Posted on 12/11/2021 4:41:13 AM PST by MtnClimber
What are the characteristics of a good teacher? Many would cite qualities such as mastery of the relevant subjects and high academic standards. Others might stress a positive attitude and engaging classroom manner.
For most people, political opinions are likely to rank low among these priorities. According to a report in EdWeek, though, that's what an increasing number of public schools are emphasizing. Adopting a practice that's already widespread in higher education, many districts are now considering applicants' "cultural competency." In other words, they're making progressive political views a requirement of the job.
To be fair, advocates of such efforts don't see it that way. In their view, interview questions about "diversity, equity, inclusion, empathy, and students' social-emotional needs" aren't political at all. They're baseline ways to ensure teachers are prepared to work with the students particular schools enroll. And that's a good thing to want to ensure: When around a third of new teachers leave the profession within three years and schools in low-income communities face higher rates of attrition, it's reasonable to look for evidence at point of hiring that they know what they're getting into — and have some ideas about how to deal with it.
Yet the policies the article describes aren't tailored to issues of professional competence. Instead, they appeal to nebulous "values" that actually correspond to specific political positions. At the Shaw Elementary School in Boston, for example, applicants are apparently asked "what they've done personally or professionally to be more anti-racist," echoing ideas popularized by managerial gurus Robin DiAngelo and Ibram X. Kendi. Could a critic of affirmative action, an advocate of proactive policing, or a supporter of voter ID laws (all opinions with significant support among minorities) give a satisfactory answer? How about a Republican voter?
(Excerpt) Read more at theweek.com ...
An interesting article for a leftist/communist publication.
They should have to prove they aren’t communists.
At 'license to teach' school we were instructed on the proper attitude towards the teacher's union - evangelic religious adherence.
"We must free our brothers and sisters in Texas" was a refrain often used to demand Texas teachers be unionized.
As time went on, subjugation to minority demands became paramount - then I quit.
Having progressive political views are a requirement for a teaching job but advocates of such efforts don’t see it that way.
In their view, job interview questions about “diversity, equity, inclusion, empathy, and students’ social-emotional needs” aren’t political at all.
Teachers really shouldn’t have a political opinion in a classroom that has absolutely nothing to do with politics.
No insinuating comments no political riot update. None of that! If you’re teaching maths you teach math, talk math, you say hello and you become approachable but you do not espouse non “business” related out of school activites or social mores.
And I know that’s next to impossible because like many parents today, teachers just want to be your children’s new bestest friend and confidante not guiding mentor true stem.
There are some very fine teachers out there but there’s some chaff but needs to be removed radical chaff that needs to be completely winnowed, cut out of what has an unhealthy educational system that has formed in just forty or so short years since the creation of Carter’s NEA.
Oh.... and bring back CIVICS/Government curricula.
Kids aren’t students anymore.
They’re the grist for Big Ed’s diploma mills.
The ironic thing is that all of the government schools, due to their credentialing process, already assure that at least 90% of the teachers are Communist*. Thomas Sowell has written extensively regarding how that works.
*well, all except the government schools that I send my kids to, they’re loaded with conservatives, since I would never let Communists get their hands on them.
End the public school system. No one should expect for an education to be free (at the expense of taxpayers).
That we have this socialistic model in an otherwise capitalistic country has not done us any good - just look around. The public school system IS the problem. It’s not serving the parents’ best interests - rather the opposite.
If you think this is not practical, try to think of what we’ll be facing in another 10 years if the DOE isn’t stopped. Teachers unions for teachers paid by public funding?!
Stop trying to think of which part of it needs to be fixed. None of it can be fixed; the unions are too powerful and NOT interested in the results of good teaching. The whole thing needs to go. Public schools are babysitting facilities for sociopaths.
I have been interviewed for two college positions, one was a lab manager and one was an instuctor position (at a minority geared “trade” school). I got the distinct feeling my political leanings were more interesting than my knowledge base or skills.
Woke Demonicrat teachers end up as child-abusing, educational terrorists.
Yes, but political grounding can be the mark of a bad teacher!
Umm… Not so much.
My wife changed her degree program from nursing to teaching after she watched what’s been going on in the medical profession the past couple of years. The teaching program is a joke. I’ve never seen an easier curriculum. My wife laughs at its ridiculousness.
The program definitely shines a light for us on what’s wrong with our education system in this country — and it’s not all about political indoctrination…
It’s a disservice to tell children that their most important trait and personal identity is based upon the pigmentation of their skin.
No employment for the Woke, the Commies, the socialists, etc.
Never let such persons into any position of Trust.
Oh come on - let's just let anyone teach our kids - perverts, satanists, pedophiles, muderers, cannabals, guys who run over kittens with lawnmowers, etc...
What could possibly go wrong?
/s
Even back in the 70’s we laughed at it. If you couldn’t even get into business school, you can always teach. The lowest SAT scores alway went into teaching.
They should have to pass a test showing they’re proficient at what they teach. When my daughter was in 5th grade, three times she came home with a math test with a correct answer wrongly marked incorrect
You quit. You are among the very few “good” teachers.
Teachers who continue to open the doors on, support, and uphold these temples of evil indoctrination are either stupid, evil, or Useful Idiots.
BobL, as you have seen me post many times:
“Nearly every teacher in this nation ( government and private) was trained by Marxists in Marxist-run colleges and universities. SCARY! “
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.