Tweet

() Comments

Report

There are many long-time teachers like yourself who see just
what you do. Yet, look at what they do. They stay silent about
it, and do nothing, hoping that the cr@p doesn't roll downhill
onto them. Teachers are the people behind the schoolhouse
doors. They are the people that see what goes on. They see who
the culprits are, and they see them in action. And, they are
more familiar with the system than any average person. Yet,
they say and do nothing. They participate in cover-ups, gang up
on parents in parent-teacher and ARD meetings, lie like there is
no tomorrow, and look the other way when a child's education is
damaged. Then, when they are caught in the act of complacency,
they feign ignorance. Then, when the whole charade blows up,
they can't wait to throw each other under the bus. I can't tell
you how many depositions, administrative, and civil actions I've
been in where a teacher or administrator UNDER OATH got up on
the witness stand and, with a straight face, just LIED until the
cows came home, and everyone in the room knew they were lying,
INCLUDING THE JUDGE!

I'll admit that my involvement with school personnel only
happens when there is a problem, and I often don't come in
contact with all the really great teachers and administrators.
However, I come in contact with enough of the worthless ones to
know that there are plenty of them in every district in Texas.
You say the system is often dysfunctional, and I agree. But,
you really have no one to blame but yourselves because you are a
big part of that same system.

On 9/24/14, to EasTex Steve wrote:
> I want to share my thoughts. I have been teaching for a long
> time. Our system is often times dysfunctional. I have seen a
> lot of people in administrative roles who don't know how to
> exercise real leadership. Instead, they misuse their power.
> Every year it seems that some poor teacher, who has been an
> effective, caring teacher for years, ends up a scapegoat for
> some egomaniac administrator who decides to pick on them. For
> these teachers there is little recourse. Teachers watch this
> and wonder if they are next. Eventually, these teachers leave
> and go on to teach in another school where they continue doing
> a fine job.
>
> Like in any profession, there are inept individuals. Those
> people don't last long. Teachers are too busy to invest
> energy in defending bad teachers. That being said, it is a
> sad day to see any teacher fail in a classroom. I myself have
> quietly reported incompetence, and I know other teachers that
> have stepped forward in this regard. In our current day
> teachers are the easy target of blame for every ill in
> society. Now, you are blaming us for thinking society owes us
> something. You have to be kidding. The teachers I work with
> every day are some of the most giving, generous hearted,
> unassuming people I know. Stop the blame game. By the way,
> we are some of the smartest people in the room--about people.
> Teachers understand people. There is more to teaching than
> book smarts.
>
>
> On 9/24/14, EasTexSteve wrote:
>> I've been following this thread with some interest. I'm a
>> student/parent/special ed advocate that is occasionally
>> approached by teachers for assistance in dealing with
>> wrongdoings against them by their district. I know you
>> aren't going to like what I'm about to say, but it's the
>> truth. And, that is, you ask for it. And, here are some
>> ways you ask for it:
>>
>> 1) Not all teachers are created equal, and some of them
>> really stink. They ruin students education, and they need
>> to go. Yet, you all protect them with the attitude that
>> all teachers are equally wonderful. They aren't fooling
>> anyone, and neither are you for protecting them. All you
>> are doing is damaging your own reputation by protecting
>> them.
>>
>> 2) You alienate the one group of people that can help you
>> with your plight. That group is the PARENTS. It amazes me
>> how many teachers I encounter who speak negatively about
>> parents, even to the point of adopting a combative
>> attitude toward them. Like it or not, Texas Education Code
>> states clearly that parents will be treated as partners in
>> the education of their children. Not adversaries, but
>> PARTNERS. This is THE LAW. When you violate this
>> partnership, you basically shoot yourself in the foot. As
>> teachers, you make up less than one tenth of the voting
>> public. You can't do anything without the parents. You
>> don't have to like them, you only have to be able to work
>> with them to positively influence their child's education.
>>
>> 3) An incredible number of teachers I encounter have the
>> attitude that just because they are teachers, the rest of
>> society owes them something special. Well, they don't. GET
>> OVER IT. This "holier than thou" attitude that some of you
>> have makes you look silly because believe me, if you
>> actually look at the statistics as a whole, you would
>> discover you are not the smartest people in the room. If
>> you were, you wouldn't be having the problems that you do.
>> Respect is earned - not handed out on a diploma or
>> certificate. If you want it, then earn it by showing that
>> you hold yourself to a higher standard, put the students
>> and parents first, and stop throwing each other to the
>> wolves.

Posts on this thread, including this one