Author: Kate Bowers
Date: May 10, 2021
Source: Publicly Schooled
“Originally Posted May 29, 2018:
My clothes are trendy longer than the latest educational fad. Don’t get me wrong, I’m ecstatic certain teacher-fashions are long gone(Remember jump suits?). Yikes! If you didn’t wear the latest teacher clothing style, you were going nowhere in this profession.
Education reforms and remedies come and go faster than teacher fashions. So fast, in fact, teachers get left behind. One day a stork comes and plops the latest on your desk: No Child Left Behind, Common Core, Social Emotional Learning, Positive Behavior Support, Every Student Succeeds Act, Comprehensive Sexuality Education — You didn’t even know you were pregnant! — And now the latest, Critical Race Theory, is making its way from the federal level into your school. Teachers, YOU are the ones in the classroom. YOU are the one partnering with parents to provide children education. Why aren’t YOU being asked for your input?
But, there it is, needing care and attention. Who is the father of this education reform baby?! Never mind, your administrator and the rest of the district administration seem to know something about it. They’re mysterious and vague, though, because they don’t know the origins, either. That’s nothing compared to the demands you implement this new reform or else.
So, you put your shoulder to the wheel and toil on, grumbling about who thought this stuff up. Why is it on your desk, anyway? Isn’t anyone listening to you? Don’t they respect your professional capabilities? Why didn’t anyone come and actually consult with teachers about these matters? You thought someone had your back. Intuitively, you know students’ parents have been sidestepped as well.
But here you are again, pulling all nighters and changing the dirty diapers of someone else’s illegitimate-educational-reform baby.”
Kate Bowers is the recognized Teacher Shepherd for For Kids & Country. Her writings may also be viewed on her blog at Publicly Schooled.