Whom the Candidates Listen to on Education

Why should teachers be advisors?

Why in the world does everybody think we should take policy direction from front-line teachers? Do we develop war strategy based on the thoughts of army privates? Do we set the menu of a restaurant based on direction from line cooks? Do we set the strategy for a national business based on feedback from the outside sales staff or the accounting department?

Why anyone believes this is beyond me.

Everyone loves to get higher pay, no argument there. However, paying me even half a million a year doesn't mean I'm going to be a better teacher if I'm still denied the resouces I need to do my job and my children are denied the services they need to do theirs. Taking away recess and music doesn't make them study any harder or become any smarter, either. Also, how useful is it that out of 180 days of school, my kids are spending 67 of them sitting for mandated exams?

Educational Theory

I think Terry''s question is quite valid. So many of the people who are steering the "industry of education" are *former* teachers. Even district administrators rarely go into the classroom anymore, and only for brief "drop-ins". Drop-ins don't cut it when you want the whole picture. Also, if you're consulting and have been out of the classroom for more than five years, unless you work directly with teachers--not with administrators--consider yourself well on the road to uselessness. Your memories are not what is happening in my classroom today. If people don't listen to teachers and don't come and see who are children are, what they are doing and what their needs are and ACT ON WHAT THEY SEE, no amount of theorizing, planning, strategizing or governmental mandate is ever going to help or ever be meaningful.

Just So You Know -Michael Johnston Teaches

Michael Johnston is a teacher. Michael Johnston did Teach for America in Mississippi, worked with underprivliged and at-risk children there and in Colorado. Michael Johnston is also a Yale Law Graduate who teaches principles about education and the law at the University of Denver. Michael Johnston started a high school in an underpriviliged neighborhood in Colorado and teaches those children everyday of his life. Michael Johnston is not a politician. He is an educator. He has devoted his enitre life to education. He happens to be one of my best friend's husband so I know this for a fact. I don't know those other people, but this article was not written to really give accurate biographies on these people. Michael Johnston is an everyday hero. He affects the lives of many children with no hope everyday. He is amazingly intelligent and has great vision. I stand behind him 100%. He is a good man.

Teachers?

Terry, if you did your research, you'd find that many of the people listed above ARE teachers or were teachers for quite some time.

What I find interesting is that Clinton listens to the Unions, McCain listens to the architects of No Child Left Behind, and only Obama has an independent, forward-thinking group guiding his policy.

Whom the cadidates Listen to on Education

Anyone but me (a teacher) think it is wrong that none of them listen to TEACHERS??? Why are we so disrespected that no one wants our opinion....oH they'll tell us how higly respected the profession is...but our thoughts and ideas don't count.

Do your really want education reform that works? Ask those of us who do the job, not think tank members, or state superintendents!

Turn your school over to the experts --

The educated, trained, experienced practioners of education. Take control away from the politicians.Put the most dedicated professional people in charge. Tell your school's teachers to elect one of their number to be the Principal Teacher In Charge. Let them set their goals and leave them free to achieve them. Let them evaluate their own departments. Let them find workable solutions for problems and sensible assistance for problem students. Get the government bureaucrats out of the classrooms. The government is destroying education in favor of training schools to make worker bees for the corporations. Education is from educare - to educe, to bring forth what is latent in the student. When you go in a classroom, there are only two questions to ask, "What is best for the student," and "Is this the best use I can make of the student's time."