Teacher Confessions

From what I hear, this is a book based on ancient Chinese war tactics.  It has become increasingly popular in the business world with managers to help them resolve conflicts among their staff.  But, in what aspect does an administrator need to use such an approach with their staff?

          If anyone were to spend one day in my district, I think you would you would be under the impression that it is more of an institution, not an educational setting.  Right now, you are picturing the kids right?  Running around, not listening, etc.  Kids are in control.  They are, but it’s not because of the teachers. It’s because of the powers that be in charge.  Hence, my focus today. 

          My fellow teachers decided to hold a teacher meeting today before school gets out to gear up and get ready for September. Why now you may ask? Well, we have a shuffling of administration and newly appointed leaders with ZERO experience; I mean, you can’t run a building with only 3 years teaching experience. Seriously!  During this meeting, I was a little disturbed to learn that our superintendent literally passed out the book “The Art of War” to use against the staff. War? Isn’t that a bit of a strong direction to go in when you are talking about educated professionals?  We all have the same common purpose, don’t we?  Education is supposed to be, “We are in this together.” not “This is WAR!" 

          On day one this year, the superintendent specifically went out of her way to inform the new members during a New Members Meeting that she was so happy to have fresh, new light in our district because “the teachers that currently work here do not know what they are doing!”     Have you ever heard of such a thing?  What happened to the phrase you always heard from your parents, “If you don’t have anything nice to day, don’t say anything at all.” 

          What these newly appointed “LEADERS”, and I use the term loosely, don’t WANT to understand is that we teachers are not the bad guys.  We come in early, stay late, and bend over backwards to help in anyway we can better our students.  Why would you turn away someone who is willing to help you, especially if they make you look better than you will ever be on your own?  I just don’t understand. 

          Well, I do.  It comes down to politics.  But politics isn’t going to help improve test scores or help our future leaders get jobs as productive members of society.  It seems as though personal gain and money in their pocket is all that matters.  They say, “Those who can’t do, teach.”  On the contrary, “Those who can’t do, tell others what to do.” Which I guess still makes me the loser, because I actually care of my students, and not my personal gain.  That’s why they make $180,000 a year and I make $50,000. 

          My administration thinks “The Art of War” will help them conquer the teaching staff.  I have a message for them. Coming from someone who has outlasted 5 principals and 4 superintendents, watch out!  When you mess with teachers, you will have a war on your hands, and  you won’t like the outcome!

I spent 4 months without lined paper in my building because we ran out.  I’m forced to work on a computer that is approximately 12 years old.  My students sit in classrooms that are hotter than the temperature outside; sweat dripping down their faces, clothes soaked, and heads down because they feel sick.  Not to mention, my building has mold and needs a new roof!

Yet, at a recent board meeting, my district has enough money to send 125 PRIVATE education students to out of district placements for 11.6 million dollars?  Something isn’t right here and not matter how many people try to expose what is really going on, the issues get magically cleaned up.

When has society become so fearful that a parent can’t discipline their child in public without someone having to call the proper authorities?  I understand there are people who don’t know how to control their children and use severe violence as their only way to handle issue.  I understand the idea that a bystander has the duty to report what they see “just in case” something happens.  However, I also understand it is a parent’s right to discipline their child how they chose as long as it is within reason. 

Today, I witnessed an act of parent/ child anger.  A child was taking, I’m assuming, nude or sexual pictures of herself with her or for her boyfriend and these pictures were distributed around the school.  Of course! Why not? Middle school is filled with drama, right? But when the parent found out, after questioning her daughter in front of me, what the picture was (because the girl actually showed her mother) she physically slapped her repeatedly.  To me, it was a normal parent reaction.  I would have done the same thing.  However, since it happened on school grounds, it is my professional obligation according to the principal to report it.  Trust me, with the way the world today is going, I’m aware of you never can tell who people really are.  But, when can a  parent be a parent? We criticize parents for their lack of parenting but penalize them for their efforts in parenting. THERE IS A FINE LINE sometimes, but who’s job is it to define what that limitation is?

And just think, these are the people dictating to the public school teachers how to do their job!  How do you call present, professional, highly qualified public school teachers not good enough in one breath, and lower standards for charter school teachers in another breath?

http://www.njea.org/news/2011-05-10/lower-standards-for-charter-school-teachers

Growing up, what values did your parents instill in you? Did they teach you manners, the importance of school, or maybe even made you go to church so you can learn what’s right and wrong? Growing up, what kind of kid were you? Did you follow the rules? Did you disregard their offerings and become a screw up? Or were you the kid who slacked off but were able to mend your ways? Like any time period, you are different from those of your past. You want to have a better life than your ancestors. What I continue to realize, and today just reinforced this theory, is that not only are our schools broken, but society is too.

As a teacher, I have to jump through hoops to motivate these children. I used to be able to 1. bribe them with food, knowing they were hungry; 2. reward them with extra points or free time; 3. give incentives such as gift cards and field trips. Once I reeled them in, I was able knock down some barriers, give them confidence and show them what they could have if they tried. My tactics used to work. Now, these things don’t matter. My kids would rather go hungry, then learn.

Today, I was actually begging my students to go on a field trip. Normal kids want to escape the classroom. Normal kids want to go out and experience things. Maybe normal isn’t the right term, but what kid do you know would rather stay home and sleep or sit in a room doing work than have fun? After they left my class, I sat there wondering what is wrong with this picture? That’s when one of my administrators and I had a deep conversation and we were able to put it into perspective.

After teaching numerous years in the same district, the population has evolved. A school once dominated by whites, shifted to a black dominance, which now has evolved to a 90% Hispanic population (mainly Mexican). I may be wrong, but from what I understand, these are the facts:

• In Mexico, the government offers a similar school progression as the United States; preschool, elementary, middle, upper secondary, and higher education.
• Mexico is made up of many rural areas and those students do not attend public schools.
• Those students who do attend school, many drop out by 6^th grade and only 8% of those left go on to obtain a bachelor’s degree.
• Mexicans flee desperately to the United States for several reasons. Firstly, living standards are higher in America; if you do the same job in Mexico and in America, in America you are much more likely to be able to afford to eat well, clothe yourself, buy more goods, entertain yourself etc. Mexican workers also use the money made here and send it to their families back home because small amounts of American money can buy many items cheap in Mexico. In addition, we have a better infrastructure; if you are sick you are more likely to be treated at a hospital in America than Mexico. Not to mention, some parts of Mexico are rather violent due to the drug trade, so America provides a safe haven for them.

I am not a political person, so I’m not looking at it from a political standpoint. I’m simply looking at it from a humanistic perspective. The conclusion that I draw from this is simple. The Mexican immigrants that come to America aren’t interested in an EDUCATION. A majority just want to be able to work and provide for their families. Sadly, they are not the only ethnic group who believe in that philosophy. However the avenues taken to reach that goal are all different. Where I work, families want the basics like a place to live, clothes, and food. Where I live, the standards of living are higher and luxuries are more prevalent, but they too just want to be able to provide for their families. What’s missing? Valuing education, wanting a better life, while contributing to the community and the world; and from what I’ve seen, that value is either gone or nonexistent.

So what is my problem? 95% of the students in my school don’t value an education. Looking at their parents and their backgrounds, many families work under the table or basic jobs at minimum wage to scrap money together to buy bread and butter. Some parents are too busy working for some sort of income to “parent” and guide their children in the right direction. Other parents are just too lazy to care. For my students, growing up in this environment instills that their destiny will repeat that of their parents. No matter what other influences try to change that perspective, it doesn’t seem to undo all those years of negative conditioning. Couple that environment with the fact that my school system is broken, gives students a double whammy.

Think about it. Since most of my kids are Hispanic, I am going to use this example. I am a student coming from Mexico. My family snuck into the country so they can work and send money back home. I am told at a young age, my purpose is to work and do the same as my parents. That is why we risked everything to come. Because of this countries policy, I now am thrown into a place called a school, forced to sit in a classroom, look at something called a textbook, use it, and learn English. I have to jump into the curriculum and learn from all these “new” theories that don’t help me. Why? In a few years, I am just going to drop out and work. To me, this is torture!

Here is what needs to happen in order to fix the issues in my district. I’m not sure of the way to tackle this problem but here goes:

1. Parents need to learn how to parent their children. It needs to begin from birth. Parents can’t just have a child, let the kids do what he wants until the age of 11, then be perplexed that all you do to correct the problems aren’t working.

2. Parents and children need to be shown what having an education REALLY MEANS. Fast quick cash is just temporary, but what the more you learn, the more you’ll make.

3. In order to succeed, you have to master the basics.

4. After all of this is accomplished, then everything that you have learned can then be projected toward understanding the world around you and helping to make it a better place. People will be able to gain compassion and spread it through the world, creating a more harmonious world where everyone benefits and is peaceful/happy.

Quite a big feat I’d say, but definitely attainable, provided administration stops being selfish and stops seeking temporary gratification which destroys our students

          I, as well as my fellow professionals, are having an extremely tough time during this stressful part of the year.  Can you guess what season it is? State test taking season.  Coupled with the fact that spring and the end of the year is here, this equation produces nothing but mayhem.  Let me explain…

          I’ve been thinking about standardized tests and how they are used and what they are used for.  In my state, my fabulous governor wants to implement a new educational policy which is designed to hold teachers accountable for the learning that occurs in their classroom…MERIT PAY.  In my opinion, too much emphasis is based on a testing system that doesn’t work. How have I come to form such a bold perspective?  Since former President Bush instituted the No Child Left Behind Act, it required schools to show improvement each year.  Those schools who didn’t make their yearly proficiency mark, are deemed a failing school.  Even well to do school districts that have 95% of their students advanced proficient have to show improvement or they are labeled as failing.  Isn’t that ludicrous?  New Jersey has one of the best school systems in the nation, producing one of the highest number of students attending and graduating from college.  Why is our governor trying to mend something that isn’t broken?  Why are teachers his target?  We make him look good!

          However, looking at my district, many things are broken; but standardized testing isn’t the way to dissolve its numerous problems.  We have been a failing school for 8 years.  We have brand new administration whose time in the classroom was extremely brief.  Their ideas are based on theories, not practice.  Anyway, the pressure is on for us to make some improvements otherwise we face a state takeover and many jobs, including administration, will be shuffled and / or terminated.  I understand when you are sitting in a boiling pot of water, your instinct is to do whatever is necessary to get out before you are cooked.  Trust me, teachers feel that pressure more than anything.  We are on the frontline.  My district has resorted to “teaching to the test.”  They may deny it but a spade is a spade.  For the last 3 months, we are teaching test taking strategies everyday and our powers that be instituted “Test Prep Fridays,” not to mention drill and practice the week before the exams.  Now, try and tell me that isn’t teaching to the test!  Oh, did I mention, regular education students as well as the moderate to severe learning disabled students must follow the same rigorous test taking curriculum.  Is this really necessary?

          Good teachers imbed test taking strategies in their daily lessons from the moment the students step into the classroom in September until they exit in June.  Along with test preparation, teachers also prepare their students for life, or try to anyway.  In my district all of that is stripped away.  We are told what to teach, how to teach, and the timers are set.  5 minutes for this,… 15 minutes for this….  You didn’t understand?  You need more time?  Sorry, I can’t help you.  After 3 months of such of strain, the students in my school are burnt out.  They are tired of practicing for the test, they are tired of the stress, they are just plain tired!  Motivation has declined, as students put their heads down and say, “Not again.  Do we have to do this everyday?  Miss, I can’t do it anymore.  I don’t want to do it anymore.”  I should be teaching how to write a complete sentence, not how to write a 5 paragraph essay, but that is neither here nor there.  My heart goes out for these kids.  I see other students letting loose in the hallways.  Students come late to class, running is the preferred method of getting around (yes teachers have been knocked over and been taken to the hospital), fights have escalated, verbal abuse toward staff in now typical, and administration has postponed detention till after testing afraid that students will end up suspended, missing the test.  So thinking about these factors and how they create a hostile work environment, I’m supposed to be okay with it dictating my level of performance, controlling what my salary is?  I don’t think so.

          It’s mind boggling to sit back and watch what is going happening around me.  Pounding, mind slitting headaches are what teacher bring home everyday, in addition to the paperwork.  Today, some of my fellow professionals tried to take a stand.  Seeing these kids almost in tears today, we needed to do something.  In a meeting, teachers begged for a reprieve on the last day before the test.  We wanted to simply review for the test and create a fun, relaxing atmosphere.  The response was, “I don’t want any time wasted,” as if teachers would really consider that as an option knowing who our bosses are.  He continued, “I don’t agree with you but I’ll allow you to simply review instead of write an essay.  But, keep in mind, if we fail or show no improvement, it will be because of you and next year there will be even more test preparation.”

          It is unfathomable how us teachers are treated day in and day out by the students, the administration, and by the government.  I just don’t understand…

I came across this article via a friend and was relieved to find that I am not alone in my thinking.  I’m not quite sure when education became the frontline for hidden political agenda but it’s doing an extreme disservice to our children.  ALL corporations have the right to bargain or negotiate an employees terms of employment.  ALL corporations have employees that don’t perform as well as they would like.  So why are our schools being targeted?  With reform after reform, bad teachers have been weeded out of the system already.  There are very few, if any, left.  We all work extremely hard, for minimal pay, and are being striped of not only our pay and benefits, but our dignity as well.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011104170324

I’ve been spending some time really thinking about literacy in my district.  I marvel all the time over how my 12-15 year olds can’t read.  It’s extremely perplexing.  I also think is appalling how administration is blind and unwilling to accept defeat.  Where I work, the new theory implemented with our precious beginning readers is a program called “Reader’s Workshop.

For those of you unfamiliar with this approach, here is a demonstration of a typical lesson.

In my opinion, there are many different approaches to learning.  Many people feel, education isn’t one size fits all.  However, I feel you need to learn basics before you can integrate the other various approaches.  One can’t understand the concept of reading until one has learned letter sounds and how to read.  From I’ve seen, reading is a guessing game.  You can’t learn how to read by memorizing sight words.  What happens later when you come across a word that is unfamiliar?  You haven’t been taught letter sounds and haven’t been shown the technique of sounding things out.  That’s how I end up with learning disabled students still unable to recognize basic letter sounds at the middle school level.  WHAT ARE WE DOING TO THESE POOR CHILDREN?

Personally, at the age of 5, a child shouldn’t be concerned about the elements of literature such as characters, setting, etc., or the parts of a book until they have mastered how to look at a word and/or phrase and read it.

No wonder why my students can’t read!  Kindergarteners are sent to read books independently for 30 minutes, while small groups are worked with once a day.  What are the other kids doing?  Certainly not reading, they don’t know how?

This is why I firmly believe two theories:

1. In college, education majors should be forced to not only study the various methods of reading, but should be sent to classrooms and practice the method with real students for a few months.  This way, it is no longer a theory, but something they have seen in action and practiced.  Therefore, more equipped to evaluate appropriate methods to be used in classrooms with certain readers.  Not just doing what they have been told, or teaching the method their district has “bought” into.

2.  Administrators would be informed as well.  I’m seeing a trend of how current or recently appointed “leaders” have only spent a few years in the classroom and believe they are knowledgeable about what is right for students.  There is no way they can be that well versed with such little experience.  It’s the American commercialism trap they fall into.  It seems they are looking for a quick fix, the newest or should I say cheapest approach, or anything that will make them look good short term, not realizing the damage it does long term.  Most administrators only last in one place, from what I’m accustomed to, for only a few years.  It is their stepping stone for personal advancement.  So what do they care about the irreversible damage that they have caused.  They’ve achieved their personal goal, moved on, and have forgotten personal gain interferes with our real goal:  the children. 

After all of this, the big American push is test scores. Teachers teach according to what their bosses tell them to do.  These lessons/theories fail in the classroom, and teachers are to blame.  What about blaming those who force us to teach against what is right for our children?  Teachers are getting benefits taken away, their right to negotiate salaries, and are being striped of their professional dignity by not teaching passionately, nor meeting the needs of their students.  What about the stripping away the salaries of the head honchos that make up follow their plans.  If it doesn’t work, blame them and strip them of their salaries / bonuses.  Leave us teachers alone.  We do the best we can daily, fighting losing battles, playing roles of mommies and counselors, encouraging students to take pride in themselves while building self esteem.  We are our nation’s children only hope.  Stop picking on us and look into the real problem.