I have to thank my friend, C., for sending me a link to this article. It's all about how the current "magic bullet" in education is the idea that there are superstar teachers who will fix everything. Everything she writes about her experience with that was true for me as well. The only part I would disagree on is the idea that wealthier schools somehow escape the problem of over-crowding.
I would also like to mention the one part of the education equation that is simply never mentioned in the discussion: parenting. You would not believe some of the parenting failures I've seen over the years, but nothing is done or said about it becuase that is a difficult and painful topic. Therefore we just leave it alone entirely. News flash politicians! If a child's life is falling apart at home, they do not care how stellar I am in the classroom each day. At that point all I can do is damage control.
It seems like teachers are completely expected to be nursemaids, lunch ladies, nurses and social workers in the classroom as well as somehow finding time to teach and inspire.
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