In response to the post from North Carolina teacher Kris Neilsen on why he quit, this teacher has good advice on how to survive the deluge of mean-spirited policies now raining down on students, teachers, and schools. My suggestion: Hang in there until this house of cards collapses, as it will.
As a twenty-year veteran of public education (secondary ELA) I found many of my fears and frustrations in this letter. I could well have written it myself, but I would be hard-pressed to refrain from vituperation. Kris was so much more eloquent than I could have hoped to be. Recently, my colleagues and I have made a pact: We’re determined to share the good things that are happening in our classrooms. We are committed to supporting each other, because no one else will. I am comforted by the words of the Mahatma Ghandi- “When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always faIl. Think of it–ALWAYS.” If we band together through social media, as another poster has suggested, we can weather this storm.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Yes, the truth always does triumph, although sometimes it takes a while. It’s only a matter of time before the public realizes that educational “reform” is based on “lies, damned lies and statistics.” Every single one of these people is in it for the money. They ALL have one trait in common: they do not teach. On the other hand, the people who truly put students first are in the classrooms, tirelessly teaching the children of this nation. Parents who put their children first are doing a good job at home. These parents NEVER bash their children’s teachers, although they might disagree with them.
History tells us that during tough economic times, citizens often turn on public sector workers, preferably female, and that’s what has happened to teachers. But it always comes to an end when the economy improves.
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Reblogged this on Thinking in the Deep End and commented:
As a principal new to the district, one of the first pieces of advice i was given was “watch your back”. I too tired of comforting weeping colleagues, of wondering why fellow principals of ‘failing’ schools had suddenly disappeared, of being required to adminster programs and practices that I knew were damaging my kids. I understand why people jump ship. But I admire those who weather the storm.
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A sadly inspiring commentary and, unfortunately, all too representative of the times we are in as educators.
Part of what helped me through the last 15 years of my 37 years in the classroom was teaching a social studies honors class of freshmen. Though it often contained as many as 36 students, their vibrant minds and exceptional work ethic kept me on my toes and countered the chronically distressing issues to be found in regular classes; disinterested parents, unmotivated and unproductive students, cranky and demanding parents who sought special privileges for their kids, reduction of resources, initiation of arbitrary expectations, faddish reform endeavors, etc.
I came to the realization of the negative side of so called school reform slowly, as efforts here in Washington state have, until recently, followed logical and rational patterns and been relatively productive. I don’t envy those in the classrooms of Washington state today. Based on the perspective current reformers have of the reforms of the last three decades, they’ll never be able to meet the expectations of today’s crisis mongers. And, sadly, I’m unlikely to encourage a student to go into teaching; a profession I dearly loved.
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All of the nonsense that constitutes the public dialogue on education isn’t going to change until WE reframe the educational debate.
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How do you propose doing that?
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I believe it is time to create a wholly new approach to the educational debate, which would require a concerted effort that starts at the very underpinings of how the debate was framed in the first place -i.e. NCLB assumptions upon which the law was based that were entirely wrong, supported neither by research nor by the experience of anyone who actually taught. That was, I believe, how teachers got nailed. And with horrific consequences that are playing out nationally.
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I don’t disagree with you, but what do you propose to do about the fact that the ones who framed the debate in the first place are the ones who still hold the microphones? And the fact that such holders don’t care about either research or the experiences of anyone who has actually taught?
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Ah the pleasures of politics… Look what happened in Chicago when a teachers’ local took an in-your-face approach. Imagine if a carefully structured argument was assembled, using the right language to make our case, and then employed in an aggressive political campaign on a national level.
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Would you email me, please, at susan@first-teachers.org?
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With whom will you have this wholly reframed debate? Why would any of them agree to allow you to reframe he debate? How would this reframed debate affect existing legislation/law? These may sound like strange questions, but until you can address them, you’re really jut talking to yourself. No disrespect intended. I’ve been here before.
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Would you email me at susan@first-teachers.org, please?
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We are watching the wholesale destruction of our democratic culture by Mogul Hordes of barbarian bean-counters who know nothing of what it takes to build and maintain a civilized society.
I do not think this is yet another cyclic process — the pendulum is already off the hook and will not swing back on its own.
If you want to see the kind of “Education Industry” these Fanatical Ferengi Friedmoonies have in mind as their ideal, you need only look to the Defense Industry. Ask yourself who sucks up the blood of taxpayer dollars by the ocean full with no real public accountability and who does the grunt work in the trenches at union-forbidden sub-minimum wages. That is where our system of public education is heading as we speak …
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Bien dicho.
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” barbarian bean-counters”
“Fanatical Ferengi Friedmoonies”
I do love your alliterative flights of fancy. Sorry, I’m not feeling original.
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This January will mark the beginning of my 28th year of teaching. I am 48 years old – I started young. I sometimes wonder how I am going to survive 24 more years in the classroom – because the reality is that retiring before I am 72 seems to be becoming more and more of an impossibility. Sometimes the attacks on education and on the work I have devoted my life to are overwhelming. And yes, I cry. I was recently talking to a colleague, and also to my mother who retired after 40 years of teaching. I went in to education because I wanted to work with kids and to get them excited about learning. I knew that if a young adult left my English or history class with at least a love for reading, that no matter where their life took them, they would be able to feed their mind and their soul. I wanted them to always be aware of their choices. I wanted them to know that there is ALWAYS a path and a solution. That seems harder and harder to hold on to.
I am also the mother of a seven year old – I started that part of my life late. This absolutely plays into my struggle to keep the flame alive. If my pay is dependent on whether or not a child passes the test, and therefore my ability to feed, clothe, house and provide insurance for my own child is on the line, then I am not going to be able to fight for that student’s mind and spirit. I am going to do whatever I have to to make sure they pass that test regardless of what it means. I will not allow my child to pay the price for others. It breaks my heart that there are children who are not fed, clothed or housed. It breaks my heart that there are children whose parents struggle with drug/alcohol addiction. It breaks my heart that there are children who are victims of horrible secret abuse. But I will not allow my child to pay a price for those factors that interfere with these children passing a test. Does that make me evil? Does that make me uncaring? I am soooo ANGRY about what is happening, all I can do is cry. Or rant. But I will not allow my child to suffer. My father was the first in his family to attend college – education was always valued in our home. The fact that I may be unable to afford college for my own child is mind-boggling to me.
Is this REALLY what this nation wants? Is this REALLY how they view teachers? The only thing that keeps me from utterly despairing that I have wasted my life in this work is the students from the past who have continued to let me know that I made a difference for them. I know that I have also failed some students. There is no way that I can be everything to everyone. But I have tried. And I will continue to try. But more and more I wonder if there is some other job I could do that will still provide for my family.
SO – thank you for the reminder that truth and love always win. It may help get me through today. But I hope the victory is sooner rather than later.
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Just to let you know that you’re not alone. Teachers are being worn out all over the western world right now. More hours, bigger classes, smaller pay, no public sympathy whatsoever. Society takes education for granted – because we, the teaching core, allow them to feel that way – we hardly ever quit. And if we do, we are being comfortably replaced, so that everything stays in order.
It appears to be that this is REALLY what a nation wants. They just don’t care. Really, don’t expect it.
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I know how you feel. I felt the same way. And what I found out is the major media coverage and support public schools and its teachers and staff need is controlled by the very elitists who are messaging the privatization, corporate model espoused by Gates, Broad, Waltons, et al. Even our own U.S. Dept. of Ed. You’re twenty years in and my fervent hope is that you will have another twenty years in a public school classroom. In my view, however, to ensure, to secure an enduring life for free public schools in America, we haven’t the time for such Ghandian patience and resolve to wait it out.
People need to organize: public school employees, parents of students, any and all other support. Refuse inscription into the corporatization-privatization army equipped to destroy a free public education in America. Our survival is predicated on a strong, bottom-up revolt. A refusal to participate in yet another fraudulent war in the name of corporate profits.
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Yes
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Just when does a full-time teacher with the family have the time to organize such a revolt, Most of us have families that have already suffered enough. We are paying exorbitant union dues and in turn get nothing for it. Perhaps it is time for us to file some unfair labor practices against our unions for failing to represent us. With all of the followers on these blogs, we only got 400 letters? We just do not have the time or energy. In my opinion, a petition would have been much more efficient and effective than the few letters That fell on deaf ears. Could you unimagine the police and fire fighter’s union doing a writing letter campaign to change policy? In addition, let’s face it, this is a profession dominated by women. They see us as easy prey, and so far they have been proven right, with the one exception of the exceptional Karen Lewis.
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I have the time… and the energy. Many do. Kuhio is right. Ground up.
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I know one thing I need to do is to spend less time in the comments sections on education news stories. Many of the comments there against teachers are so vile. I am glad I discovered this blog during the summer so I can communicate about these issues with other teachers.
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I agree with both points. Talking to other sane people is so nice!
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Who says we’re all so sane around here? Most of my prior and current administrators have thought or think I’m not all there with my questioning/challenging what they attempt to do.
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Well, me too. But that’s another story!
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