They should direct their energies against the legislators who dictate what the teachers have to teach and how. Lawyers who have no idea what a classroom is like, yet pass laws that basically turn the school experience into a series of tests that kill any love of learning the students may have.
The kids can’t read or do math.
Basic addition. Basic literacy. Social promotion of kids that can’t do either leads to adults who are barely employable.
Those “tests” at lest force SOME learning. Yeah, they suck, but by the time my wife sees the kids (sophomore and above) they are so far behind they are not going to get caught up.
Some sort of standards need to be in place. Right now, the nations education system is a dumpster fire.
Yes, and the only thing I ever objected to was the Hollywood perspective that teachers were these persecuted underpaid victims. I think the truth is in the middle somewhere. And I think what many hear about are teachers mid or far into their careers in very liberal states like New York where they have the rubber rooms.
I live in British Columbia and my issue is more with the teacher unions. They hate the private schools and would love to see them defunded. Our kids go to private school so I don’t appreciate that. :).
But yes I learned many things since she started teaching:
1) While teachers after 10 years make good money, starting pay is pretty pathetic
2) The annual pay is a salary that must last the entire year. So as a sub, she was, sure getting decent pay, but we had a 2 week spring break. That is 2 weeks with NO pay. The summer will be 9 weeks with no pay.
3) There are crappy teachers, sure, but good teachers, spend plenty of time prepping and marking.
FWIW, I don’t know where my wife will end up. Full time public system jobs are hard to get, as in our district, we have plenty of teachers with 25 to 42 years of seniority. She may end up in the private system, where the pay doesn’t even come close to public school, but she would probably be happier.