Think our teachers are doing a lousy job? You try doing it

01-26-2010

Column by Arthur Salm/San Diego News Network

Imagine that you’re going to design an ideal society. You get to decide how much people will be rewarded for the kind of work they perform, and what their place will be in the social structure. Well, first off, you’d want to assure that teachers make middle-class wages at best, and that they’re continually demonized by the press, demoralized by layoff threats, burdened by ever-increasing workloads, and generally characterized as can’t-do losers kicking back and wallowing in what amounts to a government dole. Because, after all, what they’re doing really isn’t all that important. Sorry, but sarcasm seemed the only place to start, because the hostility we’re currently seeing toward teachers — generated at least in part by the current budget crunch — is so profoundly misguided, inappropriate, and downright odd; just trying to get your mind around it can be disorienting. These are truly dedicated people to whom we turn over our children for the better part of the day, five days a week, about eight months a year, from ages five to 18. (more...)

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Think our teachers are doing a lousy job? You try doing it

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