CC, RTI, PLC, NCLB, NGSS…know what these acronyms mean? You
do if you are an “educator”. Do you know why I say, “educator”? Because we
aren’t allowed to teach any more. We are required to educate based on the
newest set of letters to hit the academic spectrum. Don’t know what the newest
letters are? Better figure it out because your administration does and they
want you to follow it. Haven’t been to any meetings or trainings about it? Be
prepared because it’s coming. Then, ask your school system…Let me teach.
Why is the failure of the American system of education
always blamed on the teachers? Yet, successes are given to a set of letters if
the school system follows it? “This is the newest and greatest thing we’ve ever
seen!” Until the next one comes around… The only thing ALL of these programs
are doing is causing teachers to have to take MORE time away from actual
teaching to spend on learning about education and how to fix it. I’ll tell you
how to “fix it”. Let me teach.
Why are we comparing ourselves to the Chinese? They are more
successful. They have higher graduation rates. Their kids have higher scores.
Would you like to know why? It starts at home. When a student “isn’t getting
it”, the parents help out. They don’t go asking the teacher why the teacher
failed. They EXPECT their student to do the work. They don’t wait until parent
conferences to find out what’s going on. They talk to their kids. They set high
expectations. They allow their teachers to be professionals and trust the
teachers’ judgments. They let their teachers teach.
Our students are throwing around words like depression,
bipolar, and even migraine like they are badges or, better yet, excuses. “I didn’t do my homework last night
because I was too depressed.” (Yes, that is an ACTUAL excuse I’ve heard) “I
tried, but I didn’t understand it Can you help me?” This is a thing of the
past. Parents are not holding their students responsible the way ours did, the
way I try to with my own. We are expected to know every problem the students
have and try to find a way to work around their issues within the classroom and
their assignments. Some teachers are so scared of parents; they have become
willing to do work for students. I have a better idea. Let me teach.
