Stephen Round (YouTube)
Second grade teacher Stephen Round, fed up with being forced to teach students how to be “good test-takers” instead of “lifelong learners,” tendered his resignation in a video posted on YouTube.
After being denied the dignity of reading his letter of resignation during a recent school committee meeting, the teacher decided to post it on YouTube instead, where he found a much larger and more receptive audience. It is unclear whether it was the content of his resignation letter that prevented him from being able to read it before the committee.
“It was purely frustration. It got the point where I can’t stand by and watch kids not learn, and I have the key to help them.” he said, reading from the letter. “They want us to follow the book to the letter.”
Round, who is a 13-year veteran teacher in the Providence school district, wants to go back to remedial tutoring.
“The school system in which I had so much pride drastically changed. Rather than creating lifelong learners, our new goal is to create good test-takers. Rather than being the recipients of a rewarding and enjoyable educational experience, our students are now relegated to experiencing a confining and demeaning education.”
Round said he can’t stay with the Providence school system when it insists on operating based on the “misguided notions of ‘educrats.’” He went on to say he would rather quit his “secure” $70,000-per-year plus benefits teaching job and tutor kids at no charge “than be part of a system that is diametrically opposed to everything I believe education should be.”
“I’ve had it. I quit.”
Watch the epic resignation video here:
Exit question: Do you agree with the teacher? Is our education system broken?
(H/T: Gawker)
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Comments (253)
Diane TX
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:59amHe’s probably a good man and is extremely rare, seeing that most elementary teachers are female. The purpose of good test scores is to garner more money for the union teachers. (It’s never about the kids.)
He’s right about little kids needing time to blow off steam, and the fact that one rigid curriculum doesn’t fill the needs of every child.
He’s in for shock when Obama Care goes in effect, since it’s also “one size fits all”. What’s that you say? You have no need birth control? Doesn’t matter. It’s still part of your premium cost.
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braddock66
Dec. 18, 2012 at 1:34amI applaud this man! Stand up for what you believe in this ever changing society. The connection from God missing from the schools and whats happening in society today is no joke. Kids cannot critically think for themselves ,hence the 4 tables together in each class up to 7th grade. Liberals from the 60′s and communist socialists have taken over our schools.Teachers usually don’t realize what they’re getting into.My son is experiencing problems in school that is troubling. Autistic kids can treat any other kid as they please with no consequences.They play football at recess and have problems with kids telling teachers that someone is scoring too much! Now no more football because kids can not learn how to deal with disappointment.Everyone gets a trophy. I’m seriously considering taking him out and home schooling,since I cannot afford private school.
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loriann12
Dec. 18, 2012 at 8:23amYep on Obama care…post menopausal? doesn’t matter, you still have to have pregnancy coverage.
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JRook
Dec. 18, 2012 at 10:38am“The purpose of good test scores is to garner more money for the union teachers.” Really, that’s interesting considering that performance based school funding was initiated under Bush’s no child left behind program and most teacher unions oppose performance based compensation. While the teachers observations regarding life long learners sounds nice it is more appropriate for high school level. Elementary education needs to be focused on building strong literacy and cognitive skills. Reading, math, science and language skills. It is in fact the movement away from building a strong set of skills in these areas that is the real crime in terms of how we are educating young children.
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VRW Conspirator
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:42am@Diane TX
being in TX you should know that TX is a “right to work” state as are about 26 others and there are no teacher unions controlling the education in those States or TX.
that being said, even the right to work states still are teaching this way. education as a whole is broke because we insist on forcing every child into the same hole.
the American education system is obsesses with getting every child “college ready” and “proficient” in the 4 core subject areas. “Educrats, ” as the man called them, are responsible for this, even in TX. The USA has systematically disbanded and removed Vocational education from the curriculum of students in grades K-12. I remember every student having to take a variety of “shop” classes to get out of Middle school. We had architectural drafting, machine drafting, electronics, wood, metal, and auto shop. Everyone was required 2 years, meaning 4 semester classes from that list. All the high schools continued that trend with advanced level courses. Even the nerdy honors/AP students had to take their required shop classes to graduate.
Now, like in TX, we tout our “college readiness” number and “graduation %” number as the benchmark. We say we have 80% ready for college, REALLY?? Then why over the last 100 years has the number of college degree holders stayed at around 25% nationally. Because 2/3 drop out of college with no 4 year degree. College ready my ARSE!!
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VRW Conspirator
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:50amCont.
But back to test scores. You are right as is the man in the article but not about the money for teachers. It is just begging at the Federal pit. If more States refused Federal education funding, which only makes up about 8-10% of most States educational spending, they would be free of this NCLB and “race to the top” crap and could get back to educating students the right way, as said in the video, “to be lifelong learners.”
Then we could put Vocational education back into schools and you would see a manufacturing and tech and construction boom in this country. Good paying -union or otherwise- factory and machinist and mechanic and textile and construction jobs flooding the market due to the 40-50% of high school graduates that used to be training in these skills becoming available again to US corporations. 40-50% of high school graduates go into these types of jobs anyway but now they spend years “learning” the trade, living with mommy and daddy, not growing up and maturing because they left high school with NO skills and NO ambition and NO direction in their lives.
As a 14 year math and science teacher and son of a 35 year math teacher (the first college graduate in his family), I have seen this trend all my life slowing eating away at society.. Return Vocational education to EVERY high school in America and you will see REAL pride, self esteem, self worth, and independent mature young adults return as well.
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TexasYellowRose1800
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:16pmI truly applaud Mr. Stephen Round for his integrity and his courage to stand up for what he believes in, bravo!
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VRW Conspirator
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:35pm@JROOK
while you are right about needing to focus on the 3 R’s in Elementary school, they also need to be encouraged to become life-long learners and to enjoy learning.
being around education all my life, the one thing you can notice by talking to parents and observing children and listening to educator complaints is that around 5-7th grade, students lose the “joy of learning” and school simply becomes someplace they have to go, an inconvenience in their lives.
now this isn’t true for about 25% of the students, usually those in gifted programs, honors type students, or those in dedicated art/tech or other focused program…but for the vast majority of students, school by the 8th-9th grade simply becomes someplace mom and dad sent you so they can work and you get to see your friends. the learning part is secondary if not further down the list of priorities for about 75% of students.
About 15-20% of those students are already 2-3 grade levels behind by high school and have NO interest at all in trying to catch up or pass or behave. Schools today cater to that 50-60% in the middle. We gear all classes to them, giving those that truly want to learn the task of taking harder honors and AP level courses. Unfortunately we push that middle group through solely so they can pass their State/Fed standardized test and they leave no caring or knowing what to do or where to go, so they go to college and drop out in 2 years or less.
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suttonea76
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:41pmThat was awesome! My wife teaches and feels the same way. In Texas they teach to the test via the TAKS test. She used to be creative in her methods to involve kids and took many field trips. She also introduced several classic novels that expanded the minds of kids in the art of metaphor, hyperbole and illiteration. History plays a huge role and understanding previous cultures and beliefs helps you understand your own. We need to destroy the DOE as they act as just the opposite. No teacher should be the same or they lose that ability to excel and to be unique. Abolish the cookie cutter education and empower these teachers to use methods of creativity and uniqueness to which they had in college.
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Deb C
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:50pmGlenn Beck had a gentleman on his program saying “the education system needs to be gutted.” I found myself agreeing with him ! Don’t remember much else, but the concept has been valid for a long, long time. Guess we are just not at that stage in our development…yet.
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ggswede
Dec. 18, 2012 at 1:54pmI can remember in Ca. schools,when Easter vacation was just that,not spring break.I can remember Christmas vacation,when the elementary schools had Christmas trees in the classrooms,and had a gift exchange prior to the break.I can remember history being taught,by the time I reached 6th grade,I had a full working knowledge about the explorers and the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.And, that if you worked hard,it would eventually pay off.Now it’s all about politically correct ! How about a change to MORALLY CORRECT ? I think it’s about time to end the nonsense in public schools !
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James
Dec. 18, 2012 at 3:57pmYep, here in FLA some years back, Guvnor Jeb Bush created what is called the FCAT. The Teachers teach to that test.It does nothing and the kids are still dumber than a box of rocks. Teacher’s I know tell me this.Being an old Union man Florida is a right to work state. I don’t believe the Teachers Union has much to say on that issue except for the teachers being forced to teach the FCAT.I know Teachers both Union and Non Union.Guvnor Bush was really not a conservative as one may think just as Guv. Charlie Criss after him.Charlie was Dem,Then a Rep,then a Ind and now he is back to being a Dem.WOW! Some Teachers I know belong to the Union in case they get in some altercation they have Legal representation.As a former Union member I will tell you,an outside Attorney will not touch a Contract.
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SDW2001
Dec. 18, 2012 at 3:59pm“The purpose of good test scores is to garner more money for the union teachers. (It’s never about the kids.)”
Speaking as a teacher, I find that comment unfortunate and misguided. Most systems don’t have test performance rewards for teachers. If they do, there is no distinction between union and non-union teachers. And, I can tell you that I’m not aware of any union that supports pay for test performance. It’s something they oppose completely.
I don’t disagree with your other comments.
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Alessandre
Dec. 18, 2012 at 5:15pm@Braddock66, Homeschool! Children who are homeschooled do better than even children who attend private schools. I’d love it if single parents could send their kids to a friend’s house for homeschooling. Some sort of barter arrangement could be worked out so that the stay at home parent doesn’t have to become licensed as an educational facility. Married parents need to take the cut in pay, scale back & homeschool. If your house is too big, rent a room. Find the way. The souls, hearts & minds of children are being destroyed.
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Alessandre
Dec. 18, 2012 at 5:17pm@Braddock66: I meant, if the mortgage is too high, rent a room.
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Babagootz
Dec. 18, 2012 at 9:37pmHere’s the real problem: The public school system was taken over long ago by the robber barons and their foundations. John D. Rockefeller once said that he doesn’t want schools to churn out thinkers or philosophers. Rather, he wanted cogs who would simply follow orders without question. The modern robber-barons don’t want free-market intellectual competition from the masses. Thus, we have today a nation of students who can’t think critically. You can thank the Republicans and the Democrats for this, as they both take contributions from the foundation heads. Gates and the Broads push the standardized test to dumb your children down. The tests are not even valid. Schools take their grant money and are forced to follow their wicked, hurtful agenda. Most teacher union members I know want what’s best for the kids and aren’t in it for the $. The problem is that their leaders sell them out at the national level. The union head, Weingarten, used to be on the board of the Broad Foundation, which pushes the testing/dumbing down/merit pay agenda. Dues money is given to Obama, a Union Buster. Charter schools are a travesty. M. Rhee is an fool. For every great charter, there are 100 bad ones. Most are operated by hedge-fund hyenas, in it only for the profit. The corporate media promotes charters because their parent companies see them as good investments. Operators often close up and walk away with millions. There is little oversight. Research for yourselves.
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rodrob
Dec. 19, 2012 at 12:56pmHaving been a high school/community college teacher for 32 years I can agree with this man’s frustration. We (teachers) were caught between teaching the test and teaching what we thought students needed to know about our subjects. The NCLB (No Child Left Behind) law enacted by the Bush administration made it imperative to teach test taking techniques and drill kids on how to pass the state mandated test in order to graduate. I hated doing this, I taught math (Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and Calculus). I was not supposed to teach anything that wasn’t on the curriculum guide, which skipped some extremely important information that would be useful in later lessons. When I retired the superintendent stated at the district retirement party that 78% of the students that passed the state test had my classes for at least 1 school year. All the other teachers were following the curriculum guide and the district had hired a consultant to improve us. Obviously what I was doing was right. The consultant sat in on many of my classes; her comment about my teaching was “you work too hard!” It wasn’t about pay or union concerns; I liked teaching and I like math and science. My community college classes always had a waiting list. I always took in an overload amount of students: full class was 30, my classes had 35-40 every quarter.
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CABERNETQHS
Dec. 19, 2012 at 8:18pmI agree with him 100%. They used to tell us to go run off our hyper-activity. Now the kids get medicated. My younger two kids were not taught cursive writing in our schools. There is approximately 10 years between my older and younger kids and somewhere in that time frame someone decided to eliminate this beautiful form of expression, not to mention the abliltiy to sign ones own name. They too have no parties or field trips and are forced to wear drab uniforms. Is this Washington,NATO, teachers union,who is calling these shots? No one gives me a staight answer.
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shagstar
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:58amoutstanding,,,at 55yrs old,,i now have another hero…..way to go man!
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Guitar Master
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:55amzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
From THE REPORTER
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Thought for the day:
The schools across the country removed God from their vocabulary. Why is it that everyone has now resorted to prayer after the shootings?
A perfect example of how diluted our society has become. Truly pathetic.
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Xiccarph
Dec. 18, 2012 at 8:47amRemoving God from schools (and in public venues in general) is a socio-political agenda. Prayers in these horrid situations is the real people expressing their real beliefs, and the politicians/leaders who are behind the removal of religion, putting on a show for votes.
If you look at it holistically, both groups are doing exactly what they believe will help them get through it.
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bluehen
Dec. 18, 2012 at 10:12am@GUITAR MASTER
You jeesus freaks are too funny. If only we prayed more, this wouldn’t have happened. I bet you still believe in the tooth fairy and old st nick. Man, at a certain point, you have to acknowledge that there are crazy people out there that will do crazy stuff. With or without your religion. Moron
Zipit
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:07amThat was real nice Bluehen! Your brain is obviously as small as the state you live in!!! Both mentally and physically!!!!!!
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bhosux
Dec. 18, 2012 at 11:17amThree thumbs up on your point !
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z32tt
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:20pm@bluehen: I didn’t see any dialogue from Guitar Master suggesting that “more prayer would’ve prevented this tragedy.” Clearly your lack of reading comprehension is a symptom of your shallow intelligence level or your assumptions are flawing your logic. Either way, much like your typical agnostic counterparts (no assumption here, you made this clear in your post), you were quick to belittle those with opposing viewpoints to yours at the sight of a mere trigger word “prayer”.
Guitar Master was simply (and validly) pointing out the irony/hypocrisy of non-practicing believers and agnostic/atheist types alike – that they do not pray to God nor publicly proclaim any shred of belief in a higher being unless it is in the public’s eye following a tragedy.
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Zipit
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:49pmZ32TT! bluehen’s a twit! How about an old Z8 Alpina?????
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mountainmommie
Dec. 18, 2012 at 2:35pmI believe God has to be invited in. The Lord is always with us, but he gives us free will to choose. The option of good or the option of bad. Evil is poor choices.
By “removing” God from our public schools, it has become harder for children to find Him as an option to the choices they are making throughout the day. Children need examples of people choosing God’s way for pain, stress, anger, before they know what to choose. We have seven kids who attend Catholic school. We don’t pay those bills monthly for a “better” education. We pay it so they can look up and around in times of trouble and fear and doubt and see Him as a visible and oftentimes tangible option. You need a lift? Say a prayer. You see someone being picked on? Ask if that’s how the Lord would want you to act. You want to have run and have fun? Then sit your rear in a pew for few minutes and experience silence. See Jesus on that Cross? He died for you.
Our kids still experience tragedy and sorrow, but Jesus is being invited in to their decision-making and problem-solving. If we shut God out of our personal lives we become cold and distant from Him. How would schools be any different?
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mountainmommie
Dec. 18, 2012 at 2:52pmAfter I read what I wrote I wanted to add … this doesn’t mean all children from public schools are distant from God. I have lots of friends with children in public school. But, they would tell you that in order for them to have good relationships with Christ they are having to do the work OUTSIDE of school. RE classes, youth groups, cultivating friendships with families who have principles in common with their family. They aren’t receiving spiritual fruit in school like their parents did, so they have to search it out elsewhere.
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James
Dec. 18, 2012 at 4:06pmhey guitar master, check my site please.
http://www.wheatinstruments.com
ESQ
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taintso
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:50amIf we had more teachers like him we would be able to stop the feds indoctrination and control of our children and teach them to be productive citizens and use their individual will and skills for their benefit which in turn will benefit the Nation.
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bava
Dec. 18, 2012 at 1:04amI’m worried about the waves being beamed into my HEAD. I know YOU can help. They’re going to BAN tinfoil. HELP!!!!!!
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Plan B
Dec. 18, 2012 at 1:20amI agree Taintso
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naughtycal
Dec. 18, 2012 at 8:07amOr the left would have more room to indoctrinate as testing wouldn’t be the priority. Do presume to know this man because of his stance on one issue. This guy could be the second coming of saul alinsky.
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VRW Conspirator
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:43pmThere are many more like him than you think. Don’t group the vocal minority of union goosesteppers in with those that entered teaching for the right reasons. Yes education might be dominated by the more democratic leaning liberal mindset people…but many, even if they vote that way, can see that education needs to have more local control and less Fed control…they just don’t understand you can’t take the Fed money without the Fed control….
Especially in the math and sciences and those teachers that come from math and science degree backgrounds, you see more moderate viewpoints and even some leaning conservative/libertarian. The problem is that most students are turned off or avoid these classes and the popular teachers are always the English and History ones that treat students as “equals”, letting kids call them by their first name, throwing parties, not following school rules, dress codes, or electronic use policies. Basically the Hippies that got degrees in the 70-80′s in worthless fields so they took a test and became a teacher. This is usually where the goosestepping Nazi union thugs come from and they are also the ones preaching “social justice” and marxism/socialism/communism in the classroom.
History should only be taught from original sources like diaries, letters, and books written by those that lived through it but that would stop the Commies from changing and distorting it…
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Grizzlyof5
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:47amHe is absolutely spot on! It is purposely designed to be just as he described so that one size fits all actually fits no one. I applaud this teacher for having the courage and character to speak out against those who should be tossed out by their ears. He forgot to mention how esp. the boys are doped up on ridlin because they’re expected to sit still for 8 hours a day. I have witnessed everything he spoke of in many schools. I wish this teacher well and know he will find fulfillment in whatever path he chooses. I just wish more teachers would grow backbones and stand up for their students.
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countryfirst
Dec. 18, 2012 at 6:10amSome people are stating that teachers or school administrators should start conceal carry, for decades now they have not been able to bring in Red ink pens for grading paper so not to offend a student, Now should bring a 9mm in to defend the student.
Reinstall the 4 R’s, religion, respect and responsibility and the red ink pen.
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countryfirst
Dec. 18, 2012 at 6:24amIt sounds like there are still union slaughter houses, the politically correct meaning is now calling them the public school system
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angelcat
Dec. 18, 2012 at 1:54pmAnd the one size it is designed for is the slower learner s while those more capable are often held back while teachers teach and reteach so the less capable will pass the state tests. Teachers try to challenge everyone, but it often takes more time, resources and energy than is available. Also, student conduct can undermine doing this. Right now the district where I used to teach is big into group work and has told teacher only 25 per cent of the day should be direct instruction. For most kids, it does not work- one or two doing all the work in a group, need for more direction in groups than one teacher can give, lack of motivation, distraction, etc. but teachers will get poor evaluations if their principals don’t see their classes in groups 75 per cent of the time.
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EthelMurmur
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:43amMy daughter has been in public school and cyber school…..Starting in Jr High, she started going to Connections Academy (a cyber school) because she had many doctor appointments and it just made sense to put her in a school that she could work around her appointments. Since then, I’ve enrolled her in public school at the beginning of every year (at her request) and taken her back out (at her request) within two weeks to a month after school started. This is her fifth year in cyber school, and her classes are so more advanced than the kids she was going to public school with and her grades are all A’s and B’s….it took her some time to get them up to this level, and I’m amazed at the work she’s doing!
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ADNIL
Dec. 18, 2012 at 6:11amWorked in the system for many years as a traveling occupational therapist with learning disabled kids. I quit about 2 and a half years ago. I saw entire classrooms that taught to the dumbest and slowest students while the rest were so bored they acted out. The solution was to remove recess in grades past 2nd because there “wasn’t enough time in the day”. Then drug the kids who needed to move to stay focused into lethargy.
I ended up with the mandate to teach kids who were so far behind that by 6th grade had writing and reading skills of 1st graders, and I was expected to do that in 15 to 30 minutes a week. Even that was frequently interrupted or cancelled for other school activities and there was little if any cooperation from the school to allow the student to use the “carry over” suggestions their IEPs demanded. I got to feeling like a warm body hired to fullfil a mandate. I was expected to show up everyday, fill in the paperwork, keep my mouth shut, and get paid. I did, however, meet many dedicated and extremely frustrated teachers and others who had given up and now were going through the motions for the paycheck and good benefits.
If I had kids I would definitely home school them. I know several who do, and it is not as hard as it might seem, and the kids are way ahead of their peers and better behaved.
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VoteRightDammit
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:40amTo: LObsterboy, Brigott, Stopprintn:
Not that simple (that it’s ‘the unions’). Yes, the teachers’ unions are the most vile organizations on earth. But our federal government — specifically, the Dept. of Education — is equally culpable!
The past 30 years has seen a delicate dance downward between the DOEd and the unions, each trying to outdo the other is it’s attempts to decimate education in favor of special interest gains. Of course, under the current Administration these two groups have coalesced into one horrific child-mind-killer of dizzying power and faculty.
Please do not let teachers off the hook here, and pretend they are innocent ‘defenders of our children’. They are NOT. Year after year, vote after vote, they continue to support and re-certify their union so that their personal benefits are increased …. damn the expense; damn the effect on education; damn the cost to children’s lives. Only teachers can shuck off the heroin of the union, and they will never, ever do so as long as we are willing to pretend they are NOT addicted, NOT responsible, NOT culpable.
NO ONE does ANYONE any good …. certainly not our children …. by pretending the teachers are, and have been, good stewards of the trust we have invested in them.
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onecountryonelanguageoneflag
Dec. 18, 2012 at 1:57amI agree and it continues through college and universities.Professors teach their political preference instead of the subject they are supossed to teach.[and they are paid six figure saleries and blame the banks etc for the cost the students have to pay for a bad education]
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Margyt
Dec. 18, 2012 at 2:09amBeautifully stated.
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glckgrl
Dec. 18, 2012 at 3:47amI agree, and I also note that these folk only work 180ish days a year and rarely an 8 hour day, at that!
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RIGHTHOOK
Dec. 18, 2012 at 8:02amHome Schooling programs are the best alternative to assure a good outcome for your child. Only a small percentage can successfully manage the task or devote the time or afford to give up the income (sacrifice). As much as I loathe the teachers unions and the social engineering that takes place in the system nationwide, these teachers end up babysitters and disciplinarians because of lame parenting. Parents need to get involved, check out these curriculum’s and take responsibility versus just dropping their kids off and hoping for the best.
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aproudinfidel
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:30amGod bless him. I hope he goes to work in a good private school where he will be free to teach.
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mellowlady
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:29amOnly 13 years teaching? He looks elderly. Did he start teaching when he was 50 years old? Look at the furnishings in his house, old as rust. What does he want to teach, how to make a buckskin jacket, how to shoe horses?
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Fubared
Dec. 18, 2012 at 1:59pmHe may enjoy simple wood worked furnishings that aren’t Ikea and plastic. He may have been in another endeavor before going pubic ed. Me thinks you ain’t all that mellow. And the lootto games was supposed to have fixed public ed- the screwels were supposed to have been laid with gold and all de chillren would be rocket docs. And we have twerps instead that say piss off and shoot you. We should just join together the NEA, DEA, and FED and stay home to collect Obama money instead huh?
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shadesofgray
Dec. 18, 2012 at 2:20pmWhat does his age or his taste in furnishings have to do with this discusion? They have nothing to do with his ability to Teach. Many people have more than one “career” in a lifetime. It makes life & the person more interesting.
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csasoldier
Dec. 18, 2012 at 3:13pmLet me tell you something ‘MellowLady”–I cleaned toilets in the Navy for 4 years to earn my first university degree which was useless on the job market 40 years ago. I drove a taxicab for 2 1/2 years after that to get my second University degree, both from the California State University system. both were equally useless so I rejoined the Army National Guard fro 29 years eventually winding up with an MA in U.S. and World History and a California teaching credential as well and the Army certified me as a Military Historian.Combine those accomplishments with being a script writer for the History Channel and the Military Channel and one would think I would have something to offer the California public daycare system. Wrong! I was “over educated, over qualified and over 60.” During my student teaching months I started wondering why students were dysfunctional and totally useless in the world of reality until I started meeting their parents who had gone through the same miserable daycare system only 20 years previously. I quit and have never regretted it. God Bless this gentleman. (Ooops–I said the “G” word.) William B Dean, BBA MA
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ChappellGirl5
Dec. 18, 2012 at 3:45pmIt didn’t say he’d only been teaching for 13 years. It said he had been teaching in THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT for 13 years. He could have been a teacher in another city or state before that.
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begreen
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:27amThis is why after a teaching degree in elementary school I decided to leave since the public school system do not have the best interest of the children at heart. unfortunately these school systems are simply profit motivate, without regard as to turning out well rounded ethical and morally spiritual minded individuals..
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DarkJello
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:26amBrilliant and courageous!! God bless sir.
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Elena2010
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:21amAbsolutely the system is broken. It’s been broken for some time. Multiple choice, mass produced tests tell you not a thing abt how much the test taker understands. It tells you if that person is a good guesser.
It broke when kids were passed fm grade to grade in an effort for them to stay w/their peer groups.
No child left behind added to the brokenness. Some children should be left behind until they decide to move forward.
High school grads can’t read. They can’t do basic arithmetic. They can’t write a coherent sentence.
Darn tootin’ the system is broken.
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glckgrl
Dec. 18, 2012 at 3:50amThis is for sure. When I was a work study math tutor in college, the basketball player I tutored could not do word problems, simple word problems, because he could not read that train A was travelling east at 30 mph and train b was traveling west at 55 mph. I remember his name because I was so astonished, and that was in the 1980′s.
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flagbearer
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:18amPeople who criticize teachers today have no idea what is going on in today’s schools. I don’t like teacher unions…they are a BIG problem, but they are not the cause of the schools’ failings. There are so many different philosophies and opinions about education, and it is hard to find conservative-minded teachers…everything is “progressive.” Out of fear of being labeled discriminatory, so many things have resulted that are harmful, not helpful, to minority students. We have been sold a bill of goods that big conglomerate schools are more economical and provide students and teachers better access to learning tools and sharing of ideas…Yet, research actually shows that smaller, community schools are more successful. The only hope we have is to eliminate public education as exists today and start from scratch, making parents and students realize that schools aren’t a babysitting service, that education is NOT a right, but a responsibility, and that decent behavior and manners are expected. Most kids today have no respect for adults or authority, use profanity, and have no interest in learning. Most importantly, we need to return God to schools, family, and community. Emphasis on principles, work ethics, responsibility, and all the old American values needs to be returned to schools, and if a child doesn’t abide by them, they’ll be separated from all the good apples. The old adage that it takes one bad apple to spoil a barrel is so true!
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DarkJello
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:34amTotally agree, but it is extremely unlikely this America will get it right. Too many takers.
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truthnstuff
Dec. 18, 2012 at 10:38amI think it is ALL about the unions. The teachers union is nothing more than another giant government welfare program. Most, not all, are not in it for teaching, but for getting on the dole. They are also there to indoctrinate young skulls in the socialist mindset, dumbing them down to receive such indoctrination.
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Babagootz
Dec. 18, 2012 at 9:41pmThis standardized test-based culture is abhorrent. Jeb Bush, Michelle Rhee, and their cronies are making hundreds of millions of dollars pushing “the test.” Don’t take my word for it – research it yourselves.
Unions are mostly irrelevant today anyway. Manufacturing jobs were shipped overseas long ago and they ain’t a comin’ back. Union leaders sold their members out. Teachers’ unions are a mixed bag, however.
Do you even know any teachers in unions? That’s what I thought. Most of you union-bashers have no idea what you are talking about. You just have a fetish for attacking anyone who wants collective bargaining rights. Unions are far from perfect (especially now-a-days). Teachers, like cops other civil servants, are by and large kind-hearted individuals who want their students to love learning and think critically. They are adamantly opposed to this non-stop testing agenda (the ones I know are, anyway). The teachers are our allies in this, not the enemy. Most are moderately liberal or moderately conservative and want what’s best for the kids. Very few are on the fringes. Stop listening to the demagogues who want you to believe otherwise and think for yourself.
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Minuteman1776
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:18amMy wife was a teacher in a low income school for 2 years. Most of her students, in a 5th grade class, were at a 1st grade level or lower. Wasn’t much she could do to help them but try to get them up to a third grade level. The kids that were at grade level were taught mostly the same material as the other ones. She couldn’t do much about it.The administration really didn’t care. All they cared about were the standardised test scores and Federal funding. She did suceed at improving the overall scores, but it was at the exspense of the kids who were on a 5th grade leve, who were forced to redo up to 4 previous grades worth of lessonsl. We have heard similar stories and worse throughout this school district. Public education is a joke. The good teachers suffer and have a difficult time teaching to the best of their ability. The students just don’t care anymore. Most of them were completely capable of doing the work, but years of apathy, bad parenting and no real guidance along with the usual red tape is holding them back. The education system is in dire need of repair, but our culture that feeds this attitude and supports and rewards failure and coddles carelessness is also a part of the problem and needs a compltete overhaul. Like this man, she is also done teaching, after getting masters in education and 30k worth of school debt. Home schooling appears to be the best option. A private school she worked for recently wasn’t much better.
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ADNIL
Dec. 18, 2012 at 6:19amOne thing that blew me away was the “social promotion”. Students were advanced to the next grade whether or not they had mastered the work because it was harmful to their self-esteem to be kept back. How good can they feel when they are in a class where they are constantly given work that is way beyond them? The only way they can get respect from their peers is to either be the class clown or the class bully. And, to advance them when they haven’t done the work only shows them that it wasn’t important, anyway. Seen it, over and over. I worked with these kids.
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satindoll
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:15amreading all your post, i cant find one that i disagree with. it looks like the teacher said it all rather well!!
i agree with him…. i was raised in a different era… where learning was the reward, and reading and checking out books at the library a GOOD THING. it was up to you to define your own mind,
form your own ideas, and make your own way…..sigh
reminds me of the movie “GOLTHIA” you know if you think back and look around, the warnings are every-where… do you see them??
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LobsterBoy
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:10amHe’s just a drop in the ocean when it comes to the kind of reform our education system has been needing for many years.
Unfortunately we have the unions firmly entrenched to oppose any such reform. So much so that things like vouchers and school choice is the only real option at present. But even that is facing a huge uphil battle against the unions and they’re political beneficiaries.
It’s more important (to them) for the unions and politicos to keep their power than to educate our children.No need for highly trained or skilled workers to restore our economy. A dumbed down electorate is so much easier to manipulate and control so they can perpetuate their power.
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mom4times
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:07amI am very happy for him…..that he’s found the courage to stand up for the children…..and as said in previous posts….now if only other teachers would join him….but….here’s the catch…..they have to be the older ones……the younger teachers (20′s and 30′s) seem to have been drawn into the broken system and follow the “book” word for word…..someone correct me if you think i’m wrong
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joelj31
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:03amI have a strong suspicion that there are thousands of teachers, just like him, but need to stay within the system in order to pay their monthly bills.
This could be a real good reason for the teachers union and dems to be so against charter schools. Easy to see how successful a charter school would be staffed with teachers like this.
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JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:00amAgreed!! Yes, yes and yes, the Education System in America is broken, broken, broken!!!! Good for him. I’ve been waiting for the teachers to start standing up for the children. Hopefully the teachers that actually care for the children who’s parents entrust them and put in their charge everyday of the week will stand for their right to a proper Education.
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ssmith3417
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:19amDon’t interpret lack of speaking out as lack of caring. As a fairly young teacher I do what I can for my students but I also have almost no say in curriculum, grading policies, etc. It may be selfish but my first priority is taking care of my family. Most teachers do what they can but are pretty powerless in major school decisions.
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ADNIL
Dec. 18, 2012 at 6:32amSmith
I feel for you. The teachers in the schools in which I worked, many were incredibly frustrated. They were NEVER consulted before policy changes, and when policies changed, they were the LAST to be told. They did, indeed, know what was best for “their” students but were never allowed input into descision making processes. Good luck!
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Mikeramseyjr
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:00amWow, Awesome! I bet that is the first of many.
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WINNEBAGOMAN
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:00amWe need more teachers like this! A guy who knows that being a teacher is a service position. You serve the public, you serve families, in assisting them with educating their youngsters. It isn’t to serve yourself.
Bravo, sir! Bravo! You have basketball size… (you know).
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ADNIL
Dec. 18, 2012 at 6:33amUnfortunately, teachers like him end up “gone, gone, gone.”
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Miguel Sanchez
Dec. 17, 2012 at 11:56pmAdmirable! Struggling students and successful students both suffer in such a system. Successful students are bored and never learn to be challenged or how to truly apply themselves…struggling students are dejected and subjugated to a rigid system which cannot and will not give them any consideration.
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brigott
Dec. 17, 2012 at 11:56pmIs our educational system broke[n]? As in, our taxpayer-funded government-provided educational system?
No. It is NOT broken.
It is extremely effective at doing what those in charge of it want it to do: produce government dependents with liberal mindsets and liberal, godless sheeple. It effectively produces world-citizens who do not believe in American exceptionalism and who will be union lackeys working for bigger government and the right to take from producers and give to lazy consumers, all in the interest of being “fair.”
It does not, however, produce dependable American citizens.
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TORCH9
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:05amExcellent Analogy!! The schools are all about Indoctrination. Home School, if you can.
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ADNIL
Dec. 18, 2012 at 6:27am“It does not, however, produce dependable American citizens.”
It DOES however, produce dependant American consumers.
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stopprintn
Dec. 17, 2012 at 11:51pmTime to end all public sector unions, they have literaly distroyed the education system.
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brigott
Dec. 17, 2012 at 11:58pmThe federal government’s involvement has done at least as much, if not more, than the unions.
Together they have effectively produced a bureaucratic quagmire that is more interested in supporting themselves and a “world citizen” than in producing outstanding citizens of an exceptional America.
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CatB
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:00amAmen!
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diablosho
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:01amThey sure have! Case-in-point: DESTROYED, not “distroyed”…otherwise, you are absolutely correct! ;-D
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ssmith3417
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:11amUnions don’t drive curriculum. Bureaucrats who want control over everything are killing education. There are many very good public schools in this country. Unfortunately, those schools are having to change what and how they teach because of the gov’t's obsession with a test score. Are country isn’t't a world leader because our kids score well on a test. It’s because of an entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to take a risk. Everyone calling for changes in public education are right. However, the change needs to be a move to local control and less testing. The Feds should leave it to the states and the states to local districts as much as possible. Despite popular belief, most teachers know what the heckling they are doing and are in it for the right reason. If only someone had the guts to get rid of the federal dept. of ed.
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possom
Dec. 18, 2012 at 12:31amYup!
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James
Dec. 18, 2012 at 4:02pmBRIGOTT, you’re right on the head.
ESQ
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smv803
Dec. 19, 2012 at 10:21amBig government and unions are bed mates……..plotting and scheming how best to rob the system while pretending to educate. Indoctrination and dependency is what’s taught.
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randy
Dec. 17, 2012 at 11:43pmGood for him!
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