachers who have stepped up to the plate speaks volumes to me.
Aw, i thought it when I saw/heard the Fire guy talking about lifting a door and finding a teacher shielding little kids. Then I saw this post and decided I couldn’t bear the thought of this going the NRA route again here 🙁
I guess if it isn’t your kid crouching in a bathroom stall under a teacher, it just gets passed over in favor of more politically sexy topics…like nut job politicians and the sacred, sainted NRA.
What an amazing thread Moon. We are brought to tears as we watch these thankful parents embrace their children who survived this horrible storm, their next embrace for the teacher who lay down, unprotected, in order to shield their students.
Or the teachers, riddled with bullets, hunched over the dead 1st graders they tried, in vain, to protect.
Teachers today are under attack from conservatives so it’s good that we acknowledge their bravery and heroism. They saved a lot of young lives in OK and Sandy Hook
Teachers are under attack by those who want to go on the cheap. They are also attacked by those who want to do away with pensions and unions.
I noticed how many of the children who died were 9 years old. The tornado must have hit a 4th grade classroom head on. How horribly sad.