Principal: “I Quit”

May 1, 2013 //

The Bush-Obama education policies have led to a destructive overemphasis on testing. The very nature of schooling is changed for the worse when higher scores become the goal of education. As we lose sight of the true purpose of education, we lose many fine educators who will not abandon their principals. Here is one whom we have lost due to misguided federal policy.

Categories Principals, Testing

13 Comments Post your own or leave a trackback: Trackback URL

Joanne SimonsJoanne says:

May 1, 2013 at 5:47 pm

At first when I saw these retirement letters, I cheered on the brave educators. Now, with each additional “I quit” letter, I am filled with deepening sadness. This insanity must stop, but what will be left by the time that it does?

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- Robert Rendo says:
  
  May 1, 2013 at 8:29 pm
  
  What will be left is privatized everything and a workforce competent enough to work at WalMart . . . .
  
  WIth such a grim outlook, I personally joined NPE and have changed a lot of my attitude about the word “possibilities”.
  
  The hope is still not enough, but it’s definitely growing.
  
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Hannah says:

May 1, 2013 at 6:17 pm

Heart breaking! As a teacher, I know how losing a good administrator is like losing the breath out of your lungs! I also understand the feeling of being torn to leave something you love, because of what you are forced to do… or in this case refuse to do. When you follow your principles, it may create certain types of stress… but there comes a point when to NOT follow your principles creates MORE stress. Known hells often seem safer than unknown heavens… so many of us (teachers/principals) are taking the leap of faith to leave the profession they love, because the cruel policies are untenable. God Bless to the principal. God Bless the teachers who have lost a great leader. And most importantly, God Bless and protect the children from these odious policies.

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- Mary Pishney says:
  
  May 2, 2013 at 8:39 am
  
  How true on all counts! At the Denver system that I was forced out of due to the most miserable of administrators one can imagine, I have been left with health issues; PTSD, depression and severe anxiety. My test scores were great, my kids loved school and 95% of my parents were too. It is getting to be a no-win situation. Before this last ordeal, I was a very passionate, committed teacher; it was the center of my life. Now I am left with a “scorched earth” regard for the whole, corporate destroyed, ungrateful system. Public education is loosing their best teachers, especially ones over 50. Saddest truth is THEY WANT IT THAT WAY! No one with the sense God gave a goose, could peruse the torturous path teachers are put through just to survive, the goal of grabbing pensions, lousy pay, enforced
  curriculum that makes near illiterates or kids, OR certainly NOT
  critical thinkers…corporates just want pale, complicit cogs for their
  third world factories. A fast track back to the evils of a Dickinson
  world! I advise anyone I know who is thinking about teaching to seek another venue to work with children. I fear there will be worse days ahead!
  
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DeeDee says:

May 1, 2013 at 6:28 pm

Why was the US Dept of Ed. turned over to non-professionals who knew nothing about educating children? It is sad to see how unhappy people have become about the profession. Instead, the US DOE and others let shysters into the profession. Let me tell you, the charter CEO NEVER wants to leave the profession. He sits in an office often hundreds to thousands of miles from the schools raking in tax money. The best con on the planet.

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WordsMatter says:

May 1, 2013 at 6:34 pm

Shame on all involved in ruining lives of caring professionals. Data will never replace hugs, encouragement, listening and caring. I weep for the hearts and souls being destroyed by this madness. What will our future be, if humanity is not modeled for children in our schools?

Thank you Kathleen for giving yourself so generously all these years, and for going on record and sharing the truth of so many educators. Your courage in sharing is an inspiration to many.

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Joanna Best says:

May 1, 2013 at 9:14 pm

Or their principles, for that matter

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JD says:

May 1, 2013 at 11:28 pm

The Department of Education is nothing more than a federal control tactic. On that note, I live in the state where vouchers have been taken by Catholic schools. I know of 2 Catholic school principals in my own town that are quitting because of the non-sense in CC.

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Sandy says:

May 2, 2013 at 10:12 am

Many more will leave before it’s over. And it WILL be over, one day. Can’t push a rope forever. It is unwieldy and impossible to maneuver very well. The corporate pundits may think they have a corner on the market of education, but they don’t. Educators know where the goodness lies…at the student level. Teachers, take hope in what you already know that works. Principals, so do you. Be not afraid to do the right thing. I am surprised there hasn’t been a mass walkout by educators all over this country by now. No guts, no glory. Kudos to those who leave on principles. It’s a message that will resonate with everyone sooner or later. Go forth and enjoy retirement…you have earned it.

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sunflower says:

May 3, 2013 at 9:29 pm

I am 55 and will retire from teaching in 5 years. In all honestly some days I do not believe I will be able to make it that long. The strain on teachers and our students is becoming unbearable. I have Kinder and first graders who are completely shutting down this time of year and refusing to “work” any more. I feel so bad for these kids because I think they are tired of getting drilled to death so that they can be abe to read at “grade level” and pass the DIBLES assessments. I don’t believe in the system anymore. I feel like I am forcing young children to learn and do work that is not developementally appropriate for them and that is making learning rote and boring. I feel like I am a warden in a prison and that my kids are in lockdown. Somedays I feel like I am part of a system wide child abuse program. And then we are mandated to shove rewards down their throats with stickers and coupons and certificates whenever they do something positive. Teachers are feeling more and more competition between schools and grade levels and within grade levels as well. I just don’t know where or how this is going to end.

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- Harlan Underhill says:
  
  May 3, 2013 at 11:49 pm
  
  Are you not permitted to just teach the way you know best, the way that IS developmentally appropriate? That is give them fruit rather than sawdust? Will not your union protect you? By the way, defined benefit pension or defined contribution? Isn’t age 60 a year or two early? I toughed it out until I was 69 and had a heart attack.
  
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  - sunflower says:
    
    May 4, 2013 at 1:00 pm
    
    No, I cannot teach “what I know is best” when it goes against the district curriculum and the district/state standards. And no my union cannot protect me if I am considered “insubordinate” because insubordination is a cause for dismissal. Yes, I have a right to due process and could fight it but there is no guarantee that I would win.
    
    I can “retire” anytime I want but I cannot draw on my retirement until I reach the age of 60 so that is when it is economically feasible to leave And the amount I receive at age 60 is determined by a formula based on how much I have paid into the retirement system during my tenure. Not sure what yo umean by “defined benefit pension” or “defined contribution.” Why would anyone choose to work until they are 69? I don’t want to do that kind of damage to my health.
    
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  - Harlan Underhill says:
    
    May 5, 2013 at 1:08 am
    
    Because my wage was lower by 1/3 that that in the local public school step chart. I had to build up the old 401k. It sounds like yours is defined benefit rather than defined contribution. The former is a bank breaker. The latter is fully funded. When the state cuts your pension, as in Illinois, you’ll discover pretty quickly which you’ve got. Yes, retire when you can. Health is almost all we’ve got.
    
    J. H. Underhill
    
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