You know...I am not a huge fan of Glenn Beck or many of the politically motivated news show hosts on TV (conservative or liberal), but this caught my eye and ear. I as an educator have been grappling with many issues. Over the last two years, since I became department head, my main focus has been to improve instruction for both teachers and students. Notice I said INSTRUCTION and not test scores. A student is not a test score...a teacher is not a test score. I want students (and teachers for that matter) to be creative, independent thinkers who will carry our world into the future. I have really thought about whether or not I want to do this anymore. I fight hard not to become part of the machine, but I dont know how much longer I will have it in me. I know students (now and in the future) have to pass tests to qualify for jobs and degrees, but this is going too far. Somehow, people are convinced that more testing is the solution. When you turn a kid into a number (test score), you dehumanize that child. You take away a piece of what makes a child what they are...a spontaneous and energetic gift from above. I have five of my own and as tough as it is, I still tell them to think for themselves and to question what they feel is wrong. In other words, I want them to think for themselves. But is our governments approach to education allowing that to happen? These words flowing from this veteran educators letter should serve as a wake up call. Now, I have considered that Glenn Beck could have made this up for create sympathy for his point of view...but either way, the words in the letter he read are significant. Educators getting out because they feel they can no longer make a difference is sign of worse things to come. God gave us a heart and soul...and the mind to go with it. Time to start using it and finding ways to give our children what they deserve...a true education. Peace.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 03:02:34 +0000
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