As a final post at the tail end of my guest blogging gig I would like to share this video I put together from a discussion yesterday between Dick Morris and Dennis Miller. Most of it is focused on America’s Failed Education System but I think there is direct relevance to what’s going on here in Canada. It seems that barely a week goes by when we don’t hear of one provincial teachers’ union or another doing something that is clearly not in the best interest of the students. In the interview, Morris pulls no punches in his disdain for American teachers’ unions and provides example after example why.
Related: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie proposes forfeiting raises and losing tenure for the worst unionized teachers. My opinion: A good start but in the REAL world NO ONE should have tenure.
A big thanks to Kate for the opportunity I was given and much thanks to all of you, the regular participants here at SDA. The conversations were most enlightening and I learned a lot. A pretty good way to start 2011, I think!
“Perfection is the enemy of the good”
A true aphorism, it worked for the T-34 tank anyway.
A true aphorism, it worked for the T-34 tank anyway.
Yeah, it worked out nicely for Stalin.
I wouldn’t have wanted to be a crew member on one of them(they didn’t even have radios and the commanders hadeto do command, loading, and shooting on the original models) while facing the German panzers or 88s when they had a kill ratio of 10:1 and the Germans could kill them at twice the distance that the T-34s could even shoot.
(not to metion the Junkers 87s but, oh hey I did mention them)
I wouldn’t have wanted to crew anything the Soviets fielded, but it exemplified the expression. And at the T-34s introduction in 1941 it outclassed the majority of the German armor opposing it. More importantly they could churn out more than a thousand of them per month.
And at the T-34s introduction in 1941 it outclassed the majority of the German armor opposing it. More importantly they could churn out more than a thousand of them per month.
Yes, later in the war the Russians could produce 1K T-34s per month.
(did you know that in some battles the Soviets lost 6,500 tanks at a crack, and that’s not just tanks that’s crews too–early in the war T-34s had 3 man crews, later they had 5 man crews)
In 1941 during Operation Barbarossa the Germans had an AT Gun, PAK 38 with a tungsten core projectile, that could go through the T-34 like shit through a goose at over a kilometer away.
It could even kill the more heavily armoured KV-1s like a hot knife through butter.
Fortunately for the Germans they had mastered the concept of Combined Arms(Blitz Krieg) before they invaded the Soviet Union.
Since the T-34s didn’t have radios they were incapable of using them for coordinated armour attacks and the Germans killed them piecemeal where ever they were encountered.
Did I mention the JU-87s?
The Stukas could dive from 15 thousand feet and hit a tank with pin point accuracy before that tank even got to the battle space where the German armour or AT crews even had to think about dealing with it.
Best all around tank of the war? German Panzer V (Panther G)… later models even had infrared night sights for main gun targeting.
The Panther G could make kills at 2 kilometers(just like modern MBTs do) and had the lowest ground pressure per square inch of any tank in the war.
@Syncrodox: There is a first year teacher at my daughter’s school who really shouldn’t be there. It’s a mat leave contract that consists of all the bits and pieces the other teachers wouldn’t touch, including French.
When I sat down with her at a P/T interview I asked her what her qualifications were to be teaching French. She told me she had taken two years in university and wanted to know why I was asking.
“Because you’ve been teaching my daughter to pronounce the number ten as ‘dicks’, not ‘deese’, that’s why.”
She’s the same teacher who witnessed a student punching my daughter twice in class, but didn’t report it to either my wife or I because she didn’t view the incident as serious.
I’m really hoping she never gets a permanent contract anywhere. Twit.
Husband, I’m sympathetic. I’ve seen student teachers, who can’t speak ENGLISH properly, for pete’s sake! And, yes, these students are usually viz-min, which means, almost for sure, an affirmative action hiring.
Then, we’ve got the “Me. Whatever. Generation” now getting jobs in teaching. Some are wonderful, but too many of them have never been taught to think—or taught much of anything at all—and are lousy organizers and problem solvers. Their classes are in disarray and their students undisciplined and not learning much of anything worthwhile. A lot of the new, quite young administrators—many viz-min, to fill quotas—have no manners and are totally unprofessional: one I know of parks her vehicle partly on the “Disabled” parking space, which is not only arrogant and completely discourteous, it’s against the law. This principal, like far too many, doesn’t follow the rules herself, or require the students to. Most principals have no idea what’s really going on in the classrooms of their schools, even though they’re supposed to be the “curriculum leaders”. Very few take any active interest in the well-being of their staffs. Teachers who are struggling are pretty much on their own. (Usually it’s other teachers who help a colleague who needs it.)
The problems in the public school system are gargantuan. Because the “look the other way” strategy is so pervasive, I believe that head office has instructed school administrators to do just that. They don’t have the means to even begin to deal with all the pathologies, and so they try to ignore them. The court system hasn’t supported the schools’ authority, social workers are taught to be “nice” to the worst offenders, and the Charter has made the worst parents and kids aggressive—and, usually, appeased—pursuers of their own way. Our culture infantilizes citizens, rather than requiring that they grow up. As long as this is the prevailing philosophy—and individual teachers have no control over it—schools will continue to churn out mediocre citizens who don’t know very much about a lot of things—except that they’re exceptional and deserve to have the world bend their way.
“Sow the wind. Reap the whirlwind.”
lookout
Look, there is no anger here, I am simply debating the issue at hand. If teacher folk need to be treated with kiddie gloves then just say so. It seems that the old adage “stick & stones” isn’t taught at school now a days, but the uber sensitivity seems to extend to older folks that should know better. Just because we disagree, doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.
If I take yours and the other teachers POV correctly, it’s that absolutely everything I’ve said is completely wrong, and it shouldn’t even be said, or mused about else running the risk of hurting someone’s feelings. Not once have any of you even considered the possibility that ‘teachers are the problem’. Instead, you all line-up (like good soldiers) and point fingers at everyone else! I’ve conceded that not all kids can be taught, and that teachers should not be evaluated on this, but you all still can’t get past the fact that ‘teachers’ are being criticized; regardless of what I say. Then, you take it personal. Do you not see the irony about your complaints about ‘kids (and parents) these days’ and their inability to take criticism? Perhaps the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree eh?JMO
Also, if you can’t see the shady part of your industry where teachers will sit eye to eye with a parent and tell them that their kid is doing ‘satisfactory’ when they know damn well that ‘satisfactory’ is relative to a lowered standard, then “yeah!” I call shenanigans, and I have no problem saying that it is ‘dishonest’. Perhaps you should put yourself in the shoes of a parent for a minute. We assume we’re being given the straight facts from our teachers, not some skewed politically correct baffle gab; but many here admit, on this thread, the problems I’m illustrating. That is dishonest. Period! Now, teachers can get all technical and say something similar to what chris said: “As to my conscience, I do my job exactly as outlined by the provincial curriculum and then some. I follow the directives of my employers, the clients, and my supervisors and directors.” . Isn’t this similar to the insurance adjuster who’s ‘just doing their job’? I’ve conceded that teachers are mandated to do so, but that doesn’t speak to the overall honesty of the issue. The goal posts are constantly being moved so that teachers can give the ‘satisfactory’ or ‘meeting’ mark, yet the parents are not aware of these changing standards. So even though technically the teacher is correct, it is intentionally dishonest and misleading to the parents and the students who do not understand that this mark is relative to the lowered standards. For example, if you were a teacher mandated to exercise a curve based on race(as has been discussed before), do you not see the issue with passing that ‘satisfactory’ grade to the inferior student based on race; and more so, don’t you see the ethical problem with passing this mark on the parents of this student? How are they supposed to know the difference between an Asian ‘satisfactory’ and a black ‘satisfactory’? Surely you’re not going to tell me that this is made clear to everyone. Am I making any sense here on the honesty and integrity issue?
People have no qualms about criticizing lawyers for ethics. It’s a job, and people need a cheque, but the criticism is still there, and it’s warranted. IMO the teaching profession has entered this realm of professions, that deservedly attracts the ire of the public for the reasons I’ve outlined above.
Anyways, to paraphrase in your opinion, the answer to ‘what is wrong with the public school system’ is: the parents. Gotcha!
Indiana, you’re angry: that’s OK. So am I, and so are a lot of us in the educational system. But, you’re preaching to the choir—and getting mad at us, who agree with you on many counts, a fact you somehow seem to have missed. E.g., You end your pretty dogmatic post by flinging this untrue and discourteous slap down at me: “Anyways, to paraphrase in your opinion, the answer to ‘what is wrong with the public school system’ is: the parents. Gotcha!”
You’re absolutely wrong here: your judgment does not match my remarks at all. I don’t mind a fair disagreement. I do mind an obtuse refusal to engage fairly with what others have actually said, such as:
“If teacher folk need to be treated with kiddie gloves then just say so . . . it’s that absolutely everything I’ve said is completely wrong, and it shouldn’t even be said . . .” Pardon? The teachers posting here have exposed loads of garbage from the inside, which possibly wouldn’t even be guessed at if we weren’t willing to criticize the system. You seem to discount our very strong censure of the public education system.
Hyperbolic, inaccurate, incendiary language is not helpful. You write, “Not ONCE have ANY OF YOU EVEN CONSIDERED the POSSIBILITY that ‘teachers are the problem’ . . .” We haven’t? Why, just in my latest post, I wrote, “Then, we’ve got the “Me. Whatever. Generation” now getting jobs in teaching. Some are wonderful, but too many of them have never been taught to think—or taught much of anything at all—and are lousy organizers and problem solvers. Their classes are in disarray and their students undisciplined and not learning much of anything worthwhile. A lot of the new, quite young administrators—many viz-min, to fill quotas—have no manners and are totally unprofessional . . .”
Which takes me to this zinger from you: “Also, if you can’t see the shady part of your industry . . .” My posts are FULL of the shady PARTS of the industry.
Then you write, “Perhaps you should put yourself in the shoes of a parent for a minute . . .” I guess you missed the part where I wrote, “TJ, join the club! I’ve tried, both as a teacher and parent, to change the system.”
Re “The goal posts are constantly being moved so that teachers can give the ‘satisfactory’ or ‘meeting’ mark, yet the parents are not aware of these changing standards.” I talked about how I counselled parents to end-run the board’s ridiculous policies, and both rita and I have deplored the dumbing down to “accommodate”—read “cheat”—the reality of low achieving students from favoured groups. We’ve worked against such insidiousness as best we could, at personal cost, as we’ve both said.
You write, “Am I making any sense here on the honesty and integrity issue?” If you’d read what the teachers and Husband have been saying—over and over—you’ll notice, maybe, that we’re on your side here. We’re disgusted with the policies and behaviour of a critical mass of the personnel in the educational system, which necessarily includes the ministries, the boards, and the communities in which we work. Teachers are not the only players here—and the teachers here have NOT let teachers off the hook.
I’ll quote myself from earlier: “I know that you’re very angry with the public education system: so am I. But your refusal to support such principled teachers here as rita, chris, HofaT [sic: he’s the husband of a teacher] is disturbing. In fact, I believe you’ve treated a lot of us—the best in a bad situation—with an unbecoming and undeserved mean spiritedness and disdain. I’m shocked.”
Later, after I commented on what I thought were his unfair remarks, $ FKA gord back, “Good points lookout. I don’t think all teachers are bad. I have teacher friends. LIKE YOU SAY PEOPLE HAVE LEGITIMATE BEEFS AND ARE ANGRY. [Somehow, Indiana, you missed that too.] The frustration accumulated from years of pointing out the stupidity of the left’s agenda and living with the consequences of it only to be ridiculed for our efforts has caused a lot of people to lash out. Unfortunately all teachers are considered guilty through association. I would hope that the teachers who have posted here will continue to fight the good fight from the inside . . .” (Emphasis mine)
Indiana, I believe that your remarks on this thread have been intemperate and unfair, (which detracts from your credibility). That’s what bothers me. Please read what the teachers here are REALLY saying. If you did, I believe it would be reasonable for you to conclude that we agree with you: the system’s a mess—for many reasons.
My advice to you when dealing with the system: hold your ground. Be temperate. Use logic and, as much as possible, the board’s own documents and language, to hold them to account. It won’t be easy: they’ll often treat you with contempt and try to side swipe your concerns. This is very frustrating and demeaning. Sometimes it’s hard to keep pushing the same boulder uphill over and over. How do I know? Because that’s how the system generally treats its teachers. Your kids and all the rest deserve the best. They’re not getting it. Believe me, I’m very sympathetic to the problems you’ve described and I wish you and your family the best of luck.
Thanks for your response lookout, and know that I have read and understand the agreements and disagreements on this issue. I still think that ‘blame the parents’ is off topic on the ‘what’s wrong with the school system’ topic, but I digress.
I think the problem with the public education system is the ‘teachers’. I’ve made my case, and if that opinion detracts from my credibility then so be it. I might argue that the fact that 100% of teachers seem to agree with you, and the union on many similar issues takes away from the credibility of your industry, but I digress again.(I’ve yet to hear ONE teacher in support of the pay for success model. surely this is a statistical anomaly)
“Angry”, no. It’s common knowledge that criticism’s in email or essay form are often interpreted more harshly than the commenter intended. This is likely the case here. What you call ‘anger’ I call vigorous debate. It’s no wonder that we have a society of namby pambys when that is exactly how they’re being taught to act in school by people that tend to support the namby pamby agenda. Am I singling you out here? Of course not. But surely you understand that most of your industry peers do not comment on Right-wing blogs, nor support Right-wing politics, and back the namby pamby agenda 100%. I’m willing to concede that most of the Right-wing teachers are the ‘good ones’ and that the ‘bad ones’ tend to frequent the other blogs, and vote for the other party; but, it’s my perception that you people are in the slim minority.
I like you lookout, you are very nice; but please spare me your ‘high and mighty’ haughtiness:
“You end your pretty dogmatic post by flinging this untrue and discourteous slap down at me: “Anyways, to paraphrase in your opinion, the answer to ‘what is wrong with the public school system’ is: the parents. Gotcha!” ”
‘Well Indiana, what’s wrong with PUBLIC education has EVERYTHING to do with “poor parenting, broken homes and root causes”’
These discussions are fast paced, and often littered with mistakes, false accusations (see mine towards chris), poor grammar, and poor choice of words (ie crappy). We (i suspect) don’t spend too much time proof reading so these conversations must be taken with a grain of salt.
Finally, one last question. What say you about the Police that will turn a blind eye to violent rioters rioting for the right(Left) reasons; yet get very serious about their jobs when the protesting is for the wrong(Right) reason? I think you know the double standard I speak of; and I’d just like to know if you extend the same grace to the Police Officers because they too are ‘doing what their told by their employers’? FYI I do not!
See ya on the other threads; and I of course wish the best to you (and everyone I’ angry at) also.
Thanks for the note, Indiana.
My problem with merit pay, as I’ve said, is that the decisions will largely be made on political grounds: those teachers (the more compliant, the better) whom administration likes will get the nod. Often, the better teachers, who are likely to stand their ground and, thus, be unpopular with administration, could very easily be passed over. I know of cases of this happening re teacher performance appraisals. I don’t know how one would arrive at a neutral way of assessing performance.
Re parents: as a parent, I’m very much on the parents’ side: the system’s often horrible to parents—usually the more principled, traditional ones. As a teacher, the problem parents, who have a suitcase full of rights these days and who are usually the less responsible ones, are a roadblock to their kids’ success. That administration so often caves to these parents is demeaning and annoying. Re the parents of the hundreds of kids I’ve taught, our “get along” score is about 95%.
Yes, being a traditionalist conservative in a public school board can be lonely: I do my job (very well) and keep my mouth shut on political issues. As far as I can, in class, I sidestep the PC cr*p and stick to the academic basics.
Re the police: I’m not a favour of their stand-downs. In fact, I’ve been disgusted by their behaviour in Caledonia, at the G-20 summit, and in every case where they arrest a law-abiding citizen protecting his property and possibly even his and his family’s life. I see this PC police behaviour as the worst kind of appeasement and an extension of “let the kids off the hook” in our schools. It’s time for this society to demand accountability of ALL citizens. Justice should be blindfolded—like the statue. But now the lady peeks and metes out justice according to race/religion/socio-economic status, etc. of the criminal. When the rule of law is arbitrary, we’re all in trouble.
That’s my take on the police, but, Indiana, I’ve never made the argument that teachers are to be automatically excused for “doing what they’re told by their employers”. As I said, I’ve often found ways to side step directives that don’t work for my students. Many teachers do that: the sad truth is that to be a good teacher these days, one often needs to be subversive. E.g., I was told not to teach phonics and grammar: I ignored that lousy advice. The difference between teachers and police officers, though, is that our classrooms provide a degree of privacy. Police are often right out there where their in/actions are front and centre for all to see. Disobeying a direct command carries very serious penalties.
Lookout, you write both with reasonableness and passion–that’s a nifty balancing act.
On the subject of merit pay, I would not object at all if merit could be defined, and the perks were distributed by those who don’t have a self-protecting agenda of their own. Administrators surround themselves with like-minded sycophants. It’s almost like a Renaissance Court–all blessings flow from those in power and if you want to play, you learn the script.
How do you determine a good teacher? By the marks kids get on standardized tests? Well, to get 1% improvement with certain classes would be a heroic achievement, whereas, with others, the marks would achieve themselves with little teacher effort. Parent ratings? Student ratings? Votes of colleagues? The decision of the higher-ups? I know that everyone has some idea of what a good teacher is–but exactly what does that mean? One teacher might succeed wonderfully well with one kid and be absolutely hopeless with a different one.
There used to be some collegiality in the profession. If I acted in a lesser fashion, the principal didn’t have to chide me. I felt the disapproval of my colleagues and it mattered. Likewise, their approval mattered more than some dismissive compliment from an administrator with a paper from some US diploma mill, who had read a paper on how to give out warm fuzzies. I was helped immeasurably by colleagues who gave unselfishly of their wisdom, their materials and other help. Under a merit pay system, would they have been so eager to share? Perhaps. But perhaps they would have been a bit more reluctant to cede their advantage. When we worked as a team, we would have applauded those who qualified for merit pay–and I even believe some would have refused it, reasoning that their success depended on the efforts of everyone–not just their own Lone Ranger efforts. Successful schools are not those who reward the high fliers, but those that encourage a true collegial spirit–one where you’re not afraid to consult with another teacher when you’re in difficulty. A place where other staff genuinely try to help you out rather than cut you down so they shine brighter at your expense. Don’t tell me this is impossible because I lived it for nearly half of my career.
One great teacher in a lousy school isn’t going to be able to achieve much. How well has merit pay and bonuses worked in the commercial world? Yes the more successful realtor makes more commission and gets richer. Is the client any better off? Yes the CEO’s get their huge bonuses (usually reaped as a result of the efforts of all their staff) but is the company or the investor better off. Ask the holders of Nortel stock about that. When you work for merit pay, you work for yourself and the rest of the mission becomes secondary.
rita, a compliment from you is highly valued. Thank you. And I return the compliment: your intelligent and gracious, but hard headed, analysis is always spot on. You’re a kindred spirit!
Your comments re the probable on-the-ground results of merit pay are realistic and insightful. We all know the “It’s my idea and I don’t want you to use it” teacher versus the evangelist: “HEY, EVERYBODY, THIS IDEA WORKED: I CAN’T WAIT TO SHARE IT WITH YOU—WITH HANDOUTS!”
Yes, like you, and for the first half of my career, the sharing mode was de rigueur. In the highly political climate that now prevails, there’s still some sharing, but people are wary. If merit pay came in, all the drawbacks you articulated so well would come to pass for sure.
rita, thanks so much for your valuable input.
P. S. Indiana writes: “These discussions are fast paced, and often littered with mistakes, false accusations (see mine towards chris [admission appreciated!]), poor grammar, and poor choice of words (ie crappy). We (i suspect) don’t spend too much time proof reading so THESE CONVERSATIONS MUST BE TAKEN WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.” (Emphasis mine)
With respect, this description does not mirror my idea of the contributions here. If this description were accurate , I wouldn’t bother with SDA.
That said, I’m happy that Indiana’s a part of our discussion.