PLEASE READ THIS, DAMN IT

[teacher gal]

I wish our nation's teachers would speak up and mount an insurrection against the corporate/politicos destroying public education.

http://schoolsmatter.blogspot.com/2008/04/dropout-explosion-wonder-how-come_08.html

[Olney Blue]

1. Why don't teachers speak out more?

[damonm]

2. Probably 'cuz all their time is spent doing their jobs...

[teacher gal]

3. Fear

is one of the major reasons. To speak out or not comply is to risk your job.

[roguevalley]

22. the worst thing in education right now is administrators and lackey

asswipe school boards. Bitter much? Damn right I am.

RV, exulting in retirement after 27 years

[teacher gal]

23. Teaching is so

devoid of joy now. We are policed to death and so busy being "accountable" we don't have time to do the things for kids that really matter in the long run.

Wish I was near retirement, given the present circumstances!

[roguevalley]

29. hang in there, sweetie. my old school just admin'd the state test

and they were told if anyone went to the can during the test they would be fined $150 for each violation and the teacher leading the test admin.
amongst all the teachers was told she would lose her license if things weren't done according to the plan. I am sooooOOOooooOOoo glad to be retired.

[teacher gal]

5. Yes, that is true

Very much so.

[elehhhhna]

4. lotsa TX teachers I know are Republicans for no good reason.

They're just not paying attention to politics, 'tho they hate the TAKS tests,and many are looking to get out of teaching.

[kwenu]

6. Really. I wouldn't have guessed that. The republican part not the getting out of teaching part.

[elehhhhna]

8. Isn't that weird? But this is Texas.

[kwenu]

18. Yeah. But I'm hoping the tide is turning.

[teacher gal]

7. High-stakes testing

and the whole oppressive regime that has been imposed is not only increasing the dropout rate among students, it is causing demoralized teachers to "drop out" in droves. Many are just leaving the profession.

[teacher gal]

9. kick

I want to keep this up there. Thank you so much to those of you willing to comment and recommend.

[psychmommy]

15. my daughter's teachers are voting for mcsame in nj.

they are union. i was under the impression that union folk voted dem. i am shocked and a little disappointed. the pressure of passing test scores/or your fired and the mandatory continuing ed credits (6 or more a yr} pushed folks out of teaching. why would you vote for more of that? i don't get it.

[teacher gal]

24. I don't get it either! n/t

[redqueen]

30. Yup...

I've noticed the same thing in my neck of the woods.

Are all TX schools upping the jingoism, or is it just the ones around here?

[Flabbergasted]

10. I sadly Recommend this. Nearly Cried reading it.

Sadly NCLB is framed in such a way that protesting teachers can be easily framed as teachers who do not want to be held accountable. There's not much teachers can do but educate parents in a thoughtful way.

[teacher gal]

17. You are so right

When we try to speak out and expose what is happening, accusations of not wanting to be held accountable and "the soft bigotry of low expectations" follow like clockwork.

[bigbrother05]

11. Teachers are under contract

and the super and school board can and will use that as a threat

[teacher gal]

12. Thank you to all of you

who are commenting and recommending. Education generally doesn't get the attention it deserves. I will be online working on IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) for my special education students until very late tonight...and will keep checking on this thread while I'm online. Any help keeping it up there greatly appreciated.

BTW, do the presidential candidates keep up with what is posted at DU??

[Flabbergasted]

13. Keep up the great work. Thanks for Caring!!!!

I doubt the presidential candidates know much about DU.

Why don't you write them directly?

[teacher gal]

14. Thanks

And by the way, the Educator Roundtable has a petition online where you good people can add your voice to those calling for the dismantling of the horribly misnamed No Child Left Behind Act. This disastrous legislation is Orwellian to the core.

Go here and sign: www.educatorroundtable.org

[Flabbergasted]

16. Great. Done.

[teacher gal]

19. Gonna keep kicking nt

[teacher gal]

20. another kick for a critical issue n/t

[teacher gal]

21. Well, I am

persistent even if I did strike a childish, all CAPs subject heading!

[teacher gal]

25. I don't want to

let this fall.

[teacher gal]

26. ok, it's embarrassing

but another boot for this issue anyway.

[teacher gal]

27. A commenter

at GD noted how this ties in with the thread here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3129971&mesg_id=3129971

[Silver Gaia]

28. K&R I'll kick this for ya...

I'm not a teacher (actually am a student again right now), but used to be a paraprofessional in special ed. The school where I worked has fallen victim to NCLB. :( It's gone. Closed. The kids out near the fancy subdivision got a nice, brand new school, but our school, near the low-income area, is gone. Yay, huh? :sarcasm: