tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020645112466916492.post5037922860575954062..comments2023-10-20T00:14:49.616-07:00Comments on Coal Region Voice: Teacher Bashing Should End!!!!Coal Region Voicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02886421333728498862noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020645112466916492.post-69746700726927132482011-04-02T11:58:42.266-07:002011-04-02T11:58:42.266-07:00I'm a TRAINEE primary school teacher in the UK...I'm a TRAINEE primary school teacher in the UK and I'm ALREADY feeling all the pressures you described in your eloquent and excellent article. I am relieved to find that somebody else is worrying about all the things that I am worrying about. It seems all the pressure and negativity is being fed right down to teacher training as politicians try to squeeze every last bit of energy and money they can from teachers and education.<br /><br />I sincerely hope that people wake up and see that almost all teachers are doing their best (there will always be people in any profession who are not), even with many faces peering in at them, many hands meddling with policy and practice, many voices criticising them at every step and many people from all walks of life claiming that they could do better. <br />To the very last group I ask you this: why don't you then? I imagine that, owing to misinformation, many throwing the stones would not succeed when placed in the glass house.<br /><br />I think teachers get so offended by teacher-bashing because of the amount of personality and personal commitment that goes into teaching. Late night planning, marking and creating/ finding resources, all the worrying over that one child who seems to be under - performing, despite your best efforts, the personal financial contribution that is expected.<br /><br />Then there is the moral expectation placed on teachers- the constant strain of trying to have a social life but knowing that at any second a story could be placed in the local newspapers- even for something ridiculous such as posting holiday snaps online.<br /><br />Well I have some food for thought:<br /><br />People don't criticise a dentist if she posts a holiday snap of herself in a bikini online. <br /><br />Accountants don't work overtime and in return receive poor pay.<br /><br />Firemen aren't expected to spend hundreds of pounds on resources for their profession. <br />Recently a teacher I know asked her school for funding for printing and paper to help with costs of resources created at home. They refused. Probably because their budgets are so tight due to the constant under-funding of education.<br />Yet I can bet if she turned up to the lesson the next day with no worksheets or resources there would be cries of "Bad teacher!" and "Look at all the holidays teachers get and yet they can't be bothered to make resources!"<br /><br />Teachers are inherently good people. If they weren't then they wouldn't do all these things for such little recognition. When was the last time you heard a teacher praised for all their hard work? When was the last time you heard of a parent thanking a teacher for supporting their child so effectively? <br />Teachers are constantly made a scapegoat for all that is wrong with society. <br />They work hard for little money (especially now the pensions and pay have been targeted by lazy Governments who can't be bothered to tax the out - of - control banks or the greedy corporations shipping workers overseas to make a profit). <br />They work hard and they rarely get a 'thank you'.<br /><br />So why am I training to be a teacher I hear you ask?<br />Because I care about the future of our young people and the future of society. I think education is the most important thing in the world. Without it we would be nowhere.<br />Seeing a child's excitement when they discover something new, hearing a child's words of praise- "Miss, you're the best!" and feeling that somehow you have made a difference to that child's future and chances of success... well that's why.<br /><br />I just wish that more was being spent on training, helping and nurturing teachers instead of over - monitoring, criticising and blaming them.Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13500107007453620298noreply@blogger.com