Posted on 05/30/2021 7:43:39 AM PDT by Kaslin
Teachers are (mostly) getting a bad rap these days. Sometimes, it seems like conservatives revile them even more than Antifa, BLM, or The Squad. We blame them for shutting down the schools, making kids wear masks, and pushing critical race theory. We accuse them of being lazy and coddled, being bad at their jobs, and thinking only of themselves.
None of that is entirely fair. Sure, we’ve all seen videos of teachers behaving like self-absorbed little tyrants. We’ve read the statements from craven teachers’ union officials. We’ve heard our own kids’ stories about crazed classroom commies.
But those descriptions do not fit most teachers. And in lumping them all together, we make the same mistake leftists make when they stereotype police officers based on the bad actions of a few.
The fact of the matter is, in the red and purple parts of America (which, geographically, make up the bulk of the country), most teachers are still good, solid, hardworking people who chose the profession because they want to make a positive difference in young people’s lives. They go to work every morning with that goal in mind.
I speak from experience. In the interests of full disclosure, I should note that I am a teacher myself, although at the college level, where what I am saying here isn't nearly as true (although it still holds true to a degree). But that’s a topic for another column. Right now, I’m talking about K-12 teachers, including my wife, a semi-retired middle school teacher who still gets occasional calls to fill in.
She and I also know many other teachers, at church and elsewhere. They are, to a person, fine people. Most of them are very conservative. Very few are far left. And, generally speaking, they are just as appalled at what’s going on as we are, even if they can’t speak about it openly. They are our allies in this fight, or at least potential allies. Viewing them as enemies just because some loon in Chicago said math is racist is just plain dumb, not to mention counterproductive.
Of course, we’ve all had our own experiences with teachers growing up—both good and bad, but mostly, I dare say, good. Personally, some of my most positive, powerful influences were teachers and coaches. Many of you would probably echo those sentiments.
And it’s not just us Boomers who benefited from good teachers. The same is true for my children, the youngest of whom just graduated a few years ago. For every tale of indoctrination or left-wing lunacy, I can tell you eight or ten stories of nurturing and inspiration. My children would not have been nearly as successful, in school or in life, without wonderful teachers. And for that, I am grateful.
During the pandemic, teachers have been criticized for sitting at home, doing nothing while still collecting a paycheck, then lobbying for that cushy state of affairs to continue indefinitely. That represents a profoundly warped view of what’s going on in most of the country.
For one thing, most teachers haven’t exactly been “doing nothing.” Far from it. This is something I can speak to, even as a college professor: Figuring out how to teach effectively during the lockdowns was a major challenge. And it was even harder for K-12 teachers, because they have more students, less discretionary time, and far less autonomy. They pretty much had to go along with whatever district administrators decided, however tone-deaf or impractical that might be.
Returning to “in-person” school did little to make things easier. Since so many students elected to continue “learning” at home, many teachers had to pull double duty: teaching the students who were physically present in their classrooms while at the same time not neglecting those who were tuned in remotely.
If you’ve ever sat through a one-hour Zoom meeting, with a handful of people in the room and several others participating online, you understand the challenges. Now imagine doing that all day, every day, for ten months. With teenagers. Or seven-year-olds.
None of this means conservative parents shouldn’t continue to promote their values and push for reforms in their local school systems. Obviously, they should. In fact, they must. In particular, we must demand (as many parents have already been doing, with some success) that schools stop needlessly and cruelly masking children and renounce any ideas that actively promote racism.
Nor does it mean responsible parents shouldn’t consider moving to saner districts. Or putting their kids in private schools. Or home schooling. Those are all viable options for improving your child’s education.
I’m just saying that, by and large, teachers are not the villains. School boards are far more to blame—and we elect them, so we can do something about that. Arrogant, authoritarian school administrators are a big part of the problem, too. And of course, so are teachers’ unions. But most teachers—especially in right-to-work red states—are not union members, and many of those who join do so only because they feel they have to. They don’t necessarily share the goals or vision of union leaders—or even their own school board or administrators.
In many of our communities, the overwhelming majority of teachers agree with us—about masks, about in-person school, about CRT. Many of them are our friends and neighbors. And I can tell you, they’re feeling a bit blind-sided right now. Understandably, they don’t appreciate being blamed for things that aren’t their fault—especially when they’ve been working harder than ever under extremely adverse circumstances.
These good teachers need your moral support and appreciation. They need you to advocate for things they can’t. Above all, they need you to see them as the allies they are. They’re on your side—and more importantly, they’re on your children’s side.
The best thing we can do for them is to give vouchers to the parents. We’ll find out who the chumps are.
I can remember when teachers were respected members of society.
Many Freepers won’t want to hear this.
Forgot a biggee: wearing an extremely uncomfortable face mask and attempting to lecture for 6 to 8 hours a day and maintain actual understanding whilst everyone, including yourself, sounds like Kenny from South Park or the worst McDonald’s drive-thru speaker.
As long as teachers belong to teacher unions and do not fight against it I will have a problem with them. It is not a matter of having conservative values, it is a matter of taking action.
I agree with the author’s characterization of many teachers. However the actions of the teacher’s unions and others that represent them indicates that this characterization most likely does not represent the majority of public school teachers. Teacher’s unions all across the country have opposed kids going to school basically from day one of the lockdowns. This was for the benefit of teachers who have collected hundreds of billions of dollars while not doing their jobs, not for the benefit of students.
I’m fine with defending Teachers.
It’s the Marxist DEMONCRAT Propagandists POSING as Teachers that are the problem.
Teacher’s unions all across the country have opposed kids going to school basically from day one of the lockdowns. This was for the benefit of teachers who have collected hundreds of billions of dollars while not doing their jobs, not for the benefit of students.
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Blame it on the mask mandates that many, many Freepers agreed with.
You don’t to wear an uncomfortable mask while you work, but yet just because they are teachers, you expect them to.
When they were arresting rioters in Portland OR, half of them were TEACHERS who were members of Antifa!
Then they quit showing pictures and THEN they quit arresting rioters!
Most of the teachers I’ve met felt they were of higher intelligence than the stupid parents.
Big city union teachers are scum. (One or two good ones get cowed into submission)
Listening to the likes of Mike Pence pushing for the opening of schools (with all those mask rules built into them plus political bias and indoctrination) during the COVID-19 situation seemed so schizophrenic at best.
The Conservative Movement decries indoctrination in education and GOP politicians like Pence demand the indoctrination centers open up.
He says “social services” are provided. What the Republican Establishment is really saying is that child care is being provided so adults can help business by being in the workforce.
Big Business comes first to Republican politicians so they push the opening of the schools (indoctrination centers).
There is this commentary trying to praise teachers and let me assure you there are many hard working ones out there who in theory share our religious and political principles.
But how to uphold traditional values and the Constitution in public institutions is the big question?
How many who call themselves “Christian” and or “Conservative” in education and other institutions are in it for the money and carry deep debts even with the high salaries?
For me personally I have my own act to clean up and its way past time to take the actions and I have taken a few with more needed.
The jobs and the money come before the principles for too many in public education and other government institutions.
And most of the “Conservative” politicians are business backed cronies who want public schools opened as a child care service and to provide training to the future workforce.
Teachers have a hard time since most kids in America come from awful parents who let them do whatever they want and federal government floods the country with third worlders and expect local governments to educate these little monsters.
This isn’t a defense of teachers and their unions but a lot of problem with kids being so stupid now is because of their parents.
EXACTLY!
My daughter had a worksheet where is stated that the native americans were peaceful until the coming of the white man.
I showed both of them the video of human sacrifice from Apocolypto.
I told her that her teacher could talk to me.
I showed both of them the video of human sacrifice from Apocolypto.Why not the Lone Ranger and Tonto to show how we got along with each other.
“We’re surrounded by Indians, Tonto. What should we do?”
“What do you mean ‘we’, white man?”
Instead of vouchers:
PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION FUNDING by SCHOOL PROPERTY TAX REBATE
To assist parents in paying tuition and to be fair to the parents, the amount of school taxes they (and perhaps the parents’ parents) pay on their residence(s) might be rebated.
Eventually, rebates might be paid for past year tuition as well, so if parents pay $7,500/year tuition for two kids and $3,000/year in school taxes, the $4,500/year difference could be rebated to the parents in the years after their kids graduate.
It is no longer possible for Republicans to reform systems at the federal level, so Republicans must enact state-level reforms.
Low-Tuition Cost Private School Models
Many of our fellow Americans live in areas where leftists have poisoned the school systems.
TRADITIONAL TEACHER MODEL
My primary model would have about twenty kids in a class and a tuition of around $3,500/year/student.
Each teacher would set his/her tuition rate and maximum class size and handle student admission. Homeowner associations might host hook-up events for teachers, parents and prospective students. Tuition might be paid monthly for affordability and two months in advance (so it won’t be problem for the teacher if the parents have a major car repair bill one month).
Men and women who have good English and math skills but lack high-value technical skills might choose to become such teachers.
Teachers might provide their SAT scores and college transcript information to prospective parental customers. Independent certification authorities might thoroughly test the teachers and issue report cards.
Classrooms might be set up in commercial space no longer usable for retail stores because of excessive minimum wages or shrinkage.
A classroom might have four rows of five students each and might be around 1,000 square feet in size.
The curriculum might be based on a traditional state model, a current state model, a proprietary model or the teacher’s own handiwork.
PARENTAL ASSISTANCE MODEL
The Parental Assistance Model would have a parent of each child assist the teacher for a period of two weeks each school year.
The teacher would provide necessary training for the parents during several weekends prior to the school year.
Parents who don’t have the time or skill to fulfill their responsibilities would have to pay and arrange for substitutes. At 35 hours a week for two weeks at $30/hour with employer taxation, hiring a substitute might cost $1050. High-income parents would often seek low-income household parents to substitute, thereby helping the low-income household parents pay tuition.
PARENT TEACHER MODEL
The Parental Teacher Model would be the lowest cost form. It would have a parent of each child be a teacher for a period of two weeks each school year.
Parents looking to participate would obtain the necessary training and certification from a specialized training organization over about 100 classroom hours prior to the school year. This organization or another would obtain and maintain the physical classroom space.
Parents who don’t have the time or skill to fulfill their responsibilities would have to pay or arrange for substitutes.
Realtor.com has links to ratings and reviews of nearby schools for houses that are listed.
Moral support and appreciation, like respect, is earned. Teachers (as a group) have done very little to warrant this regard.
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