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.
