I’m going to be a teacher when I grow up. It’s kind of shocking how close I am to that nose dive! But the closer I get, (not too close. Still got a mission, don’t forget) and the more I read and learn, the more nervous and uncomfortable and appalled and surprised and perplexed I become, particularly pertaining to the effects of No Child Left Behind, on both students and teachers. (See above picture.)
I read this piece written a teacher in Kansas as he discussed No Child Left Behind, and I thought it was quite interesting:
“What other profession is legally held to PERFECTION by 2014? Are police required to eliminate all crime? Are firefighters required to eliminate all fires? Are doctors required to cure all patients? Are lawyers required to win all cases? Are coaches required to win all games? Of course they aren’t.
“For no other profession do so many outsiders refuse to accept the realities of an imperfect world. Crime happens. Fire happens. Illness happens. As for lawyers and coaches, where there’s a winner there must also be a loser. People accept all these realities, until they apply to public education.
“If a poverty-stricken, drug-addled meth-cooker burns down his house, suffers third degree burns, and then goes to jail; we don’t blame the police, fire department, doctors, and defense attorneys for his predicament. But if that kid doesn’t graduate high school, it’s clearly the teacher’s fault.”
There you go. Thanks to that lovely little act in 2002, children are getting left behind, and teachers are getting thrust into a pit of despair, with no hope of escape.
I’m glad you’re thinking so thoroughly about your fabulous future plans!
And I agree with that, but here’s the thing. Education is in the hands of the students being willing to learn, but I feel like pubic schooling is one of the only things available to the vast majority of people on the earth currently, and certainly to the people you will be teaching. In that case, No Child Left Behind tries to create a “right way” of teaching that is supposed to curve around all the students and pull them into one “adequate” zone so that schools can produce a model student with a model, established IQ and established level of comprehension; a lovely robot that can spew forth information in an a, b, c, or d format with ease. Disgusting. BUT, you have the chance, still, to educate. Teachers can be the link to life-long success, especially elementary teachers who can shape a child’s mind and life. Even though you’re confined to something that throws all the blame for anything wrong onto your shoulders, it’s pretty cool that a lot of the good will be due to you as well. The way that you have to teach is a barrier, but in my opinion, real teaching happens in the moments when nothing is being said. It’s a really personal thing, and you still have the chance to do that. What do you think? Now I’m all onto a thought process about this. Your thoughts?
“Real teaching happens in the moments when nothing is being said.” Interesting! Could you please elaborate on that?