Angie Sullivan, a kindergarten teacher in Las Vegas, sent the following message to members of the Nevada legislature to mark Teacher Appreciation Day:
It’s been a long, long time since my district has had positive educational leadership.
I watched this short video of Interim Superintendent Skorkowsky – and I wept. Something unusual – to NOT receive abuse and berating – but instead a positive uplifting message. I weep because my heart is breaking for my profession that is being destroyed – and not being replaced with anything of value to kids.
I don’t know when the “witch hunts” for the infamous “bad teacher” started but it’s now become harrassment for everyone.
I don’t know when it became sport to hurt women who teach people to read.
I don’t know when everyone became convinced that testing is teaching and. . . now there is NO MORE teaching. . . only testing.
I don’t know when we started paying “reformers” without research to “fix-it-up-chappie” our schools instead of being willing to pay for retirement for professionals who were dedicated for decades.
I don’t know when it became OK to privatize by charter . . . but not hold charters accountable . . . even though they use tax payer funds.
I don’t know when it became OK to fail an entire city and not recognize significant amounts of poverty and obstacles. Cities full of people, families and kids that did not graduate – most likely because they couldn’t understand English?
I don’t know when the textbook companies and computer software manufacturers took over and decided the nation must be standardized to common core – not because we would all benefit – but most likely to sell more product nationally.
I don’t know when people became convinced that some silly rich people became MORE knowledgeable than trained professionals about my classroom.
I don’t know when politicians started taking money from Students First, TFA, The New Teacher Project, ALEC, and other union busters – to privatize instead of fund our schools.
But I’m grateful to hear from a leader who was a TEACHER first and sounds like he remembers – and knows how important the front line – LABOR – is to public education.
So as you decide to legislate – could you please ask someone in the CLASSROOM their opinion? Please ask my union. Please ask an educational leader. Please encourage the school boards to hire educational professionals – not unionbusting businessmen in disguise. Our problems are significant. I will fight this war as I beg for support. But I’m drowning in impossible mandates in a sea of needy five year olds. So I weep.
But I’m grateful someone powerful thanked me today.
O God, hear the words of my mouth. Let hardened hearts be softened to hear the cries of women who love children – and the children in need.
Angie Sullivan
This is an excellent piece and clearly an emotional, from-the-heart letter that shares the feelings of so many of us. With all the ‘publicity’ Teacher Appreciation Week received, the only overt ‘appreciation’ we received was from from our administrators.
Bravo! Thanks from New York.
I love it, but I am not sure about asking the union.
Talk directly to teachers if you want the truth. The unions do NOT represent us.
Most of time they try to keep us quiet (stay on message, what message?) while they appease those with power and money. The unions keep spreading the national standards lies: state-led, teachers were involved, state standards, 46 states adopted the standards (as if they had a choice), teachers support CCS, etc. ALL LIES.
I don’t trust them to represent us anymore.
Spot on. Do not ask the unions. Most sold out to Pearson and their ilk long ago. i watched them allow long tenured teachers be “moved” to make room for coaches. Unscrupulous administrators used this contract raping opportunity to get rid of teachers who “whined” about class size and lack of resources. Ask teachers, not unions..
As much as I respect your opinion that is not or has ever been my experience with my union.
Beautifully said, thank you.
“O God, hear the words of my mouth. Let hardened hearts be softened to hear the cries of women who love children – and the children in need.”
You have so eloquently put into words the complex emotions so many of us are experiencing as the teaching profession is constantly attacked. We weep, often tearlessly, everyday. Your prayer is my prayer. Thank you, Angie.
As sang the fairy from Keats:
“Weep no more. Oh weep no more. Young buds sleep in the root’s white core!”
I believe this. This education song is not over yet.
As sung (auto correct)
Actually no it was right before. As sang.
From one teacher in NYC under attack to another, thank you! This too shall pass. It is too corrupt to continue.
Thank you Angie,
Your words ring powerful and true for all of us taking a stand for our children and profession we love and have dedicated our lives, hearts and intellect to.
How about reading your letter and posting it on YouTube?
Better yet, what about if we each wrote a letter to mark Teacher Appreciation Day and posted our readings on YouTube, tens of thousands of Teachers standing up for our children and our profession, a new way to mark Teacher Appreciation Day in this Orwellian era…
Great idea to put on YT, thousands of our teachers reading to stop the rampage against the schools.
I AGREE
But do not stop there..Fight Back…This is not education.
I know of a group of retired teachers that is is growing exponentially and quite the tech savvy bunch..Just wait for it.
The group I know are in the good old $P publishing co state north of SC
Take a look at the Dilberts cartoon..
In case you have not seen it
The Tester says!!
For a fair selection everybody has to take the same exam:
THE STUDENTS
Monkey, Elephant, Dog, Fish, Penguin etc
THE TEST
Please climb that tree
That says it all
Supt. Skorkowsky, thank you for recognizing the work teachers do.
Obviously, you were an educator, and obviously you visit classrooms and see real teachers with real children. It is shameful this is not the message being delivered from the White House. Respect for teachers starts at the top and is believed through the actions of that leadership. I hope our President and Arne Duncan are listening and learning.
I don’t think they are listening or learning. Here is what Obama did for our on teacher appreciation week:
Presidential Proclamation — National Charter Schools Week, 2013
NATIONAL CHARTER SCHOOLS WEEK, 2013
– – – – – – –
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/03/presidential-proclamation-national-charter-schools-week-2013
Typo: did for US on teacher appreciation week.
I left a comment here. I am sure it was NOT appreciated.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments
If you are a teacher you should not give a happy hoot who appreciates you..just keep teaching the kids.and fighting these tests which are so so so so so so wrong!.
This was a warm thought from the superintendent but words will not get it in this day and time.
Teachers gotta rock and roll and take some of these Blind Politicians off the Podium and bring them down…one by one..just like the starfish story!!
Damn, Angie. You had us in tears… because it’s true and because it hurts.
Angie, I’ve been teaching for 15 years and agree with many of your points. However, when you stated, “I don’t know when it became sport to hurt women…” you neglected to include both genders. As a male elementary school teacher, I too have experienced my fair share of “witch hunts,” abuse, incompetence, nepotism, and, quite frankly, stupidity.
You also mentioned, “I don’t know when it became OK to privatize by charter . . . but not hold charters accountable . . . even though they use tax payer funds.” I’ve been working for a charter school for the past 11 years, and I can assure you that we are held accountable. Several charter schools in my area have been shut down due to ineffectiveness or fiduciary irresponsibility.
Again, I appreciate and value your thoughts. Keep up the good fight. The children deserve it.
‘ . . . . I don’t know when the “witch hunts” for the infamous “bad teacher” started but it’s now become harrassment for everyone.
I don’t know when it became sport to hurt women who teach people to read.
I don’t know when everyone became convinced that testing is teaching and. . . now there is NO MORE teaching. . . only testing.’
When I read this teacher’s commentary, I could not help but think of how so many great teachers have been/will be unjustly hurt by this new system of test-and-measure-to-death and to all the teachers, mostly women in the early grades, who teach children how to read, write, and think critically through it all.
Here is my visual (with some writing) reflection of such poor treatment of teachers, with an overlay of disapproving sarcasm towards the “system” and the new reformers driving it. . .. their effect upon educators is unacceptable, but we all need to keep on fighting on all different levels. I for one am fighting to prevent too many teachers from getting slammed. Take a look, and keep on scrolling until you get to the end. .. it’s an easy read and viewing:
http://thetruthoneducationreform.blogspot.com/2013/05/getting-slammed-six-easiest-breeziest.html?view=snapshot
Teacher appreciation week? Really…..we got no mention of it at our school, that’s how much our admin appreciates all that we do.
Beautiful message.
To Linda – If your union is not responsive to the needs of the classroom teacher, paraprofessionals and clinicians, then you need to band together and take over your union. They are responsible and work for you, so hold them accountable at the ballot box. We did. I am Karen Lewis from Chicago.
Thank you Karen. I will try. They don’t seem aware of what’s really happening and what’s at stake or they are lying. Our death is their death.
You know we tried that here in NYC. But MORE kept telling me it took CORE many years, and they wanted to follow the CORE game plan. My argument back was we don’t have the time to wait and begged them to “up” their campaign. I also told them their campaign has to be more “teacher centered” given the stress NYC teachers face every day. NYC teachers were apathetic to their message, and 75% didn’t vote because they feel UNITY will always win. This was the year to light a fire under their collective feet!! I still feel reforms are going faster than MORE imagines. Pretty soon NYC will no longer have the ability to negotiate evaluations. And I sincerely feel that was Mulgrew’s end game since he signed off on the NYS plan.
I agree with other, Angie, please figure out a way to put it on You Tube. We can post it to FB and Pinterest, other blogs – your message needs to go viral!
And the teachers need to roll right along with her..
There is power in numbers.
Lawsuits-Lawsuits-Lawsuits-Lawsuits-Lawsuits..needed
Children are being used for guinea pigs.
Children are being robbed of a good solid foundation.
Children are suffering….trying to be exactly the same as Johnny next door and Susie down the street.
BULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Get Mad…Not Sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow…you have expressed the sentiments of thousands of teachers across this country and as well as the students and parents.
Thank you!
Believe me when I say we understand.
Beautiful letter. The writer should put it on blue paper with a beautiful font and set it to music. Then put it up on Youtube. Or give it to Sabrina to illustrate as a story.
Heartbreaking. I hope she opens her own learning center and frees herself from the crazy around her.
Take it from one NYC teacher currently under attack by an abusive principal and a corrupt UFT District & Borough Rep: THE ONLY THING THEY UNDERSTAND IS LEGAL ACTION. Democracy went out the window years ago.
NYCDOE will stop the abuses against teachers when they get tired of having all their resources put toward defending these horrible administrators
We can write all the beautiful letters we want, but the powers-that-be COULDN’T CARE LESS. They want you to be upset, they want to to cry – because ultimately they want you to LEAVE. One less pension to pay.
They want all the teachers that are truly knowledgeable, vocal and expensive to LEAVE. They don’t want anyone left to defend the teachers or even the students. They want TEACHER TEMPS.
For all you educators all there who might feel like this:
“Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is a lost tradition” [Jacques Barzun]
😦
just remember that a lot of us still understand that
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire” [William Butler Yearts]
🙂
Thanks for lighting all those fires.
🙂
As to responses from neanderthal & Rosie: you are both absolutely correct. Lawsuits, individual legal actions and class-action lawsuits.
They will be afraid.
Very afraid.
Angie, I have grandchildren in Las Vegas. My new daily prayer is that our precious Zaylie has someone just like you for her first school teacher when she enters kindergarten in 3 years. And a greater blessing would be if that teacher was you.
I’ve been a teacher with the NYC DOE for ten years under Mayor Bloomberg, and it’s truly been a very disappointing experience for me. Two of the schools I worked in were closed ( no announcements of any kind for the students or staff), two of the principals I worked for were re-assigned or demoted for administrative hijinks, while a third was arrested for padding her own timesheet, and bilking taxpayers to the tune of $40,000 a year while she held that title.
Teachers are being blamed for everything that is wrong with the NYC school system, hounded and harassed at every turn. As stated by others, our union is a sellout. Frankly, after 10 years, I hardly feel appreciated, and actually dread coming to work every day, never knowing what new hurdles or obstacles will be faced.
What happened to “Students First”? Doesn’t seem to me that the NYCDOE has placed the interest of the students of NYC in any way above their own political or financial agenda…..
Angie, enjoyed reading, very powerful. Your students are lucky to have you.