If You can read this, thank a teacher!

[Diva]

And I just saw a story on the power of music in the life of an autistic child, whose mother believed in her and fought for her, even though she herself was fighting cancer.

This child, Stephanie ~ who lives in southern California ~ had a passion for opera, it seemed. And sang "Ave Maria" at her mother's memorial service.

Yeah....let's kill music, et al, in our schools.

Snowy....it is a sad day. I'm sorry to hear this.

NJ...while she may not have been paid at the time, and unpaid, she was/is still a teacher. <smile> Don't You smirk at me, girl, or I'll spank You..... corporal punishment lives! LOL!

[blush]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_498003.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/ed...n/13texas.html

We can debate the effects of these articles.
We can debate the loss of teachers.
We can debate the decline of schools.

It doesn't mean shit unless we get out into our local community and GET INVOLVED in the schools. It is PUBLIC education. Most of the people who have control of curriculum, school boards, and textbook content are elected. Unfortunately, most of us would rather complain than go to a board meeting or go to a public textbook meeting or vote these assholes out of office.

If you care, back it up, and get involved. As an educator, I'm damn sick of being told what's wrong with our schools and watching election after election go by with very little voter turnout. I'm sick of PTA meeting with only a handful of parents in attendance.

The special interest groups know our apathy and are banking on the fact that no one will stop them. In Texas, they have gotten their foothold in pretty well. Unfortunately, we are a big state. Most school districts follow our lead. So this disease will spread until we stop it.

[Nat]

The teacher who "taught" me to read was a horrible, mean, snippy, condescending woman who put me in a corner facing away from the class and told my parents she thought I belonged in special ed. Sooooooo, I'm afraid I don't feel hugely grateful to her.

But, I am hugely grateful for the vast majority of teachers I had growing up, and I am hugely grateful for the very important role they play in our society. I am sure being a teacher has its rewards, but even a mediocre teacher has applied her/himself greatly to the profession and has made many personal sacrifices in order to serve society.

So - many thanks. I sure hope Austin doesn't lay off a single teacher.

[Diva]

Originally Posted by Nat

The teacher who "taught" me to read was a horrible, mean, snippy, condescending woman who put me in a corner facing away from the class and told my parents she thought I belonged in special ed. Sooooooo, I'm afraid I don't feel hugely grateful to her.

But, I am hugely grateful for the vast majority of teachers I had growing up, and I am hugely grateful for the very important role they play in our society. I am sure being a teacher has its rewards, but even a mediocre teacher has applied her/himself greatly to the profession and has made many personal sacrifices in order to serve society.

So - many thanks. I sure hope Austin doesn't lay off a single teacher.

Ok, Nat, but You know what my point was...<smile> The mean and snipping condecending witch doesn't count....

And sadly, AISD will be laying off teachers....they say MOST of the layoffs are peripheral positions (aides, office personnel, etc.)...."most".

It is a sad day.....for whatEVER the reason......

[Mrs. Strutt]

Floridians have been battling Senate Bill 6, started by that train wreck, former governor Jeb Bush, which would have made it easier to fire teachers and linked their salaries/merit increases to student performance. Thank God Charlie Crist finally vetoed the damned thing last week after the huge uproar among Florida voters:

"The incredible outpouring of opposition by teachers, parents, students, superintendents, school boards and legislators has greatly influenced my decision today," Crist said.

We CAN make a difference if we do raise our voices and get involved.