The Times Union ran an article about a first grade teacher
who retired early because she felt micromanaged and forced to teach a
curriculum that she felt was inappropriate. The Times Union referred to her as
part of an uncounted underground of teachers.
Are you part of this uncounted underground? You just might
be if:
You have questions about the appropriateness of the
curriculum you are forced to teach. You might feel it is developmentally
inappropriate, poorly written or lacks the supplemental materials to be successful.
You bemoan the loss of creativity and innovation and have
angst that you have been tuned into little more than a robot regurgitating a
script.
You are saddened that you know when kids get home their parents
won’t be able to help them with their lessons either because the material is too
complicated (common core math) or you don’t have books to send home.
You are frustrated with the constant micromanagement of your
time by people who don’ know your kids or what they need.
You are dismayed that you aren’t allowed to take your kids
out for recess because you don’t have time as to much to possibly do is jam
packed into every day.
You are frustrated by leaders who either weren’t in the
classroom or were for just a cup of coffee years ago or by 27 year old academic
coaches and assistant principals who think they know more than you because they
took the first opportunity they could to get away from kids and out of the
classroom.
You are tired of the poor discipline as kids don’t receive consequences for their actions and the lack of support for discipline you get
from your administration.
You are scared for your job if you speak up. You are afraid
since you are on annual contract you won’t be reappointed or if you are on a
professional contract you will be harassed into quitting if you talk about all the
things going on.
You feel marginalized by the community, ignored and
disrespected by your administration or scared because your students don’t receive
consequences for their actions when you got to work. If you are any of these
things they you might just be part of the uncounted underground of teachers.
This so called underground isn’t a handful of dissatisfied
teachers with an ax to grind. I feel comfortable saying it is the majority of
our staff but please don’t take my word for it, instead ask a teacher how they feel. I believe at first you will be shocked and
surprised but then saddened an hopefully outraged and want to do something.
The only real chance we have of improving things is if the community gets involved as the district views teachers as easily replaceable cogs.
We will never reach our potential as a district as long as
we marginalize teachers and make them afraid for their jobs. Never, and unfortunately
this is the district that we currently have.
Surely the school board members know of the teachers' dissatisfaction. Why are they not addressing this at school board meetings with the superintendent?
ReplyDeleteI know their job is to set policy for the school district, but they need to address the elephant in the room.
The Charter school lobby owns half the school board by funding their campaign and Vitti caters to them.
DeleteUnfortunately, it is the state of our educational system.I have changed grade levels hoping the micromanaging isn't as bad. I briefly taught at a "reputable" charter school thinking that will surely be better than the district. They have sucked the joy from teaching and have added secretary to our job description. Most of us have dedicated our lives to this profession and don't know of another professional option.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago when I taught at First Coast, teachers were also secretaries and administrators for their own students, as well as mentors to 6 students or 6 kiiiddds as the called them. Imagine having to email each lesson plan to the principal as well as to Vernachele at the Duval County School Board. This really Piss*d off the math teachers because they thought only the Superintendent and his schools' administrators were math Dictators. Now a math- coach-turned-district-coach began flexing her knuckles because she 's apparently been brain washed by Vitti. She was not smart enough to know that she shouldn't offend teachers; at $39,000 a year salary I wouldn't try intimidating teachers.
DeleteA few years ago when I taught at First Coast, teachers were also secretaries and administrators for their own students, as well as mentors to 6 students or 6 kiiiddds as the called them. Imagine having to email each lesson plan to the principal as well as to Vernachele at the Duval County School Board. This really Piss*d off the math teachers because they thought only the Superintendent and his schools' administrators were math Dictators. Now a math- coach-turned-district-coach began flexing her knuckles because she 's apparently been brain washed by Vitti. She was not smart enough to know that she shouldn't offend teachers; at $39,000 a year salary I wouldn't try intimidating teachers.
DeleteI used to work with Ms. Inmon. She is an excellent teacher. Sadly everything she says here is true.
ReplyDeleteEqually as sad Vitti says that he will loosen up the curriculum only for top rated schools next year. Gregory Drive & similar schools in that economically depressed area are not in that bracket so they will be forced to continue with the "dog & pony" show til all the good teachers are gone. When will Vitti learn that it's the lower performing schools that need the most leeway--not the least.