Why I’m On Your Side

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1. Michael Brocoum says:

   August 1, 2012 at 1:17 pm

   Thank you. I retired early because I couldn’t stand working in an environment that assumes teachers are the problem. In an earlier post in response to your question about why teachers are silent I want to correct the impression that I may have given that I oppose you. I totally support your efforts to help teachers, recommend your blog to anyone interested and tell people who support the education “reformers”to read your book.

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2. Lehrer says:

   August 1, 2012 at 2:55 pm

   Thank you very much for your support. Morale in this profession has never been lower. I love my job and would not trade it for any other (except maybe my childhood dream of becoming an astronaut!) We need more people outside the profession supporting us. I recognize that there are some teachers out there who should not be teaching, but I find it hard to believe that the majority of us are ineffectual and lazy.

   No one quite understands how much of ourselves we put into our work. Even my own mother questioned me once about why I was so tired and cranky, because I “only work six hours a day for nine and a half months”. After hearing that, I decided to keep track of the time I spent doing schoolwork outside of my contractual hours for an entire school year. The final total was 440 hours, or 11 typical work weeks. And I “only” teach elementary school. From then on, whenever someone commented on my summers off, I told them it was comp time.

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   • dianerav says:

     August 1, 2012 at 11:10 pm

     Don’t listen to the naysayers. You know how important your work is.

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3. Jean L Sachs-Nygard says:

   August 1, 2012 at 7:16 pm

   A simple but heartfelt thank-you. Please submit to every paper in the USA. and to all the blogs you mentioned. This view is not being heard and you have the chops to do so.

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4. brennag says:

   August 1, 2012 at 11:01 pm

   Oh, Diane. This post validates me in so many ways. Your friend was right: “You are validating their truth. You tell them they are not crazy. You are on their side.”

   Here’s the thing: A couple years ago I felt beaten down by anti-teacher rhetoric in the media. And while I teach in Iowa in an public school environment that is pretty sheltered from all the mess that is going on in so many other places, I feel so fueled by what I do every day. I know how hard it is. I know how wonderful and life-affirming and exhilarating it is. I sometimes make a decision to disengage politically so I can shut my door and do the best I can for my students, and I appreciate you speaking for me when I am too tired to do so. I know how great a life in the classroom is. It’s just nice to hear it from someone else. Thank you. Thank you.

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