"They fired us all."

[Are_grits_groceries]

When I heard about the firings in RI and then President Obama's praise of that action, I had an instant reaction. It was as if my most sensitive nerve had been hit. This was a visceral reaction, and not one tied to breaking the unions or the unfairness of it. I wondered what exactly it was.

I believe that the spot that was hit is one that every teacher with an ounce of compassion has developed. It is what I call the 'possible' point. Did I do everything possible to help? It could be in relation to a child, a class, or any number of things. It is also not tied to any income group or race.

I still see those kids. They were the ones that I knew needed help. I taught science, but what they required was far beyond the bounds of just that subject. I did what I could. I tried to provide a safe haven in class that was possibly a place they could belong. I tried to be kind and get the other kids to try it also. Believe me it wasn't nearly enough. I had about an hour a day if they were even there.

I have no idea how those kids tested. I did what I could and felt like I slid backwards every minute. I could not do enough, and I felt it keenly. I would remember later something I should have done that might have helped one of those kids more that I didn't do.

There were days when I could barely help myself much less any of them. They helped me a lot because I was recovering from depression. In trying to reach out to them, I was reaching the better part of myself that desperately needed to come out. I will forever love them for that.

When those teachers were fired and then the action was applauded, I believe every teacher felt that 'possible' point hit. I bet they wondered about some kid they tried to help or somebody they couldn't reach. It was like giving themselves a 7% in life again and it hurt.

I don't know where those kids are, and I have no idea what happened to them I hope for the best. I am still haunted at times, but not as much as I was. However, they never are far from my thoughts. They will always be there as reminders of what could have been, and what I should have done.

I have tears in my eyes now because I am remembering some of them once more. I have nothing to offer now but a prayer.

[raccoon]

1. kick nt

[FBaggins]

2. K&R

n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Did you see the video of the meeting where they were fired?

The school board called out their names one by one and they each had to stand up and listen as the board voted to fire them.

It was disgustingly cruel. I couldn't hold back tears.

[Are_grits_groceries]

4. No.

I can only imagine what I might have done. Pushed far enough, I might have pulled a 'Peter Finch.'

[FBaggins]

13. That's a bit dramatic.

The calling out of the names didn't make sense to me, but the teachers elected to be there and elected to stand together as their names were called. It wasn't the board forcing them to be shamed in public... it was solidarity in opposing a ridiculous outcome.

But yes... it still called for tears.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Calling out their names in public is disgraceful

Our board meets in private when they have to approve a firing. Then at the public meeting there is a notice on the agenda a teacher or other employee was fired.

What they did in RI was humiliating and disgusting.

[FBaggins]

20. I agree.

Assuming they had a choice (I have no idea whether or not they did)... it's disgraceful.

But the "stand while their names are called" was a courageous decision on the part of the teachers (don't know whether it was planned or spontaneous).

[Vermontgrown]

43. The question is

Where was the wonderful NEA while this was going on. Sitting on their hands somewhere, shaking their little heads. Just think about all the union dues you pay and you get booted anyway. Stop the "at will" states. Make employers accountable for their actions as well as the employee.

[Tailormyst]

52. It was gut wrenching to watch

[BlueJazz]

5. Teachers HAVE to be the most "Hit on" group in society.....and I put the blame..

.. squarely on the shoulders of the right-wing.

It's like these good people can do nothing right...no matter how much they care, how much time they put in or how much of their own money they spend on school supplies.

Fucking sick of the bashing.. :mad:

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so prevalent here on DU as well

I just replied to another of the 'teachers are overpaid and get summers off!' ignorant comments. The stupidity and hate is repulsive.

[Salviati]

8. Yeah, for sure. Teacher bashing is one of the few things that gets an insta- "ignore user" reaction

[QC]

10. Lately it's gotten so that I can no longer tell the difference between

the freeper trolls and the "pragmatic centrists."

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. So true

[Lydia Leftcoast]

24. You were under the illusion that there was a difference?

:shrug:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

26. It is turning into a regular freakfest here --

Some people seem to have lost their ever lovin' minds :wow: Making the lamest excuses, defending the indefensible, ignoring core Democratic values inorder to prop up certain actions by the WH -- it just leaves me spinning.

I am more thankful than ever for the "education" DU gave me during the eight years of Bush. I can't not see through the bullshit now.

[Jakes Progress]

29. There's a difference?

[pundaint]

40. I don't know if it's all the Right wing, Teachers have some pretty stupid work rules too.

Teachers as jailers, teachers as social workers, teachers as supply cabinets, teachers as foils for politicians. Some of these are imposed by the left too.

Just as an experiment, let's try equipping a classroom with supplies and children ready to learn and let them teach. Tolerate no violence, and stop busting kids for aspirin. Hire baby sitters and counselors to do their part, rather than allow disrupted classes. If a student doesn't speak English, their curriculum should consist of language, and cultural understanding - there is no critical knowledge necessitating a full bilingual curriculum at that age, and children of school age will quickly pick up a new language, and do better in their latter studies as a result.

Or we can just keep not funding education and hold a lottery for positions, and keep canning the loser teachers who get picked for the impossible situations as in RI and FL.

[BonnieJW]

53. I have to disagree.

I am all for teachers and appreciate the almost impossible task they face every day. But the NEA protects very bad teachers. My daughter had an algebre teacher who arrived at school drunk every day. Clearly, this woman had a terrible medical and psychological problem but rather than help her find help, the NEA protected her from any kind of reprimand or dismissal. The students in my daughter's class would spend the time talking to each other, playing portable radios and throwing things at the teacher (books, papers, spit wads)and using straight out profanity to her. I phoned the principal numerous times complaining that my daughter was wasting an entire year and had no knowledge of algebra what so ever. The principal said there was nothing he could do unless another teacher caughter Ms. Algebra in the act. I suggested standing outside her classroom and just listening to what was going on. Mr. Principal said that was not sufficient for the NEA; someone had to actually be in the classroom while the chaos was going on and as soon as any teacher entered the classroom, the disruption instantly stopped.

[mrdmk]

7. Nothing like shoveling sand against the tide with a spoon!

Learning is a process, and in the best of circumstances, a difficult endeavor. This needs to be mentioned, not all people learn the same. From my personal experience, if it was not for the art programs back in the 60's and 70's I would not have the success that I have achieved in my life to this day. So to have a cookie cutter program has to how teach and test every student is in fact stupid.

As for the arts; Art in a society is a influence and a reflection of that population across the board, both good and bad. Because of this tell-tale description of how people really feel and want, the fascist assholes that are in power do not want this type of examination of their control mechanisms, thus lose any power. Another words, welcome to another form of slavery. To further the point, the powers that be want you to do what you are told and feel good about it.

[DemReadingDU]

9. It takes a special person to be a teacher

They do their best educating the kids, feel that is their calling. If not, they do something else.

I think firing the teachers (union) is a 'test'. Next, ways will be devised to get rid of police and firemen unions. The goal, is to get rid of all unions.

[madfloridian]

11. Recommended.

And I feel your pain.

[Fumesucker]

12. K&R

[The Backlash Cometh]

14. Why don't they fire all the regents and administrators?

[mrdmk]

17. An entity is only a reflection of the management...

Besides, it is easier to pick on people with less power.

[whistler162]

27. They did fire all the administrators.....

it is just the posters prefer to ignore that part and ignore the students!

[liberation]

31. So the fired school board travelled back in time to fire the teachers?

Huh?

[Hekate]

37. School boards are elected; administrators and teachers are hired, therefore can be fired.

You can't fire an elected official, right? They have to be recalled or impeached or indicted or lose the next election or whatever, but they can't just be up and fired.

Hekate

[rpannier]

34. Ignore the students my ass

The school was already in a reorganization phase.
According to several articles put out, the teachers had put in a lot extra time with the kids -- that comes from some of the students at the school.

Take your I hate teachers crap and cram it with walnuts

or better yet, get yourself a f*cking teachers license, get a job and then let us all know where you went so we can watch you fail miserably and laugh at your pathetic ass

[laughingliberal]

47. +1000 nt

[PVnRT]

50. Oh, horseshit

This is just as bad as the "If you aren't 100% behind health insurance reform, you want kids to die!" bullshit. Try coming up with an argument rather than rank stupidity next time.

[Starry Messenger]

18. Beautifully stated.

Thanks AGG.

[Chiquitita]

19. I sent this to our central school district office today:

Parents were all asked to fill out a survey to improve our district. My comments:

"As a parent of a 7th grader from XMS I would like the central office to know that the teachers are wise, generous, and excellent. I am so impressed with the activities and high level of critical thinking my child is learning. But teachers are not receiving the respect they deserve in the form of time to prepare, autonomy and a voice in the system. My "dream" for my child is not that he become an easily manageable worker who conforms and obeys any absurd command from his superior. I want him to learn creativity, love of community, initiative, questioning of the status quo, and leadership. Bottom line: we parents are going to LOSE great teachers for our kids because the CENTRAL administration doesn't respect them and treat them as the professionals they are (and human beings with lives of their own that require actual free time away from work and endless quantifying of assessments!). The letter last year to parents telling us to call the district with any concern we had about a teacher was so alienating to me as a parent -- why would we be invited by someone in the district to complain behind a teacher's back? Why not be encouraged to do the honorable procedural thing and actually communicate with the teacher first and then the principal? Treat parents like adults, get off teachers' backs and get rid of excess administrators asap! Oh, and love and honor kids -- our future depends on them. Maybe if we all didn't learn to meekly obey authority, and see our own peers as "competitors" rather than as unique individuals and companions during our k-12 years we wouldn't be in the economic mess we're in now. Respect. Teachers. NOW. How will kids respect them if you don't?"

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. That's beautiful

Thank you.

[maryf]

25. Thank you!!!

You are my hero of the day!! :yourock:

[laughingliberal]

48. Great letter! nt

[TheKentuckian]

22. K&R This country is devolving into a mockery of what we have claimed to be

[maryf]

23. K&R

thanks! :)

[Mithreal]

28. Well said.

:cry:

[ljm2002]

30. Great post...

...I can't think of a single thing that has disgusted me more with this Administration than hearing Obama praise this act while talking to one of the most regressive organizations in the country, the Chamber of Commerce.

I'm not saying business people are bad, nor that local CoC's are bad. But we know that the national organization is reactionary and regressive, and it is yet another illustration of Obama's obeisance to the right wing.

[BrklynLiberal]

32. One of the msot under appreciated, and underpaid groups in this country...teachers.

[Lifelong Protester]

33. Thanks! I try to end my perusing if DU on a positive

and some nights that is pretty hard to do, but thank you for appreciating my profession. I've only given my whole life to it so I am glad someone realizes that it is a profession that is selfless. People have no idea, I'm afraid, of how much of yourself you must give if you really are trying to do all you can for the children you teach. It is demanding, draining, and yes, rewarding. But not one person here on this board who can write, type, cogently discuss (or not) the ideas passed around here can do so without having had a good teacher or teachers, plural, in his or her life.

[BrklynLiberal]

55. I agree 100% and am always really pissed off when I hear that the first budget cuts are to

education..and especially teachers' salaries. Everyone who claims they are overpaid should try to live on a teacher's salary. I do not know one teacher who is living on his/her salary alone. either they have a second job, or someone else in the household is also working to pay the expenses.
As you have said..where would we all be if it were not for teachers?

At the same time those that babble are complaining about the quality of teachers, they are proposing cutting salaries, minimizing raises or offering no raises at all. This economic quagmire is not the fault of the teachers!!!

And
I am mad as hell that those that ARE to blame are still getting millions of dollars in bonuses and substantial salary increases!!!!

How about as 50% tax on those bonus?? That would solve some of the economic problems, especially of NYC and NYS!!!

[rpannier]

35. You have to be f*cking crazy or a masochist to teach

Few people appreciate the job you do.
All people do is bitch, snivel and whine.
You're stuck with successive administrations that keep using you for their personal crusade for what's wrong with this country
You;'re stuck with billionaire dingus' like Bill Gates who are trying to turn schools into corporate versions of a minor league system

Then you're stuck with f*cking morons on the progressive side of the aisle like whistler162 who are there to say how you don't give a damn about the kids.

I don't know how you teachers do it.

I'll readily admit, I couldn't do it.
Since I can't I do not criticize
To those who criticize, get a frickin license and let us know where you go.
Because I'll be the guy looking in your window with the bullhorn laughing at your ass as you totally fall flat on your ass.

[Hekate]

36. (((((hugs)))))

:hug:

I don't know what the hell is going on any more, I just don't. :cry:

Hekate

[gtar100]

38. As someone said earlier, the blame for this lies squarely on the shoulders of the right wing.

This is absolute insanity. Love the fetus, hate the child. It's as if they derive pleasure at seeing others suffer. Unconscionable.

[NoFace]

39. Were the board member's right wingers? I wonder what the Union was asking for in terms of...

...compensation. Do you know as it'd save me about an hour of digging around.

So many issues so little time!
Thanks.

[laughingliberal]

49. Were the board members right wingers? I think their actions speak for themselves

I don't know what the union was asking for, if anything, but I'm sure whatever the union might be asking for it wasn't enough to compensate teachers for what they go through.

[pundaint]

41. First, you only have human capabilities, so you bear no fault for lack of omniscience.

It's clear that you gave it your all. I'm guessing that your success rate was higher than any of the batters making only $2 million a year, your work was a lot more psychically damaging, and the results of your efforts will be more enduring. I refer you to the theme song of SCRUBS. Peace.

[gleaner]

42. I didn't applaud the firing of these teachers ..

I think it was appalling and I think Obama's part in it was shameful. Especially when he turned around and praised other teachers whose students got lower test scores.

I think you were a wonderful teacher. You sound like the teachers I had who opened the world for me. Sometimes it is easier to see the difference one person makes from the outside than from the inside of the person who actually does change things for the better.

I do not think that test scores measure knowledge. Not everyone tests well. Rote answers like the ones required on tests is not education it is recitation and by itself it won't get you very far in the world.

I"m sure the children you touched have better lives than they would have had without you, and maybe they are doing better than you know. You tried. You made a difference and you still do. I wish you peace which is the best thing an old Quaker lady can offer, and rest. You did your very best. How many people can say that? K&R:kick:

[laughingliberal]

51. Great post! I think that whole thing of the test being the end all be all is asinine

Tests have a place but they sure as hell shouldn't be the single determining factor. As you said some people don't test well. By the same token, some people test very well. I've taken tests on subjects I knew next to nothing about and score passing grades just because I was born with test taking skills. This ability allowed me to skip most of high school and show up at test time. When I did show up at school, I was just there for some social activity and spent lunch time getting high behind the gym. But, I would have been a + for a teacher who was judged by today's criteria.

[gleaner]

56. Exactly right ...

education is widening the student's view of the world and helping them to develop skills and perceptions so that they can live in the world and continue to grow and learn.

Tests don't do that. But that said, I sure envy you your high school experience. ;) Evidently, though test taking wasn't your only skill. You're well educated and write a good post now. Thanks for taking a minute to comment.

[MrsBrady]

44. my grandmother was a school teacher:

she used to say
"they expected us to not ruffle any feathers, while ours were being plucked"

[LWolf]

45. I have some students right now that I'm doing my best for, and

watching them go down the drain.

A student with mental illness whose battling parents won't provide with mental health care. A student who tried to commit suicide earlier this year. A student with a behavioral disorder that we have tried, without success, to address every year for 8 years. Some students without an anchor or a compass at home, who drift through their lives with no purpose, no goals, no support, and no motivation to pick up the ball and play.

The number of things I, and their other teachers, and our principal and counselor have done to provide these students with as much support as possible is amazing within the structure and resources we work in. Still, we are not enough. :(

[RedRoses323]

46. K&R

My prayers to you.....:hug:

Note: I am a substitute teacher (5 years)

[LeftHander]

54. how does firing all the teachers at a school improve the school?

I don't get it. Yes you are always going to have not so good teachers in the mix but all the teachers deserved firing?

I don't get it.

When poor kids in poor cities are exposed to nothing but crime, drop outs hanging out and unemployment what role models do they have?

These idiots at that school boards just created a perception that students are not the reason for the existence of the schools...