Don’t get me wrong. There are many things good about public education, but as the beginning of the school year approaches, I can’t help but think about what’s wrong with it. Specifically at the high school level. I know that is a sentence fragment, grammar police, but I intended it to be that way.
Public education has come a long way since this one-room schoolhouse was built in 1885 in Strawberry, Arizona. It’s the oldest standing schoolhouse in the state, built when Arizona was still a territory.
I’ve been out of the education field since 2018, but I talk to people who are in the classroom and hear their stories of what is happening today.Keep in mind my statements are my opinions based upon personal experiences and observations, not research.
First, I’ll address teachers. You have a difficult job, and I know many of you once loved your career but are discouraged by the changes that have taken place. It’s a shame you are not treated like the professionals you are. Your profession is the only one I can think of that is governed by people who do not work in your profession. Legislators and school board members with no experience (or limited experience) in education are telling you what to do and how to do it. Evaluation models you are expected to follow are based on research, and as a former principal who observed multiple teachers, I have to agree that the TEAM approach was effective. The best teachers were the ones doing those things already. It was reflected in the learning and test scores. It was reflected in how the students responded in class. And you know what I saw? The teachers who had the highest test scores were liked and respected by their students. Keep that in mind. Be firm but kind. Encourage. Don’t take your bad days out on your students. Be professional by arriving when you’re supposed to arrive and doing what you’re supposed to do. You know what makes life harder for teachers? When fellow teachers are not abiding by the policies.
Next, administrators like principals and supervisors. Many of you, if not all of you, are in your positions because you were tired of the classroom and wanted to earn a higher salary. Don’t forget what it was like to be in the classroom. If done correctly, it is a demanding, exhausting job. My seven years as principal were stressful in ways, but it was a nice break from being in the classroom and being observed by the powers-that-be who seemed to be looking for what I was doing wrong instead of what I was doing correctly. Treat your teachers with respect and professionalism. To the teachers at DMS, I apologize if I ever treated you badly. It was not my intent. I know of one school district in which a team of supervisors is observing teachers DURING THEIR PLANNING TIME. All caps are intentional. This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard of. If you have someone looking over your shoulder constantly, how do you feel? Do you want to stay in that job? Give your teachers the support they need. If they’re not doing their jobs, address it and let them go if necessary. I know that sounds harsh, but education is about the students, not a teacher’s feelings. Some enter the profession who are not suited for it. But treat even those teachers with professional courtesy.
Third, school board members. Listen to the teachers. Listen to the administrators. I know you want success for the students, and because everyone went to school while they were growing up, they think they’re experts in education. Really? I’ve been going to doctors all my life but would never presume to tell a doctor or nurse how to do their job. Do corporations have non-business people determining policy? Would I presume to be on a board for an airline just because I fly? Yet we have farmers, business people, some former educators, and other occupations sitting on our school boards and making policies without listening to the experts: the teachers.
Fourth, parents: What I am hearing about parents in general these days just blows my mind. Apparently you feel your child should not be held accountable for anything. Not for grades. Not for behavior. Not for attendance. When I heard the state had changed the grading scale to below 60 being failing instead of below 70, I couldn’t believe it. Look, I know there are some tough teachers who seem to be harsh (shame on them) or expect too much (if they’re doing their jobs right, they will expect more). But your disrespect of the teachers and the school in general is teaching your child to be disrespectful of authority, to make excuses for failure instead of working to overcome it, and preparing them for a future of irresponsibility in life. I know not all parents are this way, but there are enough of you out there that, once again, your attitudes are lowering the quality of education for all students, not just your child.
As I said, there are many good things about public education despite the negatives I’ve listed. You’ve stuck with me this long. Please consider these suggestions:
Teachers, be kind and patient with your students. Harsh treatment, especially in elementary grades, can damage them psychologically for many years if not for life. Students have varying abilities to learn, and your job is to teach them in ways that help each one. Remember that teaching is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach. I didn’t learn that for many years, and once I learned that and figured out ways to address it, students actually learned what I was trying to teach them.
Legislators, administrators, school board members: be willing to listen. And as for the test scores situation…well, that will be another blog. What you legislators have succeeded in doing is to teach students how to take a test, not given them the skills they need to succeed. My generation was not tested like students are today. And yet many of us became successful in life. The only standardized test I took in high school was the ACT. So how on earth did I graduate with high honors from the university? How did one of my classmates become a Harvard professor? How did many become doctors, teachers, business people? (Are you picking up on my sarcasm?) By the way, I think Tennessee should go back to career/college/dual path system instead of the Tennessee Diploma Project. That, too, will be the topic of a later blog.
Parents, teaching your child to be responsible and accountable is not easy. You don’t want to see your child hurt or upset. I get that. But if you lay the foundation of expectations and get the help your child needs when struggling, you will prepare them for a more successful life. In high school, I was used to making mostly A’s, but I struggled with Algebra 2. Mom found a retired teacher in our church who tutored me two afternoons a week, and my grades improved. That prepared me for college algebra. She didn’t go to the principal and complain. She didn’t send the teacher hateful notes or ask the teacher to accept my homework late (which I had not done because I had no idea how to do it). That was in the 1970s. In today’s educational system, free extra help is available at school. And if your child gets in trouble at school and receives a detention, make them serve it. Stop making excuses for them.
If you’ve made it this far, you may be disagreeing with my opinions, and that’s fine. Because this is my blog, I’m expressing my own. We can agree to disagree.
As a product of public education in a rural setting, I am not knowledgeable about inner city schools or schools in suburbs in which the standard of living is much higher. I attended schools that were an assortment of races, socio-economic groups, and ability levels. I taught in the same type of schools.
So, to say I’m passionate about public education is an understatement. I believe in it. A strong public education system makes a strong community. We need public education, but some things need to be fixed.
Life As I know it 