Island Richards

Without a doubt, teachers are the most visible part of the educational system. Along with being the backbone, they are the face of the educational body. They are the ones that our children see every day. They are the ones that we, as parents, usually have contact with when we have need to have direct dealings with the schools. And they are the ones who often band together in associations that work both with and against government agencies at all levels from the school boards to the White House.

In addition to being visible, teachers probably bear the most responsibility of any part of the education system. They are the people with whom we entrust our children to provide them with a quality education and a safe environment. They are expected not only to be proficient in the subjects they teach, but to also be capable day care providers, first aid givers, child psychologists, coaches and referees. They have to be schedulers, managers, and competent arbitrators. They are answerable to their students, their principals, their superintendents, their school boards, legislators, governors, congressional delegates, the President, and most of all, sometimes hundreds of parents at any one time. That is a lot of responsibility for any person to bear, and it takes a special kind of person to do it well.

If you search your memory, you can probably think of many teachers you’ve dealt with over the years that stick out in your mind as having born all those responsibilities, and more, quite well. You’ll remember many teachers who did all these things and did them with a smile on their faces and their heads always held high. Sadly, though, you’ll probably also remember a few who couldn’t handle it, who couldn’t balance the responsibilities required of their job, and definitely couldn’t handle it with a smile on their face.

So what’s the difference? What decides which teachers are going to be able to hack it and which ones just won’t make the cut? Well since you asked, I’m going to tell you. See, I have a theory about teachers, and it isn’t going to make some of you teachers very happy. I believe that there are basically two types of people who choose teaching as a profession, and every teacher, past, present, and future, can be pigeonholed into one of these two categories.

The first type of teacher is the kind that chose teaching as a profession because they believed that it was an honorable profession in which they could have a fruitful career where they make a meaningful difference in the lives of their students. They are people who saw in themselves a capacity to expand the minds of those they teach, and enjoy doing it. These are the folks who look forward to the opportunity to expand their own educations in order to be better at educating others. They have honed their skills in time management, organization, and worked hard to perfect their ability to work effectively with their students, administrators, government officials, and parents. All because they know that these skills will make them better teachers. These are the teachers that deserve our support and our praise. These are the teachers in whose classes we pray that our children end up.

The second type of teacher doesn’t deserve quite as much of our praise and support. The second type of teacher didn’t see teaching as the honorable profession that it is and didn’t care about the profound impact that they could have on the lives of their students. They aren’t interested in further educating themselves, because they aren’t truly interested in the educations of their students. Time management, organization and people skills aren’t priorities because they don’t really care if they are good teachers or not.

Why are these people even teachers? I’ll tell you. Respect. Yep, that’s right. Respect. These are people who, in their ordinary everyday lives, could neither earn nor command a lick of respect from any person they came into contact with. They didn’t get it from their classmates, their coworkers, or their past employers. These are people who always figured they deserved respect, but just didn’t quite know how to get it. These are people who joined every social group that came their way, but never got elected to a single office in those groups. So they turned to teaching. Why? Because, on day one, an entire classroom has to defer to them and call them Mr. or Mrs. Teacher. Because without developing a single leadership quality, they can become a leader to dozens of people. Because, by taking on a simple title, “Teacher,” they become an important part of our society and are immediately given the long overdue respect that they believe they deserve. And as a result, many of our children’s classrooms are headed by incompetents who aren’t interested in our children’s educations, our children’s welfare, or in our children at all.

If you’re a teacher sitting there nodding your head in agreement, then you probably fall into the first category. And you probably know exactly what I’m talking about because those other teachers pass kids on to you every year without giving them the education they deserve. Those other teachers are giving your profession a bad name, and they are damaging a honest, noble, and selfless profession simply because they chose that profession for the wrong reasons.

If you are a teacher sitting there all flushed red in the neck and are absolutely pissed off at me now, then I know which category you fall into, too. If you’re pissed off, then maybe I’ve threatened your tenuous hold on the imaginary reality in which you think you are making a positive difference in the lives of our children. If you’re pissed off then maybe it’s time you consider looking for a new profession, because in this one, you’re doing more harm than good.

In the next installment, I will start working my way up the body where we will tackle the principals and the administrators. It probably won’t be as harsh, but it will be just as important.

Later,

Wisdom

The third injury warranting immediate medical attention is the backbone of the education system, the teachers. Now before you go all NEA on me, let me say that it isn’t all teachers, just like it isn’t all bus drivers or the entire lunch room staff, but it isn’t just a few anymore either. There’s a lot teachers with problems these days, and you know who you are.

First of all, as a parent, let me get this out of the way. Teachers: Don’t ever, under any circumstance, give me homework. I’ve been to school, have a diploma, have a degree, and have my own work to do. I make more money than any two of you. I don’t ever want to come home again to an assignment given to one of my kids that says, “have your parent do…” whatever! If you’re going to grade my kids based on my performance, then I’m going to start paying you based on my kids’ performance.

Furthermore, if you’re going to give my kids homework, then teach them how to do it. I understand that sometimes homework is given to reinforce what is learned in class, but come on! My kids get homework on an almost nightly basis that they have no idea how to do! I’m happy to help them, but you’re the one getting paid to teach them, so do it.

There are some things that I never, ever want to hear from a teacher again. First, “You’re child is probably bored in here. He already knows how to all this so he’s not learning anything.” What?! If you can’t teach him anything, find a teacher who can!

Second, “I’m sorry your child is behind, but I just don’t have time to give her the attention she needs.” Bull! We’re required by law to hand our kids over to you for an education, and you’re required by law to provide it. Either teach, or find us someone who can.

Third, “You need to talk to your legislators and tell them we need more money.” No. No. No. You want to be a lobbyist? Go to the capital and be a lobbyist. Don’t use me to lobby for you. My customers don’t call their legislators and say, “Hey, can you see what you can do about getting Island a raise?” Furthermore, don’t use my children as lobbyists. In fact, don’t use my child as a sounding board to espouse your political agendas at all. I’ll handle that part of their lives. Don’t teach them how important you think it is to have wolves in Yellowstone National Park, or how wrong you think it is to be invading a foreign country. Don’t teach them your PETA pledge or your Earth First crap. You go ahead and teach them the structure of our form of government, who does what, and how they are elected. I’ll take care of the rest of his political training.

I expect you to spend the days with which you have my children teaching them reading, writing, arithmetic, history, economics and the like. If you are unable to do this because a lack of education on your part, or because your ability to do so is clouded by some bull crap political agenda, then get another job.

Next installment? More about teachers. Sorry, but there’s just too much to cover in one episode.

Wisdom