But pardon me for my ignorance.

In essence, I can say that the state government’s attempts to regulate and control what is largely a societal problem (not an educational problem) will not succeed. There will simply be chaos and resentment on behalf of the teachers on top of the chaos and apathy that exists in the schools.

The new policies willnot last long and there will be a desperate race to establish more blame (which will fall on the teachers, of course.) and then there will be new policies and the same cycle will repeat itself.

Teachers have always suffered the brunt of these so-called ’solutions’.

But I applaud those of you who decide to be vocal and fight for what is right. Like I said, I was a pretty vocal, rebellious person and after a while the bitterness and rebellion just got the best of me. I think there needs to be a healthy BALANCE between speaking out, resistance as well as the understanding that the ’system’ has never been designed to aid the teachers, in the first place.

And yes, Kel, that might be exactly what it takes. A coalition between the parents, students, and faculty rebelling against the system. Whoops, did I say that out loud?

The reason we should care, DMB, is because we could be stripped of that power of autonomy to inspire in a matter of a few bills, and that’s dangerous. We’ll continue to have even more idealists turn into fatalists.

Interesting point though from Pre_K “. . .teachers’ will strike over money but will not take to the streets over educational policy. . .” Is that what it’s going to take, really??

While it is illegal for public service servants to strike in new york city I don’t think sitting in teachers lounges amounts to much of a resistance either. of course people will say i do not understand the climate or circumstances of being a teacher and truth of the matter is i probably do not (even though i have two aunts, a mother(of sorts), and numerous friends that are teachers) but i do know what standing up for one’s beliefs is about. I know what having some conviction is about. And playing it safe is not how either of these things work.

If teachers in good conscience can tell a kid not to be afraid to stand out and buck the power structure that is popularity then they should be just as willing to buck the power structure that is the administration.

your words seem to come to mind here, sometimes we got to be willing to risk a little bit, sometimes we have to take our chances, sometimes it makes sense to “walk on water”.

of course there is probably a lot that can be said in this regard but you know i am not about to blog in your comment box… piece and blessings.

What’s the good in that?

In the end, I think we just need to keep in mind that Politics are Politics and that is what runs our schools. But our job is not to worry about that. Our job is to directly impact the lives of the students whose lives we touch daily.

In that sense, we’ll always be a thousand steps ahead of adminstration, politicians and all that other ying yang, so who cares?

Also, need to let you know that I love the way the words flow in this:
… the talkers lay out the talking points for us, and where once a choice actually meant a choice to voice, this implicitly means these choices are someone else’s …

Things are different now. You can’t be in a room alone with a student. You can’t hug a student who is going through bad times. You are being forced to prepare every kid for college when some kids can barely read and write.

I liked it better when administrators hid in their offices and let teachers do their jobs without interference. They trusted us to know what was best for our kids. We learned by doing. I started teaching when I was 20–the same age as some of my students. I know I made mistakes but I also did lots of good things, things I will never be allowed to do again.

Nowadays, we have to worry about tests. We have to worry about teaching in a horse shoe. We have to do the “work shop” model. We have to do so many things that have nothing to do with teaching or are detrimental to teaching that our teaching is hurt.

I’ve tried to fight the system. I’m the rebel in my school. My principal has told me to transfer (which I can’t and won’t do). He doesn’t care about my results or about what I do for the kids. He only cares that I won’t jump for him and that I keep on doing what I feel is right for my kids. My fighting does no good. I feel lost in this crazy system. I feel like I am fighting a losing battle.