TEACHERS HAVE A VOICE TOO!

Amidst the daily issues and controversy that currently overshadows education the Teachers' voice gets loss in the shuffle. It is true that while more accountability is being placed on the teacher there is still no system of support for teachers in the inner city that is truly meaningful.

It can be argued that accountability is needed but for whom? Is it for the inadequacy in some of our peers that makes it difficult for the rest of us? How about scapegoating others because of a difference in opinions and practices? How can teachers be held accountable ....... is it through the pay, loss of licensure or student performance? What about those teachers who go above and beyond yet the data measures are poor? Should we rely on bureaucratic definition of what constitutes student performance or growth? What is accountability?

These are all logical questions that are so profound I believe that can only be answered through a thorough and honest introspection of self, systems, and processes. While the public is clamoring for more accountability there are teachers who are working under extreme conditions to get their jobs done let alone survive! 

There are teachers who have no resources and are continuously faced with a multitude of adverse conditions that impact instruction in the classroom. These range from the inability to get help for students who are consistently disrupting the educational process and the procurement of appropriate programs for helping the lower level students because of budgetary constraints. Additionally, there are the hungry students, the student who has to work to take care of their family and was unable to complete homework, students who cannot stay after school or take advantage of other programs that will help improve their academic performance which will ultimately contribute to student growth. 

Will these hard working  teachers be penalized by the system? When will the voices of these teachers be brought to the fore? How will our inner city schools survive if teachers are unable to do their jobs the best way they know to produce results? Under the current accountability climate will there be a max exodus of teachers to schools where there is an abundance of resources and a strong parental support system as well as all the other conditions that are imperative for "student achievement"? Conversely, would these high performing schools hire these teachers?

Where do you stand?

Petreno