What some teachers did in Wisconsin is, in my eyes, reprehensible and a disservice to their profession. So when you take exception to all teachers because of what those few are doing, you really aren't being very fair.
Yes, some teachers will intentionally stretch the truth to 'get at' a student. But by and large, the ones I know don't. What I find curious is the number of parents who take the child's word that of not one, but five teachers. Do parents really think teachers have so little else to do but conspire about their child?
I wish I had the answers. I know a good friend who left teaching because of three P's -- Parents, Peckerheads, and Policies. Something needs to change, for the sake of our children, and for the sake of our nation.
I did not take exception with all teachers based upon this one event...I just used this one event to point out part of the larger problem. The article had statements from teachers that parents should take their word over that of their children and that they should not even be questioned...that the teacher should automatically be given respect. My point is that respect should be earned...and getting a piece of paper from a college (another teacher) does not earn you instant respect. What was one of the things that the teachers in Madison kept repeating...”respect”. Sorry but the actions of the many (there were a lot of teachers there) did hurt the whole profession in the area of respect...where were the teachers that denounced the actions taken by their union? There were some but they truly were few.
“Yes, some teachers will intentionally stretch the truth to ‘get at’ a student”
And the parent should just accept the word of those teachers? That is what this article is telling parents...”trust us”.
“What I find curious is the number of parents who take the child's word that of not one, but five teachers”
???Are you referring to a particular event? For myself, I would take the word of one of my children over that of another adult...even multiple adults...and this would be true of teachers, pastors, etc...all of mankind is sinful...see Romans 3:23...as a parent part of my job is to protect my children...and listening to them is a great tool to help in that area. Thankfully one parent believed their child in this area and kept looking for the truth...even when other teachers supported the accused teacher...it removed a teacher that had abused children in several school districts. And yes I know that not all teachers are like this one...but it does point out that we should not automatically believe the teacher just because they are the teacher.
“Parents, Peckerheads, and Policies”
If they left the profession because they did not want to work with parents then it is a good thing that they left. Any time that you are going to work with a child you had better plan on working with the parents...that child belongs to that parent and the parent does not give up the right and responsibility of the position just because their child walks into the school building.
I would strongly suggest that you read "Clergy in the Classroon" by David A. Noebel