It is an interesting time, to say the least, to be a teacher.
In the past couple of weeks, Education Minister has compared teachers to police and correction officers after a study on school violence was released. Her justification was that we (teachers) deal with the public. Ah, yes. BUT we deal with some children who are treating like sh*t and our hands are tied. Not ‘lifers’ in the pen.
The question is, “What is mommy and daddy going to do about it?”
A local lawyer stated that an alternative school is needed for all the dropouts in the city – students who can’t handle traditional schools. He also complained that his clients can’t read or write and socially promoting them is wrong.
Yes, socially promoting kids is wrong. It gives a false sense of security to both kids and their parents. If little Johnny can’t read in the warm and fuzzy years of elementary school, and the parents don’t take him to get tested (yes, it is their responsibility, not teachers – once again our hands are tied and we can only suggest testing), how do you think the junior high years are going to be?
Johnny is going to be frustrated, angry, and probably act out and quit. And the parents may say, “I don’t know what to do with him.” He is in Grade 8, but reading at a Grade 4 level. Why stop now. Let’s promote him to Grade 9.
I am not saying that teachers are blameless. It is the time of year that teachers think about who may not pass. I have a couple in my class who probably won’t, but the final say comes down to the parents – once again my hands are tied.
1 comment:
It's funny to hear that y'all Canadians have to deal with the same situations we have here in the states. Public education is such a double-edged sword: it's great to have universal access to education, but how do you balance parent input with professional expertise? As your post suggests, the two are sometimes at odds!
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