Why is there so much contempt for teachers?

[celeb_2006]

American teachers: A noble profession - latimes.com

Teaching, the most important profession

An average high school graduate has spent 10,000 hours at school in the company of 20 teachers. It's no wonder almost everyone has a story about a teacher who changed his or her life.

By Susan Straight

April 3, 2011

At a time when teachers and their unions are under fire across the nation, my eldest daughter just had a much-anticipated interview with Teach for America. She will graduate from college in May and hopes to be a teacher in the fall.

She was worried that I'd be disappointed she didn't feel a desire for graduate school.

But I was thrilled. Since graduating from college in 1984, I've taught GED courses, English as a second language, composition at a city college and now writing and literature at a public university. I have loved every year, and I don't think there's a more important profession.

Think about it: We aren't legally mandated to spend as much time with any other kind of person as we are with teachers. An American who graduates from high school has been taught by more than 20 teachers and has spent more than 10,000 hours in their company. It's no wonder almost everyone has a story about a teacher who changed his or her life.

Still, with all the contempt and anger being hurled at teachers right now, it's alarming to be sending a daughter into the crossfire, especially when new teachers are the first to be threatened with pink slips.

The growing scorn for public school teachers is at every level of education. Teachers are blamed for bad test results, for disrespectful students, for failing schools. They are thought to be lazy, draining public coffers with their monthly salaries and pension benefits (although they actually contribute to their pensions like everyone else).

Last fall, a video posted by blogger Shannyn Moore showed Sarah Palin and her daughter Willow confronting a woman protesting during the filming of Palin's reality TV series on a fishing dock in Homer, Alaska. When Palin asks the woman about her profession, she replies that she is a teacher, and Palin and Willow, who is of high school age, exchange knowing looks. Palin turns back to the woman. "Oh — a teacher," she says, her voice oozing condescension.

This kind of conservative contempt for public school teachers began decades ago with white flight (remember the private schools that sprang up in churches and homes in the southern states during integration in the 1970s?), and it continues today. In Southern California, it can be seen in the flight of so many families to religious schools — not just the traditional Roman Catholic schools but numerous new church-affiliated facilities. I've been told by parents of students who attend private religious schools that public schools are beyond redemption, and they resent their tax dollars subsidizing poor-quality education.

Meanwhile, parents often consider their kids' teachers as mere service providers. Last fall I met a teacher at an exclusive private school on New York's Upper East Side who told me parents pressure her to ignore bad behavior, missed assignments and cheating, in the belief that nothing is more important than their children's success. One of my best friends, a second-grade teacher at the public elementary school I attended, told me about a student who consistently returns math work undone. "I don't do math," he said. "My mom says I don't have to." My friend explained: "The state says you have to do math." But the child was adamant: "My mom says I don't."

A teacher at my youngest daughter's public high school told me parents often call and email to protest assignments. My child just "isn't feeling Dickens," one said. "He needs to be reading something he can relate to."

At the very moment my daughter hopes to become a teacher, Detroit is talking about closing half its public schools. In Rhode Island, teachers are being laid off wholesale. California has issued thousands of pink slips.

All over the world, people sacrifice to send their children to school. Afghan girls are threatened yet still walk to school; Chinese children are sent to schools in faraway cities by parents desperate to give them better lives; Kenyan students study by kerosene lamp in one-room schools built by grateful parents.

Here, access to a free education is an essential part of the American dream. I was sent to kindergarten at 4 by my mother, a Swiss immigrant. She taught me to read when I was 3, worried that the school wouldn't admit me unless I was already literate. I went daily to a kind teacher who let me read advanced books in the corner. I remember her hair, her lips when her mouth moved, and her fingernails. Decades later, she remembers me, and says I told her stories.

I believe it. Because teachers are often therapists, friends, mentors, coaches, sometimes providers of food and school supplies or holders of secrets. And in that way, they are some of the most important people in children's lives.

And sometimes, despite all the disrespect that's out there, teachers are appreciated. Last week, I got an email from a Cambodian American student from San Bernardino who now teaches English in South Korea; she was writing to say thank you.

My students, many of them first-generation immigrants, have brought me gifts and invited me to their weddings and New Year celebrations. I have gotten calls of thanks from their parents. And sometimes they have called me not by my name, but by the most reverent word they could summon: Teacher.

I try to imagine my daughter in a classroom this fall, looking out at the faces of children who are thinking of numbers and letters and secrets. I remember the woman who taught me to form the alphabet, the man who taught me long division. I remember my sixth-grade teacher, Mrs. Wolf, playing Cat Stevens songs on the guitar. And I wonder about the children who may one day remember my daughter's teaching, and in what ways she may have changed their lives.

[NoNoRehab]

I don't think there's a lot of contempt for teachers. There are good and bad teachers, just as in any other profession. There is a lot of contempt for teachers' unions because of their involvement in the decline of public education and the unions' protection of bad teachers, but that's different than hating individual teachers or teachers as a profession.

Also, the writer of that article needs to wake up on two fronts: teaching adults at university/college level is waaay different than teaching kids, and things are done different than when the author was a kid. Teachers don't have as much free range and ability to do independent things anymore like teachers of generations past. Almost everything now is regulated and oriented to state testing.

[Grimmlok]

Teachers EDUCATE. The lay conservative hates "educated" or "learned" people and view them as "elitist". The high up mucky muck conservatives, being a bit more intelligent, don't hate them but fear them.

That's why, in any far right dictatorship the "intellectuals" are the first ones rounded up.. the ones smart enough to organize any dissent or contrary thought are iced first.

[travelbug]

There is a lot of contempt for teachers from some Republicans in my area. There is a general belief that 1) teachers get too much time off 2) teachers via the public school system are "indoctrinating" our kids into liberalism 3) teachers are overpaid (this relates to the time off, ie. only working 10 months but getting paid 33-52K, which is high from a lower class POV). I think the majority of disdain is from white lower middle class and I think it is because they are intimidated by teachers and generally anyone they see as "educated" and because they don't value education themselves (hence the lower middle class status). It's just part of an overall resentment of educated people and the assumption that if you have a college degree you have been indoctrinated as a liberal (see #2 above).

[witchcurlgirl]

There is a lot of contempt for teachers' unions because of their involvement in the decline of public education and the unions' protection of bad teachers, but that's different than hating individual teachers or teachers as a profession.

That's the big issue in my city right now. That, and the last in first out rule - which means that even when good new teachers come in, if layoffs have to be made they go, so that older teachers can stay- even when the older ones aren't as good. It's not based on merit, but on seniority.

[sputnik]

There is a lot of contempt for teachers from some Republicans in my area. There is a general belief that 1) teachers get too much time off 2) teachers via the public school system are "indoctrinating" our kids into liberalism 3) teachers are overpaid (this relates to the time off, ie. only working 10 months but getting paid 33-52K, which is high from a lower class POV). I think the majority of disdain is from white lower middle class and I think it is because they are intimidated by teachers and generally anyone they see as "educated" and because they don't value education themselves (hence the lower middle class status). It's just part of an overall resentment of educated people and the assumption that if you have a college degree you have been indoctrinated as a liberal (see #2 above).

Teachers EDUCATE. The lay conservative hates "educated" or "learned" people and view them as "elitist". The high up mucky muck conservatives, being a bit more intelligent, don't hate them but fear them.

That's why, in any far right dictatorship the "intellectuals" are the first ones rounded up.. the ones smart enough to organize any dissent or contrary thought are iced first.

this. x eleventy.

but yeah, witch has a point about the unions. i do think teachers deserve some protection and seniority does have to count for something but i think we've all had the crusty, curmudgeony old teacher who hated kids and couldn't be bothered to do his/her job well but stuck around waiting for retirement, while younger and better teachers got bounced from school to school doing substitute work because they couldn't get a steady gig.
there's a happy middle somewhere.

[CornFlakegrl]

I don't think there's a lot of contempt for teachers. There are good and bad teachers, just as in any other profession. There is a lot of contempt for teachers' unions because of their involvement in the decline of public education and the unions' protection of bad teachers, but that's different than hating individual teachers or teachers as a profession.

.

This. Amongst my friends this is the biggest complaint. Teachers seemed untouchable the last decade or so. You aren't allowed to say "bad teacher" or you were anti education, ignorant, fearful etc etc. As if every single person who chooses to teach is brilliant competent, and completely dedicated. Some aren't. Some are burnt out past the point of no return. And they are protected by unions.

Having said that, a good teacher (and there are many) is a gift that should be treasured.

[NoNoRehab]

Automatic tenure is ridiculous for any teacher. At the university level, tenure is merit-based and seniority-based. Having tenure for elementary/middle/high school teachers - which in turn makes them untouchable - just for showing up and breathing for two or so years is ridiculous. Bloomberg in NYC, Christie in New Jersey, the D.C. public schools have all tried to abolish automatic tenure and make it more merit based (and yet still ten times easier than getting tenure at a university) and the unions go apeshit. And the teachers' unions get away with it because in reponse to any ciriticism they just say, "It's about the children!"

[Sunshine]

From my life...

I have had 3 teachers in all years of school except college who I feel were good. They had a passion for teaching and enjoyed children. They made me want to learn.

Balance them against all the others...

One year I had 4 teachers because they left for better positions or just disappeared. So many did not like children. They had contempt for us. Others, if you had any spunk were labeled as "bad".

So yes I have contempt for the masses until they prove themselves.

Get rid of tenure. The best I had were the new ones. Others watched TV at their desks. Why couldn't they be let go w/ the budget cuts?

I also believe too many parents suck and are the problem for their disruptive kids. I was not one of those. I objected to busy work and stupid movies being shown daily to keep us quiet so the teacher could snooze.

[BigBen]

Bad teachers are overlooked because they have bullshit tenure, and good teachers are discouraged or just flat-out not hired because they care about education and not standardized testing. Anymore I think a school would rather just have a set of test prep tutors and proctors to administer the tests and be done with it. It's complete bullshit and until the whole system changes we're going to have these issues with teachers as a whole, as a concept.

[louiswinthorpe111]

I also believe too many parents suck and are the problem for their disruptive kids. I was not one of those.

This. Here, at the end of the year, parents make requests to the prinicpal on what teacher they want for their kids next year. I think that's bullshit. There should be no preferential treatment.

Last year the prinicpal changed it up. It used to be that we would fhind out who their teeacher is at registration. Last year, we didn't find ot until the da before school started. That way, the prinicpal didn't have a week and a half of parents calling and bitching.

[ya-ya_sister]

Wow, this is a subject close to my heart because I have been a teacher for 20 years. I am also a parent of school age kids, so I see both sides. Teacher tenure is not as absolute as people think. If they really want to get rid of you they can. It is harder to get rid of a tenured teacher, but with documentation it can be done. Do bad teachers need to go? YES! What is a bad teacher? Sleeping in class? Of course. However, I watched a fine math teacher get the boot because the parents kept complaining about her. What did she do that was so horrible? She had the nerve to give homework on game nights. I love my job and I love my students, but I want to be protected as well. When you refuse to reward mediocrity, they get pissy with you. As far as contempt.....whatever...I know I do a good job and I do not allow myself to be disrespected by my students or their parents.

[Mel1973]

As a parent, I've never requested my son be given a different teacher. I can say that in Texas, I've witnessed "teaching" virtually stop once those kids are given their TAKs tests in April. From the end of April through the beginning of June, most classes consist of cartoon watching. That's not really a criticism I throw at the teachers because clearly, the school/principal/superintendents all allow that shit to take place. Are there good teachers? Sure, but they are sadly outnumbered by the bad ones who just don't give a fuck and do just enough to get by. And they bitch about how stupid their students are for not passing their TAKs tests. Guess who's partly responsible for how "stupid" you think those kids are? YOU! You were supposed to TEACH them, not set a record for watching Toy Story 3 the most!

[BITTER]

I had shitty teachers in public school, I am sorry to say. When my mom put me in private school, they were much, much better. YMMV.

[Grimmlok]

So weird.

My school experience was pretty good. We had teachers who, even if they weren't PASSIONATE, still taught at a competent level. We did have a lot of passionate teachers though, who really did care.

A few years ago I took a stroll through my old high school during xmas break, and ran into my grade 9 and 10 science teacher who was really good at his job. He loved teaching, cared about the kids. He was kind of like.. Bill Nye crossed with Mr. Rogers. The really hilarious thing was that he remembered exactly who I was. I thanked him for being a great teacher all those years ago and the guy started tearing up in the hallway.

Teaching today must be damn near impossible.. cell phones, sue happy parents, not being able to use a red pen to mark papers because it hurts their feelings, everybody gets a trophy.. ugh. I feel sorry for teachers.

It's no wonder a lot of them have given up, the system is broken.