I want one of the main points on the Teacher Town Hall on NBC's Education Nation

[Orlandodem]

to be that teachers are sick and tired of being demonized and scapegoated for our nation's education problems.

A FREE solution to all that ails our education system would be parents standing behind their children with their foot on their butts forcing them to get as good of an education as possible. There would be no need for expensive tests, the sale of our schools to the corporate world, or anything else.

Send kids to school ready and willing to learn and the problem is mostly solved. STOP BLAMING TEACHERS!

The DC Mayor already learned this lesson. Obama will be next if he doesn't learn it.

http://www.educationnation.com/index.cfm?objectid=DC9A4C20-BE68-11DF-B09C000C296BA163

[Fire1]

1. This oughta be good.

:popcorn:

[obxhead]

3. I agree.

[MichiganVote]

2. K&R

[obxhead]

4. I agree that parents need to take a bigger role in their kids

lives and need to keep their kids focused on school. They can do far more than any teacher can in the end and have that responsibility.

However, not all teachers are good. I know I had my fair share that were not fit to be teachers. So I would say stop blaming good teachers for failings that are out of their control. We need to place the blame where it belongs. It's the only way to fix the system.

[Orlandodem]

5. I am a parent before I am a teacher. I want my children to have good teachers. The fact is that

the vast majority are at least adequate.

This demonization of teachers by calling for testing testing testing and more testing is not good for education.

I am not for tying my pay or my evaluation to a test score, nor do I want my kids' teachers' evaluations/pay tied to test scores.

Obama will pay, as did the DC mayor, if this crap keeps up. It is in your interest as a Democrat to encourage Obama to change his education policies. They are an extension of the Bush policy. At this rate I can't vote for Obama in 2012 and at this rate my Congressman, Alan Grayson, will be hurt by my failure to vote in 2010. If that's what it takes for the Dems to learn that if they turn their backs on me they lose my vote, then so be it.

[obxhead]

6. I agree.

Obama should change his continuation and expansion of the insane Bush policies.

I don't see it happening, but I agree he's going down the wrong path with education.

[ejpoeta]

11. you know what all that testing does? my 6th grader has

80 minutes a day set aside to study for the ELA tests. they spend so much time preparing for these tests what else do they have time for!!!

[mzteris]

12. oh there's a sterling endorsement!

"the vast majority are at least adequate". . .


How - exactly - does the calling for testing "demonize" teachers (note: I'm against testing.)

[Hannah Bell]

14. the vast majority in every field are "at least adequate" . you must live

in the land where everyone is above average.

sick of the antidemocratic, antiamerican rhetoric from hedge fund prostitutes.

[Fire1]

7. Indeed, there is plenty of blame to go around but the teachers

and the parents are at the bottom of my list. First and foremost I blame "Federalism." Were it not for federalism, the education system across this entire nation would be on the same page and imho, that is one of the main problems. Second, on my list, are these God forsaken lobbyist who are looking out for nobody but themselves and their bottom line. Children, are nowhere in the fuckin picture! If there were NATIONAL policies (like they have for special ed) to mandate universal design and strategies across the board, indeed, there would be less pressure on teachers and more success for the students and no need for "competition!" ALL students would be getting the SAME quality education they rightly deserve.

[obxhead]

8. Excellent points.

It does seem that the kids and their education always comes dead last when any discussion comes up about our education system by our leaders.

[LWolf]

9. Who will be speaking that is likely to make that point?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9164497

[Fire1]

10. Typical. n/t

[Hannah Bell]

13. +100. If they demonize teachers, they will demonize *any* group of workers, *any* group of citizens

Profoundly undemocratic, profoundly anti-american.