Powder Keg

Being a teacher in the US right now is like being in the middle of a powder keg, awaiting its explosion. Why? Because there are groups of people, average citizens to politicians, trying to destroy public education as we know it. What puzzles me is why.

Teaching is a profession requiring years of education and post graduate education. Moreover, teachers are expected to stay current with educational trends, integrate technology into their classrooms, and focus on 21st century skills our students will eventually need. No one has adequately identified these 21st century skills for me, but as a teacher, I'm supposed to KNOW.

On one side of this powder keg issue are administrators, building and district level. The pressure is on them to produce results at their individual schools and in their districts. Pressure comes from communities, boards of education, and the state and federal governments. I cannot imagine the level of stress our administrators cope with daily. Because of federally mandated testing, I'm sure their frustration levels are running high. Our principals are 'at-will' employees, meaning, regardless of their education and abilities, they can be fired at any time. They have no protection from lawsuits or from our school district. Because of the pressure they are under, they must pass that pressure onto us. I understand that. But just as this type of stress is hurting them-as effective leaders-it also strains the professional working relationship we should have, making it difficult for teachers to want to go to school.

On the other side of the powder keg is those trying to destroy public education. I'm not paranoid; I've been reading and researching public education 'reform,' and I honestly believe the root of the problem lies within political groups (both Democratic and Republican) destroying a foundational element of our country: public education. It appears in groups with harmless sounding names such as Bloomberg, Independence Institute, Leadership Program, Great Schools, APlus... Politicians bandy about buzz words like: "21st century skills," "data-based,""school-choice," "charter," and "student engagement." They talk about how teachers are failing our students, how schools are failing. Chances are good most of the reformers haven't stepped foot in a public school in years, if ever. Reformers want to eliminate collective bargaining between teachers and their districts and issue 'contracts' that will allow school boards to choose any type of payroll scheme. Remember, teaching is a profession and requires years of education. A veteran teacher, like myself, with a master's degree can make as little as $38,000 a year, depending on his contract.

Because a powder keg is round, there is of course another issue: compensation. Americans value their children, but they simply don't want to pay for them. For example, daycare costs are astronomical. Yet daycare employees make a pittance for all the work they do. Teachers are paid a nominal salary and yet are made to feel guilty for wanting more--enough to make a decent living and pay all their bills. Again, teaching is a profession, requiring a great deal of education. Moreover, those who work with children-from newborns through high school-emotionally invest in their students. They become second parents, or in some cases, parents to those children with whom they work. Teachers spend money on their 'kids,' making sure they have food, Kleenex, school supplies, clothes so those kids can be successful. Yet, when teachers ask for more pay, they are vilified for this request. However, an actor wants a million dollars an episode for their sitcom, no one bats an eye.

One last thought about our powder keg; run all the veteran teachers off, bring in inexperienced teachers with little training (Teach for America?), and what will happen? How will our schools turn around and be able to compete on a global scale? I'm certainly not the teacher I was when I first walked into a classroom. I'm better. I'm exemplary. I think I can reach more students because I have grown and matured. I've practiced. When, not if, our little educational powder keg explodes, what will come? Will we move to private education? Who will educate everyone? What are the consequences of destroying our public schools?