Teaching: An Act of Rebellion

[Jaxson]

Teaching: An act of rebellion
By John Louis Meeks, Jr.
The day of reckoning is near for educators in the Sunshine State.  Fear is the instinctive response to the doom and uncertainty that are born inside of us the moment our students pick up their pencils or log onto their computers.
No matter how administrators and educators try to game the system, they end up getting played by the system that appears to be designed to consign public schools to a status lower than the local brothel and with much less respect from the community.
No amount of practice, preparation or previewing can ever promise success for our schools or students because the system has already been crafted to demonize, degrade and denigrate men and women who care about students but live and work with targets on their backs.
FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test) is a monster not because it was born that way.  Originally intended to diagnose students' needs in the classroom, FCAT has morphed into a handmaiden for elected and appointed officials to destroy what little joy there is in the teaching profession.
Data and accountability are nice but they are used far too often by the party in power in Tallahassee because they know that opposition is toothless, impotent or in hiding.  Every Election Day that comes and goes further cements the lust for power that our so-called leaders place ahead of truly serving our state and our future.
It is only inevitable that schools have become testing factories in which district and school officials are reduced to overseers who have no choice but to monitor and micromanage a chain gang busting rocks in unison for an ever-shrinking piece of hard bread and sip of tepid water.
No matter what we educators do, it will never be enough, so why bother?  It is easier for suits to justify their jobs by telling us how horrible we are than it is to say that we truly are trying and need a break.
Teaching may not be as bad as being in prison, but at least the average convict gets a fair trial.  FCAT, however, is our judge, jury and executioner.
http://www.folioweekly.com/March-6-Mail-The-Second-Amendment-the-Roots-of-Violence-Embracing-Difference-and-More,2282

[Cheshire Cat]

Jaxson, what can citizens and voters do to help change direction here?  What current rules and requirements hinder teachers and students specifically and how can those be addressed?  I know the teachers union has been working on this a long time.  With Rick Scott wanting to focus attention on teachers and schools via a teachers raise, why not hit him up using the collective power of the union and tell him a raise is fine, but how about giving us back the ability to truly teach?  This is such a bad situation for our students and out teachers.  The citizens need some tips on how to help.

[Jaxson]

Amen, Diane!  I would be glad to help with empowering citizens.  You are one reason why I am politically active.  I love you lots and wish you well!

[Cheshire Cat]

Thank you sir.  I think you can begin here on the forum and explain to people, almost step by step what needs to be done.  I know that is tedious to do, but there is so much in our lives now that needs addressing.  If you can give folks some tips on what to say and how, I know they will help.  We are talking about our children and they are our collective future.  We cannot afford to let State leadership charge down road that hurt rather than help our children and enhance our teachers ability to educate them. 

[Cheshire Cat]

One other thought Jaxson.  What you might consider doing, along with Julie and others who are fighting this battle is to get with Tony Hill at City Hall.  The mayor put him in office because of his ability to work at all levels of government and because of his connections.  I will let you in on a secret, there are many backroom rumblings going on at City Hall about Tony collecting a sizable paycheck and really doing nothing to merit it. There will likely be some dust ups over that if he doesn't get down to real business.   Why not make him work for that paycheck by standing up on behalf of the teachers and students?  With the mayor's recent public focus on "education" I cannot see him being opposed to such an effort being made by one of his staff members. 

[Jaxson]

Good idea!