The Goldstein article made me feel defensive at first because as an aspiring teacher who wants to see other teachers around me be successful, it is hard to read about how politicians would openly shame bad teachers. However, I also understand that there has to be balance in the sense that “bad” teachers should be held accountable. Thinking about that also caused me to feel kind of confused because the question then becomes how do we define a “bad” teacher and how is the effectiveness of teachers measured. If the effectiveness of a teacher is based on standardized test scores, I could see many issues with that, because there are so many other aspects involved in student performance on standardized test. Another reason I had mixed feelings when reading the article is because I feel like every teacher has to start somewhere and I think that teachers that are considered “bad” may be trying their hardest but feel like they are up against too many challenges and have given up. However, I still think they may be capable of being effective teachers if given the right support. With that being said, I still feel like just like in other professions, there has to be some kind of accountability because for example, no one would want a “bad” surgeon to operate on them. I like the conclusion of the article that talks about how the focus should be shifted from ranking and firing bad teachers to improving their skills. I feel like if someone who is considered a “bad” teacher really has the passion to teach and wants to learn, they can eventually become a good teacher if they work on developing those skills and have a good mentor.
As I start down the road in a career in education, this article made me reflect on the beliefs about education and teaching I've been confronted with in life. A handful of times I've heard conversations where people were discussing how another person had chosen teaching as their profession and their responses or comments seemed to suggest that teaching was for people who “couldn't do anything else” or wasn't necessarily admirable. I also wonder why people aren't met with the same overwhelmingly congratulatory response when they say they’re going to be a teacher as when they say they’re going to medical school or law school. Why are people not in awe of teachers the same way they are of doctors? Oftentimes, I think people don’t consider the nuanced challenges teacher’s face because they fail to consider communities that are different from their own. Teacher’s should always be held accountable and should hold themselves accountable, however, as Goldstein points out, teachers have been made and continue to be made the scapegoat for problems in the educational system. A major reform that should occur is a shift in the societal view of teaching to a more positive perspective. This will elevate the profession and allow for further educational reform to take place.
The Goldstein article was very interesting to me as I never realized or knew that there was a war on teaching. I knew and still know that teachers are very well under paid and that everybody blames teachers for whatever goes wrong at a school or in regards to students, but I did not know it was this national thing. I found it interesting that a lot of veteran teachers and even teachers who have won awards have quit, but I am thinking maybe that is due to the lack of support they had. I do not understand how undervalued teachers are when teachers are the core of this nation if you think about it. Most prestigious jobs you need at least a high school diploma if not a college degree, so everyone has gone to school and would not be where they are today without education, so why are teachers so undervalued? What in society has made this a thing? Very interesting article.
After reading the article I feel very sad for the teachers going through these issues. Yes, I do feel that if someone isn’t doing their job they should be held accountable, but, at the same time it might not be their fault. I do agree that there are some teachers with no passion to teach, they look at teaching as a job just to make some money, and I feel that is one issue that may make a “bad” teachers. This in turn could be a reason that the students are not passing the standardized test, but I do not think it is fair to label all teachers who struggle as a “bad” teacher. In actuality, some of these teachers may not have had the proper training, especially being a new teacher. I think that if the schools would focus on training to make the teachers better instead of firing them that would help the school be more effective.
After reading this article, I felt sad about how tenure teachers are viewed. Its disappointing to read how some may think that teachers are only teaching to reach a point where they secure in their job or that they are only teaching just to make money. I also found it interesting how many teachers are being hired. This makes it a bit worrisome because many of these teachers could not have proper training to be teaching and could be a contributing factor into why there are so many teachers being fired or quitting.
I had mixed emotions after reading this article. For the first few pages I was upset that America or “they” are blaming teachers for the lack of success in public schools. There seemed to be little accountability on the student side and no outside factors were taken into consideration, like disabilities. Using “hastily designed tests” to identify and fire “bad” teachers isn’t going to work because in some cases the student will have come very far from where they started, but still not meet the expectations of this test. There needs to be another way to determine if teacher are doing a “good job”. By the end of the article my thoughts had changed because I felt like the author’s tone demonstrated that she understood the challenges that a public school teacher goes through and the added responsibility that is added to their shoulders with the politics of education. I also thought that it was interesting how they mentioned that veteran teachers are better than the teachers who are there for 1-3 years and jump around or flea. That reinforces the idea behind RTR, we will have those service years with mentors, in the same school and community, to get good before we are really released on our own.
The Goldstein article was an interesting read because it explained a topic about teachers being fired or not appreciated whereas most articles are stressing the importance of how much we need teachers. He began with stating “American teacher have academically mediocre backgrounds” which immediately made me think how having a college degree is seen as a “requirement” today. I found it amazing how many teachers in the past were mothers and housewives that didn’t have extensive education and still managed to educate children. This supports that teachers who have furthered their education in college, should have no excuse to why they can’t prosper. On the other hand, testing in schools overwhelms teachers and while it measures student success it also measures the teacher’s capabilities. Testing serves as a measurement tool for both parties which is not always accurate. There are teachers who put in the time and effort to ensure student success but that may not be reflected in test scores which then leads to them being fired. I find it unfair but also realizing that we live in a business-oriented world. Teachers should be appreciated more and there will always be a war because we aren’t deemed as important for the majority of our society. If 75% of our nation felt that we were “nation builders”, political and cultural changes would be taking place. I also feel that in every war there is an expectation of reparations. As a future teacher, we are fighting with no chance of an increase reparation amount. Teachers work hard to mold future leaders but aren’t appreciated monetarily which has the potential to affect their abilities in a classroom. Overall, I appreciated this insight and discussion because this is a reality that many don’t discuss. It allowed me to reflect on a broader spectrum on the opinions of teachers.
I dont really know how I feel about the article. I understand the notion of getting rid of bad teachers ,but it makes me question how do we consider a teacher a "bad teacher" ? Is it because she/he's not necessarily good at teaching or hasnt gotten in the groove of how to run their classroom or is it really someone who hates their job and it shows through the interactions with the kids? There are some people who are teachers but werent necessarily equipped with the tools to become a great teacher so in someone else's eyes they may be considered a bad teacher. The text shed light on how we as teachers are admired but also attacked and I wholeheartedly agree. Teachers do so much for students and the communities ,but yet the moment test scores come back low all the blame goes straight towards teachers. Even though teaching is very different in urban settings than suburban settings there are still tons of teachers who are passionate and love what they do. .
I found Goldstein’s article especially interesting as I did not realize that the public out lash against teachers has been so highly publicized and such a talked-about subject amongst politicians and media reporters. As Sierra mentioned, I always had the understanding that teachers tended to be blamed by parents for their kids’ poor academic levels, but the extent to which they are blamed by the media is something I was completely unaware of.
While the article is undoubtedly upsetting, particularly for those of us who are going into this “war”, I have to say it does not surprise me the least. It seems to be an American pastime to pick out a scapegoat (or a group of scapegoats) for which we can blame our problems on, instead of looking at the big picture. Unfortunately, for the education sector, we’ve chosen teachers themselves as the target, and have failed to acknowledge the very systems that are meant to set our teachers and students up for success. We need to rethink the structure of our education system. We need to rethink how our school districts are organized. Going even farther back to the root of the problem- We need basic human rights to be commonplace. Too often our urban teachers are forced to deal with behavioral issues that are frankly to-be-expected in a country where kids are told they can be whatever they want to be while not getting their basic needs met like food, safety, and healthcare.
Another thing I found interesting in the article is Goldstein’s reflections on two of her teachers- Mr. Tunney and Mr. DiCarlucci. She notes how much pride and passion they had for their work. Her math teacher had students write dissertations and her language arts teacher was excited to teach about the book they read. It seems that these teachers had the autonomy to choose a curriculum that they could identify with and teach with enthusiasm. Today, school systems are too focused on standardized curriculums to leave any room for teachers to explore exciting topics with their students, which understandably becomes frustrating and leads to burnout and a lack of inspiration.
The Goldstein article allowed me to reflect on this past year as a resident of RTR-Petersburg. Throughout this year, I have seen both outstanding teachers and teachers who need more preparation. Despite some statements made in the article, I have encountered tenure teachers who are extremely useful to newer teachers and the school community. In addition, teachers who display undesirable behaviors, should not be teaching. I personally do not think that getting rid of teachers is always the answer. Teachers should each be given mentors or accountability partners within the district to assist them with any needs or to push them. This could serve as a way to help teachers effectively complete their jobs.
This article had a lot of parts and I had feelings about just about every part.
First off: I do think that the nation as a whole is terrible to teachers. The most respect we get is a 15% discount on ice cream on Thursdays before 4 pm and even that is hard-earned. And I think, from a government perspective of trying to "fix education" as a whole, teachers are *not* the main issue to be focusing on for "fixing".
But I also have been doing a lot of reading on teacher forums that makes me hesitant to automatically side with everyone who is a teacher. Like, there are teachers out there who are genuinely terrible -- we've all had one or two before. And reading online, I have been forced to confront that there are teachers who are racist, who are just culturally uninformed, who don't hesitate to call the cops on a student even with the current relationship the police have with black people.
I hate the line of thinking that says all teachers are good. But I also think we all should try to be good. We should be doing everything we can to be better for our students. I'm definitely rambling. Aaaanyway.
The bit about being judged based on test scores is also important to me because if you come into a school year with a classroom full of kids who don't even know how to sit still, the best measure of your skill as a teacher is if they can behave by the end of the year; being able to teach compassion and kindness and how to act like a human being is more important than knowing about photosynthesis.
But also, when you teach kids how to behave, the learning follows. Kids do want to learn. It's just that the learning doesn't necessarily follow a standardized pathway.
When we get down to it I think the concept of a "war on teachers" can rub me the wrong way because some people have very legitimate grievances with the educational system and the way it can dehumanize children, and teachers are not exempt from being a part of that. Of course I want to side with teachers as a whole, and I think governmental attacks on teachers are beyond stupid. But when individual people have issues, I can sympathize with their side of the story.
How heavily teachers are politicized and controlled makes the profession extremely difficult. While this article states the public respects teachers just as much as doctors, politics and policy give teachers limited control of their classrooms. Many teachers have a passion for teaching but are continuously getting their rights as a teacher taken away. Freedom is being replaced with mandated curriculum and dictated schedules to make sure testing standards are met. Respect for teachers has slowly started to fade. Teachers are continuously blamed for all problems within education. I think this is because it is easier to blame teachers than deal with the real issues at hand such as underfunding and teachers salary. I am extremely passionate about teaching but this often scares me. I found it particularly alarming that only 39 percent of teachers were extremely satisfied with their job in 2012. I would be interested to know what that percentage is currently. I think as a whole teachers need and deserve more respect in America, especially urban educators. Goldstein says that the public sees urban education as a failing profession. I have had teachers from neighboring districts ask why I wanted to be a teacher in RPS. I find this extremely frustrating because it feels like there is even a lack of respect with fellow teachers. I think teachers need to be more supportive of one another and that politicians need to show genuine support too. Once politicians are supportive of teachers, the community will be able to show more support too. Teaching is so much more than testing outcome there are other outcomes we need to be focusing on too!
It makes me really sad and honestly confused that there is such a war on teachers. Teachers are at the center of society in that they are the ones who are educating and training up future citizens of this country. It does not make sense to me that those citizens would then turn on their teachers who were so formative in their own lives. I do understand that there are incredibly broken schools and school systems, but only focusing the blame for those problems on the teachers feels like such cop-out and like people in power only want to attack the symptoms of the real problems. Instead of blaming teachers for everything, people in power need to take a closer look at the systemic issues that actually cause the school systems to be as they are. Teachers have an incredibly hard job, and that is not reflected in either their salaries or how they are treated overall. We are so quick to condemn the many and praise the few, but we are not willing to provide better training, resources, or support to help balance out the disparities. Teachers deserve real recognition and appreciation!
I guess the first thing that struck me about the article was the fear induced tactics that politicians, media, and government officials impose on the teaching profession, grounded in their rather authoritarian rhetoric almost as equally as their blame and proposed solution for "bad" teachers. Here a deeply American contradiction arises. Much like any strict system that utilizes blame to merit authority, a routinized fear and insecurity of our nation's preoccupation with student academic underperformance is felt through, housed in, and ultimately projected onto teachers.
This is article was truthfully unsettling particularly when it reminds me that that our country still spends and invests far more resources into the defense of our country than it does investing in education. The main take-away I have from this article is how to turn fear and insecurity (what I believe belies the moral panic about our institutions) by the government into a pluralistic education model, that doesn't necessarily seek immediate change in the social conditions of a society, but rests in the belief that the profession and institution serve as a vector and protection for intergenerational communication and diverse learning.
I appreciate Goldstein's ending comments that teachers positions in society are to prepare and instill change not to fulfill empty promises of change nor to perform some sort magic it supposedly takes to teach in high needs areas. They just want to be able to teach faithfully in a world they may seek to change as much as they feel it is their own.
Andrea C I thought the article was interesting in that it brought to my attention that the teaching profession (in the U.S) seems to come under fire periodically. There have been recent teaching scandals around testing and schools losing accreditation that could lead people to think that teachers are not effective as they have been in the past and that is why teachers are currently under fire. However it seems like with each new social climate, teacher pay/performance becomes an issue. I admit to having had negative thoughts toward the teachers after hearing negative stories time after time without hearing or thinking about the positive effects teachers have on a daily basis. It is easy to get caught up and influenced by the media. I also find it curious that the U.S. has this issue where teachers are not seen in the most positive light, especially when compared to some of the other countries mentioned in the article. It made me think about how I might feel in the future when I hear about the general criticisms of teacher. It would upset me and I would want to defend myself and my peers. I would also hope that I am a teacher that others would want to defend. It also made me think of the political side and teacher pay.
Paula here: The article was a very interesting read. The United States does not value teachers for what they are worth. Like South Korea described, teachers are nation builders. Teachers are the foundation of the next generation of doctors, teachers, lawyers and law makers. There are no excuses for bad teachers but veteran teachers may get fed up with the lack of appreciation that are felt from the school systems. I think that the definition of a bad teacher should be clearly defined. There are bad teachers and there are teachers who are just simply not growing. I agree that instead of the main focus being losing teachers, I think that school systems should focus on making teaching a more admiring job. Most people do not consider teaching because they hear all the time that teachers are under paid, teaching is not an ideal job or that as mentioned in the article, teaching is a job for those who cant. In reality, teaching is a very influential position to be in. The profession is not hard to get into so I do believe that teachers should have mentors or veteran peers to help mold them into a "good' teacher. A good teacher has many different definitions.
This article created a bunch of mixed emotions especially since I'm reaching the end of my residency year, and have come across some amazing teachers. It was hard to read that America blames teachers for the lack of success in public schools without taking into account other factors such as limited resources, poor funding, lack of support, and parental involvement.
It seems like blaming teachers for the problems occurring in public schools is easier than getting to the route of it all. The article states, "To an extent, anxiety about bad teaching is understandable. Teachers do work that is both personal and political." This is definitely true. Not only do teachers educate our youth but at times take on roles of a mother, father, therapist, etc. and may be the most influential person in a child's life. A lot of circumstances children are faced with, teachers help tackle it head on while also taking it home with them at night. I believe these challenges should be taken into consideration when determining if a teacher is "bad" or not.
I also believe that test scores/assessments should not dictate how effective a teacher is. I currently work in a third grade classroom where we go over test taking strategies with students each day, yet they will still walk in an SOL testing session and do the complete opposite of what was taught. I've seen students immediate log in to a test and fall asleep, but is this a result of what the teacher has instilled? Students often come to school starving from not eating the night before, or exhausted because he/she had to be their own baby sitter. These are all factors in a decline in the success of public schools that all fall heavily on the teacher.
This article hit home for me because in a few months I will be responsible for my own classroom. These same challenges and stereotypes teachers are faced with will soon become my reality. I did like how this article shined light on positive attributes about teachers and explained their role, but everything seems to still be blamed on teachers at the end of the day.
Kim I thought it was interesting that Goldstein mentioned the difference of how teaching is viewed in other countries in comparison to ours. She mentions in South Korea, teachers are admired and called “nation builders”, while the phrase “those who can’t do, teach” is a phrase used in our country. It seems that teachers are blamed for bad teachers, such as those who cheating on standardized test scores, and it results in more work for them and their teaching as a whole defined by student performance. They can be viewed as an ineffective/bad teacher, when in reality they may need more training, support, or they can be more effective in other environments. I also think there is a lack of support in some areas, and it is sad that some teachers quit because it seems to them like teaching becomes more controlled and less creative. I was once at a school in RPS and the teacher I worked with told me not to become a teacher because it’s not about the students anymore, it’s about paperwork and scores. Goldstein also mentions the absence of social supports for families that would help children in certain areas, which include affordable housing and healthcare. I agree that there should be less blame on the teachers and more focus on giving support to them through training and improving their skills.
Nicole, While I was reading this article, it made it feel angry, sad. It made me very angry how little it seems people know about what being a teacher actually means. It’s not just about getting your students to have awesome test scores but also to build relationships with your students and help them grow/learn about their own selves and life. So, I just do not understand way we judge teachers based off test scores so often. I feel sad for America that we still can't see the value in our teachers even though just as the article says, "despite polls showing that the American public considers teachers highly respected professionals, nearly on par with medical doctors"(1). This just blows my mind teachers are just as respected as doctors but still so under paid. It is just crazy, to think what all these amazing teachers in the America could be doing if they were paid like doctors. I was also very confused while reading this article about why America keeps repeating the same mistakes with their education system.
This article made me reflect on why I believe public schools are failing and the causes of “underperforming" schools. This article points out the complexity of the issues facing education in the US. Solely blaming teachers for the failing education system ignores other factors like the unequal distribution of funding, lack of resources, and racial inequities. There are some teachers who are doing more harm than good in their classrooms, however teacher shortages, especially in high-need schools, make it difficult for principals to terminate their positions. If a school has to fire a teacher what will be the implications of that decision? Will there be someone to replace them or will the other teachers have to take on a larger class size, which could negatively affect their performance. The percentage of teachers who leave the profession within 5 years is alarming and disheartening, but understandable. Society values education, but not teachers. Politics have a huge impact on various aspects of education (testing standards, curriculum, funding, etc…) which dictates the ways in which teachers are able to do their jobs. One question I am left with is whether or not the US has tried collaborating with other countries with more successful education systems to see what practices could be adopted to increase the quality of education students are receiving here.
This article brought all of my anxiety of going into the teaching world to light. From the firing of many teachers as an overcorrection to class rooms being monitored and scheduled to the point that no creative touch can be given. It is somewhat of a strange relief knowing these concerns are not new and that they have surfaced in the past before. Knowing this I see that teachers have made it through without having to make but so many changes as these usually fall to the wayside once it is seen they do not function as intended. While some teachers had to quit to prove their point its those teachers that make a difference in an ever changing and frantic system.
The article also had me thinking about the firing of teachers and how the public and media influence this by take a small percentage of people and statistics and putting a magnifying glass over it. The public does not want to give tax dollars to help the problem then they blame the teachers who are not able to accomplish almost impossible tasks without resources. This is not all as the public then takes the few teachers who are able to do what is expected and put them on a pedestal to show everyone that “see they do not need more after all”. The public and government want quick solutions for a problem that will not be quick to fix, and this article shows that this problem is slowly being recognized and we have to wake up and try to fix it together.
I would say the article definitely begged some questions: some soft and some hard. I never understood what made a good or bad teacher until I started grad school and I was able to see teaching from an observational point in my service learning. Thankfully, through my service learning my fears of the Do's and Dont's of teaching were put aside for the most part but this article brought out the want to be a good teacher. I want to be, as what I think a good teacher should be, a support structure for students in need of guidance; educational and personal. In any case, my hope is that I can be at least an effective teacher to my future students that will give them what they need rather than just what I want to THINK they need.
There should be a concerted effort to raise the professional status of teachers in the united states. The article explains that teachers feel more mission driven about their work than other American professionals. Many teachers are already passionate about their work, paying them a little more money wouldn’t hurt. The teacher pay in some states is downright disrespectful. With the amount of teachers leaving with barely 5 years on the job, it’s clear to see that teaching is not an endeavor.
Teachers should be provided with as much support as they need to be successful. Successful teachers increase the probability for creating successful students. The article points out that there are many factors that contribute to failing, under performing schools. Poverty, mental illness, learning disabilities, and lack of family support are just a few obstacles to a student’s success in the class room. Teachers cannot control these variables. Why not focus on what we can control…Ourselves? Administrations should provide their teachers with ample training, constructive criticism, extra support, and incentives for improvement (along with the protection of tenure). All of these steps should be taken before labeling a teacher as bad, or before just giving them the boot. After all, teaches are responsible for educating the future citizens who will “shape our collective future”.
Kurt here: zdfgad';gkzd';fgkzd';flgz';l
ReplyDeleteThe Goldstein article made me feel defensive at first because as an aspiring teacher who wants to see other teachers around me be successful, it is hard to read about how politicians would openly shame bad teachers. However, I also understand that there has to be balance in the sense that “bad” teachers should be held accountable. Thinking about that also caused me to feel kind of confused because the question then becomes how do we define a “bad” teacher and how is the effectiveness of teachers measured. If the effectiveness of a teacher is based on standardized test scores, I could see many issues with that, because there are so many other aspects involved in student performance on standardized test.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason I had mixed feelings when reading the article is because I feel like every teacher has to start somewhere and I think that teachers that are considered “bad” may be trying their hardest but feel like they are up against too many challenges and have given up. However, I still think they may be capable of being effective teachers if given the right support. With that being said, I still feel like just like in other professions, there has to be some kind of accountability because for example, no one would want a “bad” surgeon to operate on them. I like the conclusion of the article that talks about how the focus should be shifted from ranking and firing bad teachers to improving their skills. I feel like if someone who is considered a “bad” teacher really has the passion to teach and wants to learn, they can eventually become a good teacher if they work on developing those skills and have a good mentor.
-from Anna. I thought it was going to post my email instead of saying "unknown" but it's from me.
DeleteAs I start down the road in a career in education, this article made me reflect on the beliefs about education and teaching I've been confronted with in life. A handful of times I've heard conversations where people were discussing how another person had chosen teaching as their profession and their responses or comments seemed to suggest that teaching was for people who “couldn't do anything else” or wasn't necessarily admirable. I also wonder why people aren't met with the same overwhelmingly congratulatory response when they say they’re going to be a teacher as when they say they’re going to medical school or law school. Why are people not in awe of teachers the same way they are of doctors? Oftentimes, I think people don’t consider the nuanced challenges teacher’s face because they fail to consider communities that are different from their own. Teacher’s should always be held accountable and should hold themselves accountable, however, as Goldstein points out, teachers have been made and continue to be made the scapegoat for problems in the educational system. A major reform that should occur is a shift in the societal view of teaching to a more positive perspective. This will elevate the profession and allow for further educational reform to take place.
ReplyDeleteSierra here;
ReplyDeleteThe Goldstein article was very interesting to me as I never realized or knew that there was a war on teaching. I knew and still know that teachers are very well under paid and that everybody blames teachers for whatever goes wrong at a school or in regards to students, but I did not know it was this national thing. I found it interesting that a lot of veteran teachers and even teachers who have won awards have quit, but I am thinking maybe that is due to the lack of support they had. I do not understand how undervalued teachers are when teachers are the core of this nation if you think about it. Most prestigious jobs you need at least a high school diploma if not a college degree, so everyone has gone to school and would not be where they are today without education, so why are teachers so undervalued? What in society has made this a thing? Very interesting article.
Sheryon here:
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article I feel very sad for the teachers going through these issues. Yes, I do feel that if someone isn’t doing their job they should be held accountable, but, at the same time it might not be their fault. I do agree that there are some teachers with no passion to teach, they look at teaching as a job just to make some money, and I feel that is one issue that may make a “bad” teachers. This in turn could be a reason that the students are not passing the standardized test, but I do not think it is fair to label all teachers who struggle as a “bad” teacher. In actuality, some of these teachers may not have had the proper training, especially being a new teacher. I think that if the schools would focus on training to make the teachers better instead of firing them that would help the school be more effective.
After reading this article, I felt sad about how tenure teachers are viewed. Its disappointing to read how some may think that teachers are only teaching to reach a point where they secure in their job or that they are only teaching just to make money. I also found it interesting how many teachers are being hired. This makes it a bit worrisome because many of these teachers could not have proper training to be teaching and could be a contributing factor into why there are so many teachers being fired or quitting.
ReplyDeleteI had mixed emotions after reading this article. For the first few pages I was upset that America or “they” are blaming teachers for the lack of success in public schools. There seemed to be little accountability on the student side and no outside factors were taken into consideration, like disabilities. Using “hastily designed tests” to identify and fire “bad” teachers isn’t going to work because in some cases the student will have come very far from where they started, but still not meet the expectations of this test. There needs to be another way to determine if teacher are doing a “good job”. By the end of the article my thoughts had changed because I felt like the author’s tone demonstrated that she understood the challenges that a public school teacher goes through and the added responsibility that is added to their shoulders with the politics of education. I also thought that it was interesting how they mentioned that veteran teachers are better than the teachers who are there for 1-3 years and jump around or flea. That reinforces the idea behind RTR, we will have those service years with mentors, in the same school and community, to get good before we are really released on our own.
ReplyDeleteThis is Hannah Green.
Deleteby: Sharese Williams
ReplyDeleteThe Goldstein article was an interesting read because it explained a topic about teachers being fired or not appreciated whereas most articles are stressing the importance of how much we need teachers. He began with stating “American teacher have academically mediocre backgrounds” which immediately made me think how having a college degree is seen as a “requirement” today. I found it amazing how many teachers in the past were mothers and housewives that didn’t have extensive education and still managed to educate children. This supports that teachers who have furthered their education in college, should have no excuse to why they can’t prosper. On the other hand, testing in schools overwhelms teachers and while it measures student success it also measures the teacher’s capabilities. Testing serves as a measurement tool for both parties which is not always accurate. There are teachers who put in the time and effort to ensure student success but that may not be reflected in test scores which then leads to them being fired. I find it unfair but also realizing that we live in a business-oriented world. Teachers should be appreciated more and there will always be a war because we aren’t deemed as important for the majority of our society. If 75% of our nation felt that we were “nation builders”, political and cultural changes would be taking place. I also feel that in every war there is an expectation of reparations. As a future teacher, we are fighting with no chance of an increase reparation amount. Teachers work hard to mold future leaders but aren’t appreciated monetarily which has the potential to affect their abilities in a classroom. Overall, I appreciated this insight and discussion because this is a reality that many don’t discuss. It allowed me to reflect on a broader spectrum on the opinions of teachers.
JoAnn here:
ReplyDeleteI dont really know how I feel about the article. I understand the notion of getting rid of bad teachers ,but it makes me question how do we consider a teacher a "bad teacher" ? Is it because she/he's not necessarily good at teaching or hasnt gotten in the groove of how to run their classroom or is it really someone who hates their job and it shows through the interactions with the kids? There are some people who are teachers but werent necessarily equipped with the tools to become a great teacher so in someone else's eyes they may be considered a bad teacher.
The text shed light on how we as teachers are admired but also attacked and I wholeheartedly agree. Teachers do so much for students and the communities ,but yet the moment test scores come back low all the blame goes straight towards teachers. Even though teaching is very different in urban settings than suburban settings there are still tons of teachers who are passionate and love what they do. .
I found Goldstein’s article especially interesting as I did not realize that the public out lash against teachers has been so highly publicized and such a talked-about subject amongst politicians and media reporters. As Sierra mentioned, I always had the understanding that teachers tended to be blamed by parents for their kids’ poor academic levels, but the extent to which they are blamed by the media is something I was completely unaware of.
ReplyDeleteWhile the article is undoubtedly upsetting, particularly for those of us who are going into this “war”, I have to say it does not surprise me the least. It seems to be an American pastime to pick out a scapegoat (or a group of scapegoats) for which we can blame our problems on, instead of looking at the big picture. Unfortunately, for the education sector, we’ve chosen teachers themselves as the target, and have failed to acknowledge the very systems that are meant to set our teachers and students up for success. We need to rethink the structure of our education system. We need to rethink how our school districts are organized. Going even farther back to the root of the problem- We need basic human rights to be commonplace. Too often our urban teachers are forced to deal with behavioral issues that are frankly to-be-expected in a country where kids are told they can be whatever they want to be while not getting their basic needs met like food, safety, and healthcare.
Another thing I found interesting in the article is Goldstein’s reflections on two of her teachers- Mr. Tunney and Mr. DiCarlucci. She notes how much pride and passion they had for their work. Her math teacher had students write dissertations and her language arts teacher was excited to teach about the book they read. It seems that these teachers had the autonomy to choose a curriculum that they could identify with and teach with enthusiasm. Today, school systems are too focused on standardized curriculums to leave any room for teachers to explore exciting topics with their students, which understandably becomes frustrating and leads to burnout and a lack of inspiration.
The Goldstein article allowed me to reflect on this past year as a resident of RTR-Petersburg. Throughout this year, I have seen both outstanding teachers and teachers who need more preparation. Despite some statements made in the article, I have encountered tenure teachers who are extremely useful to newer teachers and the school community. In addition, teachers who display undesirable behaviors, should not be teaching. I personally do not think that getting rid of teachers is always the answer. Teachers should each be given mentors or accountability partners within the district to assist them with any needs or to push them. This could serve as a way to help teachers effectively complete their jobs.
ReplyDelete^Brittney Dinac
DeleteThis article had a lot of parts and I had feelings about just about every part.
ReplyDeleteFirst off: I do think that the nation as a whole is terrible to teachers. The most respect we get is a 15% discount on ice cream on Thursdays before 4 pm and even that is hard-earned. And I think, from a government perspective of trying to "fix education" as a whole, teachers are *not* the main issue to be focusing on for "fixing".
But I also have been doing a lot of reading on teacher forums that makes me hesitant to automatically side with everyone who is a teacher. Like, there are teachers out there who are genuinely terrible -- we've all had one or two before. And reading online, I have been forced to confront that there are teachers who are racist, who are just culturally uninformed, who don't hesitate to call the cops on a student even with the current relationship the police have with black people.
I hate the line of thinking that says all teachers are good. But I also think we all should try to be good. We should be doing everything we can to be better for our students. I'm definitely rambling. Aaaanyway.
The bit about being judged based on test scores is also important to me because if you come into a school year with a classroom full of kids who don't even know how to sit still, the best measure of your skill as a teacher is if they can behave by the end of the year; being able to teach compassion and kindness and how to act like a human being is more important than knowing about photosynthesis.
But also, when you teach kids how to behave, the learning follows. Kids do want to learn. It's just that the learning doesn't necessarily follow a standardized pathway.
When we get down to it I think the concept of a "war on teachers" can rub me the wrong way because some people have very legitimate grievances with the educational system and the way it can dehumanize children, and teachers are not exempt from being a part of that. Of course I want to side with teachers as a whole, and I think governmental attacks on teachers are beyond stupid. But when individual people have issues, I can sympathize with their side of the story.
-Taylor Petty
DeletePaislee here:
ReplyDeleteHow heavily teachers are politicized and controlled makes the profession extremely difficult. While this article states the public respects teachers just as much as doctors, politics and policy give teachers limited control of their classrooms. Many teachers have a passion for teaching but are continuously getting their rights as a teacher taken away. Freedom is being replaced with mandated curriculum and dictated schedules to make sure testing standards are met. Respect for teachers has slowly started to fade. Teachers are continuously blamed for all problems within education. I think this is because it is easier to blame teachers than deal with the real issues at hand such as underfunding and teachers salary. I am extremely passionate about teaching but this often scares me. I found it particularly alarming that only 39 percent of teachers were extremely satisfied with their job in 2012. I would be interested to know what that percentage is currently. I think as a whole teachers need and deserve more respect in America, especially urban educators. Goldstein says that the public sees urban education as a failing profession. I have had teachers from neighboring districts ask why I wanted to be a teacher in RPS. I find this extremely frustrating because it feels like there is even a lack of respect with fellow teachers. I think teachers need to be more supportive of one another and that politicians need to show genuine support too. Once politicians are supportive of teachers, the community will be able to show more support too. Teaching is so much more than testing outcome there are other outcomes we need to be focusing on too!
It makes me really sad and honestly confused that there is such a war on teachers. Teachers are at the center of society in that they are the ones who are educating and training up future citizens of this country. It does not make sense to me that those citizens would then turn on their teachers who were so formative in their own lives. I do understand that there are incredibly broken schools and school systems, but only focusing the blame for those problems on the teachers feels like such cop-out and like people in power only want to attack the symptoms of the real problems. Instead of blaming teachers for everything, people in power need to take a closer look at the systemic issues that actually cause the school systems to be as they are. Teachers have an incredibly hard job, and that is not reflected in either their salaries or how they are treated overall. We are so quick to condemn the many and praise the few, but we are not willing to provide better training, resources, or support to help balance out the disparities. Teachers deserve real recognition and appreciation!
ReplyDeleteSeth
ReplyDeleteI guess the first thing that struck me about the article was the fear induced tactics that politicians, media, and government officials impose on the teaching profession, grounded in their rather authoritarian rhetoric almost as equally as their blame and proposed solution for "bad" teachers. Here a deeply American contradiction arises. Much like any strict system that utilizes blame to merit authority, a routinized fear and insecurity of our nation's preoccupation with student academic underperformance is felt through, housed in, and ultimately projected onto teachers.
This is article was truthfully unsettling particularly when it reminds me that that our country still spends and invests far more resources into the defense of our country than it does investing in education. The main take-away I have from this article is how to turn fear and insecurity (what I believe belies the moral panic about our institutions) by the government into a pluralistic education model, that doesn't necessarily seek immediate change in the social conditions of a society, but rests in the belief that the profession and institution serve as a vector and protection for intergenerational communication and diverse learning.
I appreciate Goldstein's ending comments that teachers positions in society are to prepare and instill change not to fulfill empty promises of change nor to perform some sort magic it supposedly takes to teach in high needs areas. They just want to be able to teach faithfully in a world they may seek to change as much as they feel it is their own.
Andrea C
ReplyDeleteI thought the article was interesting in that it brought to my attention that the teaching profession (in the U.S) seems to come under fire periodically. There have been recent teaching scandals around testing and schools losing accreditation that could lead people to think that teachers are not effective as they have been in the past and that is why teachers are currently under fire. However it seems like with each new social climate, teacher pay/performance becomes an issue. I admit to having had negative thoughts toward the teachers after hearing negative stories time after time without hearing or thinking about the positive effects teachers have on a daily basis. It is easy to get caught up and influenced by the media.
I also find it curious that the U.S. has this issue where teachers are not seen in the most positive light, especially when compared to some of the other countries mentioned in the article. It made me think about how I might feel in the future when I hear about the general criticisms of teacher. It would upset me and I would want to defend myself and my peers. I would also hope that I am a teacher that others would want to defend. It also made me think of the political side and teacher pay.
Paula here:
ReplyDeleteThe article was a very interesting read. The United States does not value teachers for what they are worth. Like South Korea described, teachers are nation builders. Teachers are the foundation of the next generation of doctors, teachers, lawyers and law makers. There are no excuses for bad teachers but veteran teachers may get fed up with the lack of appreciation that are felt from the school systems. I think that the definition of a bad teacher should be clearly defined. There are bad teachers and there are teachers who are just simply not growing. I agree that instead of the main focus being losing teachers, I think that school systems should focus on making teaching a more admiring job. Most people do not consider teaching because they hear all the time that teachers are under paid, teaching is not an ideal job or that as mentioned in the article, teaching is a job for those who cant. In reality, teaching is a very influential position to be in. The profession is not hard to get into so I do believe that teachers should have mentors or veteran peers to help mold them into a "good' teacher. A good teacher has many different definitions.
This article created a bunch of mixed emotions especially since I'm reaching the end of my residency year, and have come across some amazing teachers. It was hard to read that America blames teachers for the lack of success in public schools without taking into account other factors such as limited resources, poor funding, lack of support, and parental involvement.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like blaming teachers for the problems occurring in public schools is easier than getting to the route of it all. The article states, "To an extent, anxiety about bad teaching is understandable. Teachers do work that is both personal and political." This is definitely true. Not only do teachers educate our youth but at times take on roles of a mother, father, therapist, etc. and may be the most influential person in a child's life. A lot of circumstances children are faced with, teachers help tackle it head on while also taking it home with them at night. I believe these challenges should be taken into consideration when determining if a teacher is "bad" or not.
I also believe that test scores/assessments should not dictate how effective a teacher is. I currently work in a third grade classroom where we go over test taking strategies with students each day, yet they will still walk in an SOL testing session and do the complete opposite of what was taught. I've seen students immediate log in to a test and fall asleep, but is this a result of what the teacher has instilled? Students often come to school starving from not eating the night before, or exhausted because he/she had to be their own baby sitter. These are all factors in a decline in the success of public schools that all fall heavily on the teacher.
This article hit home for me because in a few months I will be responsible for my own classroom. These same challenges and stereotypes teachers are faced with will soon become my reality. I did like how this article shined light on positive attributes about teachers and explained their role, but everything seems to still be blamed on teachers at the end of the day.
Kim
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting that Goldstein mentioned the difference of how teaching is viewed in other countries in comparison to ours. She mentions in South Korea, teachers are admired and called “nation builders”, while the phrase “those who can’t do, teach” is a phrase used in our country. It seems that teachers are blamed for bad teachers, such as those who cheating on standardized test scores, and it results in more work for them and their teaching as a whole defined by student performance. They can be viewed as an ineffective/bad teacher, when in reality they may need more training, support, or they can be more effective in other environments. I also think there is a lack of support in some areas, and it is sad that some teachers quit because it seems to them like teaching becomes more controlled and less creative. I was once at a school in RPS and the teacher I worked with told me not to become a teacher because it’s not about the students anymore, it’s about paperwork and scores. Goldstein also mentions the absence of social supports for families that would help children in certain areas, which include affordable housing and healthcare. I agree that there should be less blame on the teachers and more focus on giving support to them through training and improving their skills.
Nicole,
ReplyDeleteWhile I was reading this article, it made it feel angry, sad. It made me very angry how little it seems people know about what being a teacher actually means. It’s not just about getting your students to have awesome test scores but also to build relationships with your students and help them grow/learn about their own selves and life. So, I just do not understand way we judge teachers based off test scores so often. I feel sad for America that we still can't see the value in our teachers even though just as the article says, "despite polls showing that the American public considers teachers highly respected professionals, nearly on par with medical doctors"(1). This just blows my mind teachers are just as respected as doctors but still so under paid. It is just crazy, to think what all these amazing teachers in the America could be doing if they were paid like doctors. I was also very confused while reading this article about why America keeps repeating the same mistakes with their education system.
This article made me reflect on why I believe public schools are failing and the causes of “underperforming" schools. This article points out the complexity of the issues facing education in the US. Solely blaming teachers for the failing education system ignores other factors like the unequal distribution of funding, lack of resources, and racial inequities. There are some teachers who are doing more harm than good in their classrooms, however teacher shortages, especially in high-need schools, make it difficult for principals to terminate their positions. If a school has to fire a teacher what will be the implications of that decision? Will there be someone to replace them or will the other teachers have to take on a larger class size, which could negatively affect their performance. The percentage of teachers who leave the profession within 5 years is alarming and disheartening, but understandable. Society values education, but not teachers. Politics have a huge impact on various aspects of education (testing standards, curriculum, funding, etc…) which dictates the ways in which teachers are able to do their jobs. One question I am left with is whether or not the US has tried collaborating with other countries with more successful education systems to see what practices could be adopted to increase the quality of education students are receiving here.
ReplyDeleteJustin here:
ReplyDeleteThis article brought all of my anxiety of going into the teaching world to light. From the firing of many teachers as an overcorrection to class rooms being monitored and scheduled to the point that no creative touch can be given. It is somewhat of a strange relief knowing these concerns are not new and that they have surfaced in the past before. Knowing this I see that teachers have made it through without having to make but so many changes as these usually fall to the wayside once it is seen they do not function as intended. While some teachers had to quit to prove their point its those teachers that make a difference in an ever changing and frantic system.
The article also had me thinking about the firing of teachers and how the public and media influence this by take a small percentage of people and statistics and putting a magnifying glass over it. The public does not want to give tax dollars to help the problem then they blame the teachers who are not able to accomplish almost impossible tasks without resources. This is not all as the public then takes the few teachers who are able to do what is expected and put them on a pedestal to show everyone that “see they do not need more after all”. The public and government want quick solutions for a problem that will not be quick to fix, and this article shows that this problem is slowly being recognized and we have to wake up and try to fix it together.
James here, sorry for the late reply:
ReplyDeleteI would say the article definitely begged some questions: some soft and some hard. I never understood what made a good or bad teacher until I started grad school and I was able to see teaching from an observational point in my service learning. Thankfully, through my service learning my fears of the Do's and Dont's of teaching were put aside for the most part but this article brought out the want to be a good teacher. I want to be, as what I think a good teacher should be, a support structure for students in need of guidance; educational and personal. In any case, my hope is that I can be at least an effective teacher to my future students that will give them what they need rather than just what I want to THINK they need.
There should be a concerted effort to raise the professional status of teachers in the united states. The article explains that teachers feel more mission driven about their work than other American professionals. Many teachers are already passionate about their work, paying them a little more money wouldn’t hurt. The teacher pay in some states is downright disrespectful. With the amount of teachers leaving with barely 5 years on the job, it’s clear to see that teaching is not an endeavor.
ReplyDeleteTeachers should be provided with as much support as they need to be successful. Successful teachers increase the probability for creating successful students. The article points out that there are many factors that contribute to failing, under performing schools. Poverty, mental illness, learning disabilities, and lack of family support are just a few obstacles to a student’s success in the class room. Teachers cannot control these variables. Why not focus on what we can control…Ourselves? Administrations should provide their teachers with ample training, constructive criticism, extra support, and incentives for improvement (along with the protection of tenure). All of these steps should be taken before labeling a teacher as bad, or before just giving them the boot. After all, teaches are responsible for educating the future citizens who will “shape our collective future”.
Kira P
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