Obama Outlines Plan for Education Reform
I just finished reading President Obama’s plan for educational reform. Much of what he said has already been said and much of what he proposes may effect change. However; his comments, proposals and promises are as flawed as those of countless past educational reformers. Due to budget shortfalls almost 20,000 American teachers have been given pink slips this year. For the 2009-2010 school year our schools will be under funded, short of teachers and students will be taught in over crowded classrooms. Some districts will be forced to eliminate all athletic programs. I wonder if the $600 billion dollars spent on the war in
See: http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home
President Obama continued by praising Charter Schools, proposing merit pay and calling for the removal of bad teachers. These are hardly new ideas. Charter Schools are a real enigma. They are like semi-private schools in the public school system. Charter Schools allow for more freedom and innovation in the teaching and learning process. Charter Schools are a reaction to the rules, regulations and heavy handed interference of local, state and federal mandates. Why not allow all public schools the same level of freedom that Charter Schools enjoy?
Merit pay in the public school system is absurd. Arguments for merit pay are sometimes linked to the “corporate world”. Well, in the corporate world poor functioning or failing employees are terminated. We do not terminate failing students in our schools. When I taught, the students in my classes who failed failed for a variety of reasons: unruly behavior, poor attendance, bad attitude, failure to do homework and disinterested and uninvolved parents. These are all factors I had little or no control over. I was a classroom teacher, not a police officer, truant officer, or foster parent. Should teachers be labeled “bad” for this kind of student/parent behavior? Should this kind of student/parent behavior affect a teacher’s pay or cause termination?
Like so many other educational reformers President Obama placed far too little importance on the role of parents in their child’s lives. He has hinted at the role of parental responsibility in a child’s education; but not nearly as strong as the role demands. Parents must see schools as more than day care. Parents must see that their children, regardless of grade level, are prepared each day to do their best in school. Parents need to assure that their children are properly fed and clothed. Student’s time on the phone, the computer and TV must be controlled and monitored. Assigned homework must be completed at home
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Finally, President Obama wants bad teachers removed. Well, this may come as a surprise to Mr. Obama; but good teachers also want bad teachers removed. Individuals without the necessary personal and professional skills to teach put a strain on good teachers and have a negative influence on both staff and students. The solution or answer is simple - administrative involvement. In all schools there are procedures for administrative warnings, evaluations, interventions, corrective actions, and even termination of bad teachers. The problem in too many schools is the reluctance, inability, or refusal of administrators to follow these procedures.
Too often teacher unions or associations are blamed for protecting bad teachers. Nothing is further from the truth. All a union or association will do is see that proper procedures are followed. If administrators will leave the comfort of their offices and observe and evaluate poor performing teachers then a case can be made for removal.
Finally, the educational playing field must be leveled. It is absolutely unfair to speak of quality education for all students when the state of
