Education Myths

The American Enterprise ^ | July/August 2006 | Jay Greene

[bannie]

Yes, damn those teachers!

It's open season on teachers and blondes.

[metmom]

ping

[metmom]

One would hope a teacher would be able to figure out that if you're only getting paid during 10 months, you put aside some each month to get through the summer. Plus, they can get a summer job in addition to their teachers salary.

*unemployed* my foot.

[moog]

With number one, a lot of people would not go to school then or a lot more would complain.
Number 2--get the politics out of k-6 at least aand that would be great.

[moog]

"Which still means that the voucher is about $6000. It the state is subsidizing private schools through vouchers to that extent then what is to stop them from demanding a say in curriculum, admissions policies, teacher credentials, and all the rest?"

Keep the government out of private schools.

[moog]

"The best start towards a good education would be for the schools to have the right to kick out the kids who are disruptive, disrespectful and refuse to learn. You cannot work with the product of a dysfunctional home who chooses to bring that same dysfunction into the classroom. This article only demonstrates one side of the coin. "

You bring up a point there. Most public schools don't have that freedom except in extreme cases. Some of the alternative schools here can kick out any kid who misses more than 10 days or is any type of behavior problem. If parents don't provide 5 hours of help a week too, then it goes along those lines too. I just imagine what the results would be if it happened at my school.

[moog]

What a old fashioned idea having pupils taught by people trained in the subject.

In some rural areas, that's not necessarily always possible.

[moog]

The complaint about underpaid teachers: That used to be a mantra with teachers-mostly because it was true! But, at least where I work, huge strides have been made and I think I receive very adequate pay and benefits. I'm not sure who continues to whine about being underpaid but I suspect it's union folks.?

Depends on the area. Here, I would say we are underpaid. I don't advocate salaries comparable to programmers or engineers, but a little highser would help. I don't like the "9 months work" argument either. I put in at LEAST 20 weeks worth of full-time unpaid work each year as others do with other jobs too.

[moog]

Public school is just that: PUBLIC. You get what you get and everyone is lumped in together.

I like the notion here of making every school a "choice" school. It's not going to come from more money or diverting money. It's going to come from collective attitudes and efforts of people working for strong community schools. When it happens here, it's going to be wonderful. I plan to start with my own neighborhood school next year.

[moog]

I have a bro-in-law who recently retired at age 55 after teaching for thirty years in the public school system. He never worked summers. He doesn't believe in stocks and bonds, but he and my sister have plenty of dough even after spoiling their two now grown children. There's two myths--teachers aren't poor, but they aren't rich either.

[moog]

You speak a completely foreign language. Your comments are not germane.

Are they Greek?

[moog]

I have had numerous dealings with my local school administration. In fact, they have my picture up around their water cooler with a "Dead or Alive" stamp on it. Never have I seen a group of people who drone platitudes and yet do so little to live up to them. Everything is always "for the children." But when you ask them to deviate in any way from their standardized, one-size-fits-all, square peg programs, they just laugh at you. Your child is not supposed to be unique in any way, and if he is, they will either crush that difference or send him to Misfit Central (of course, it will be innocuously euphemized to something like "Alternate Scheduling" or "Challenge Environment"). Ironically enough, dealing with the Schoolosphere has forced me to learn vast amounts of chicanery, legal mumbo-jumbo, and bureaucratic procedure. I'm getting so good at it I could be a public servant. Sounds like my wife's company and some of my dad's and brothers' jobs too in business.

[moog]

Educators perpetuate myths especially the ones that they can prepare chjildren for a real world they know nothing about, including sociology.

Teachers know all too much about the "real world" sometimes because we deal with a lot of "real" stuff (to put it in my first grade students' vernacular:). Maybe, not all the job stuff, but "real-life" situations--a lot of teachers can tell you plenty about them.

[moog]

Retirement benefits for educators are on their way down.

[moog]

Nice post Whess.

[moog]

Is that your problem with teachers? Have some of the teachers in your family made you mad?

The guy hasn't seen ALL teachers work. Some do have families to raise and other responsibilities as well. I don't often get home before 8 and often have 3 or 4 hours STILL left of work to do. I usually wake up at 2 or 3 in the morning to do a few hours of work. Teachers don't have a lot of "technical" work or so, but I know of many who do work hard.

[moog]

One would hope a teacher would be able to figure out that if you're only getting paid during 10 months, you put aside some each month to get through the summer. Plus, they can get a summer job in addition to their teachers salary.

You're right, it's not "unemployed", but it isn't "paid" time off either like my wife or others get for their jobs. Many teachers do use the time to take classes and such which they do pay for.

But I will say, that's what you expect as a teacher and teachers full-well know about it when they become one.

[moog]

Yes, damn those teachers!

It's open season on teachers and blondes.


I'm a blonde, male teacher. Do I count?

[WHESS]

I absolutely would have no problem with that around here either. It would do public schools a world of good to be in a competitive market.
Good for you-

[moog]

Attitude and effort are part of it too---like your standards approach by the way.