For Some Teachers, Strain Runs Deeper Than Budget Cuts
When Liz Peterson became an educator 14 years ago, she thought of teaching as a form of social justice. She entered the profession because she wanted to help close the achievement gap between poor students and their peers from more affluent backgrounds.
But in August, as the new school year began, the Teach For America alumna found herself somewhere she had never imagined: a private school classroom.
“I never ever, ever considered teaching at a private school,” Peterson said. “That was never a thought in my mind.”
Since the Legislature eliminated more than $5 billion in funding from public education ...
Comments (12)
Jalapeño Schwartz via Texas Tribune on Facebook
So good this is coming to light!
Todd Humphreys via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I have 2 kids in Tx public school the rules & regs are a waste of everyone's time.
Texas Parents Opt Out of State Tests via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Teacher/student burn-out is a SERIOUS problem that could be reduced if teachers were allowed to teach and students were given opportunities to learn meaningful material. This perverse fixation on data, test scores and accountability will not end until parents take a stand against it.
gypsy314 ne
Sooner we unload freeloaders like illegal aliens from tax payer funds and the unions are removed the teachers and parents can educate the children. For a whole lot less money.
blanca fogleman
Wow! I cannot believe that there is finally an article that sheds light on the real underlying reason that students and teachers are leaving the classroom. Standardized testing and its improper focus dominates all teaching in public school. Just read the buzz words in articles. Instead of conversation about instruction and curriculum it is about how high the scores are and how we will sanction teachers when their student's have low STAAR scores. So there you are, a teacher in a classroom, wanting to teach but instead you know that your future and the future of your students depends on the results of THE standardized test. So you to teach to the test. They say it is for accountability; no it is for justifying the money spent on buying a new test. The logic of a tougher more "rigorous" test is not logical. If a student does not do well on a test you do not keep giving a harder test. Instead you look at your lessons and see where you missed something, then you reteach. When the focus is on lessons and instruction students will learn. That is why I went to private school. Publishers also provide teacher's editions for private school. Their versions do not include the educational babble and confusion that runs through public school teacher's editions. Public school editions have to align with the STAAR/TAKS. This is why vouchers just might get through the legislature soon. The public school environment has become toxic for students and teachers.
Lori Trammell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The cuts needed to be made at the admin level...not the classroom.
D W
if we were really really serious about cutting the cost and increasing kids education, we would address it by doing things like either consolidating school districts (by combining districts in geographical areas or by combining back office functions, these would reduce the costs a great deal as the remaining districts would have a lot more purchasing power than now). the other ways to cut costs is by having out door sporting events during day, there by cutting utility costs. the savings from these measures could then be used to improve student attainment.
its all good and well to think that generic testing of students attainment might show how well teachers are doing. but it doesn't, what it shows is how well the student, parents and teachers are doing. and is more reflective of students valuation of education. and their parents. while teachers can have some impact on it, its not as big as they only see the students for part of a day, not the whole day
Rob D'Amico via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I find this odd: "....Peterson described a nerve-wracking spring as her colleagues waited to know the extent of state budget cuts. She said she did not view them as the root of issues that prompted her to leave public schools." It may not seem like the "root of issues,' but it's all related and it's all coming from the top--ultra conservatives in the Texas Legislature. Defund public education, continue with punishing accountability systems that put intense pressure on districts/principals/teachers to teach the test, do nothing to address the impacts of poverty, and of course, push tax dollars out of schools with vouchers for private schools.
Gretchen N Scott Alarcon via Texas Tribune on Facebook
@ Lori, In our district that accounts for .94% of our total budget. Not going to get very far closing a 10% reduction (our district's net reduction for the biennium) just on admin. That's assuming you think it is a good idea to run a $65M annual budget (our district) with zero executive management.
Glenda Bell
Please, continue to peel this onion further back. Re: Rob D'Amico's comment - Defund public education, continue with punishing accountability systems that put intense pressure on districts/principals/teachers to teach the test, do nothing to address the impacts of poverty, and of course, push tax dollars out of schools with vouchers for private schools.
I would add: Skim off the most talented teachers from public into private schools by making private schools the more attractive work enviornment. Another factor that affects whether to choose a career in education and the delivery of content is the disingenuous influence by the state Board of Education on content that can or cannot be taught to the children of Texas. If Texas wants to lead, then we must have top notch public schools that produce well-informed graduates.
Beegowl Seeker
Others have commented on the demoralizing aspect of high-stakes testing. I submit that one of the more demoralizing aspects of the high-stakes system is the required secrecy and enforced confidentiality surrounding the administration of the test. Teachers are forced to sign an oath that they will rat out any violators of the confidentiality of the test under threat of losing their teaching credentials. Each test booklet is individually numbered, counted and issued to a teacher who must sign for the tests. Woe be to a teacher who loses a test. And what kind of moral dilemma is encountered when a teacher witnesses an accidental violation of security rules, of which there are many? The entire system is authoritarian to the extreme. Testing is essential in teaching although it may not take the form of a written test. High-stakes testing is not the way to determine progress for individual students.
David Spratt
So did Liz Perterson eventually succumb and sell out to " The System" in the interest of self preservation and self interest or just realize the reality of the situation?
Teachers want to be placed on the same level as Mother Teresa or missionaries working to right the social injustices of human history,,,, but in reality teaching is just a job and the purpose is to instruct and educate youth so that when they enter the workforce they will be able to earn a living .
You are in the business of producing a product,,,, viable , employable individuals who are able to go out into the world make it on their own and survive while being productive members of a society , paying their taxes and contributing towards the common good.Personal enrichment for students or teachers can be a byproduct of the process but is not the primary reason nor should there be a focus on it. The focus should be placed on producing an educated and knowledgeable population to be placed into the workforce.
Ask nearly anyone who has a job do they feel appreciated and most will tell you they are overworked and underpaid. Appreciation only goes so far as " What did you do for me today?" What you did yesterday or the day before means nothing and everyone is just one misstep or mistake away from being fired.Welcome to the REAL WORLD !
Abolishing the Federal Department of Education would be a start. This does not mean all Federal $ would dry up,,, just that there would be no more " One size fits all" regulations coming down from Washington. Block grants made to the states would allow that money to be spent within the state the way states see fit. Vouchers , Private schools and charter schools would allow for the best educational institutions to thrive and those that fall short will not. Across the country teachers unions fight to maintain a system that is failing students but that is in the interest of the unions to maintain.
George Bush was well intentioned with " No Child Left Behind," but unintentional consequences to well intentioned legislation seems to be the norm. Lets reelect someone who sees government as the ultimate solution to all our problems and the legislation of " Fairness" as our salvation.
20 years ago PTA meetings were filled to capacity. Today many of these meetings are lucky to have 12 people show up. Some schools have had parent night and NOBODY SHOWED UP !!!!!
Teachers consider their profession to be more lofty than it really is, and most of which you take responsibity for, is really not your responsibility.
After being interviewed by the school administration, the prospective teacher said:
'Let me see if I've got this right. 'You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning.
'You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.
'You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a chequebook, and apply for a job.
'You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the final exams.
'You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Spanish or any other language, by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.
'You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile.
'You want me to do all this, and then you tell me . . . I Can't Pray!