The truly educated become conscious. They become self-aware. They do not lie to themselves. They do not pretend that fraud is moral or that corporate greed is good. They do not claim that the demands of the marketplace can morally justify the hunger of children or denial of medical care to the sick. They do not throw 6 million families from their homes as the cost of doing business.Chris Hedges
Hey...I have an idea! Let's not defund education. Perhaps that will give us a chance to turn this ship around before it tilts on its axis.
And let's support teachers who want to (and know how to) teach kids--not just teach kids how to take tests.
I've always been a supporter of public education. I used to be a high school teacher. I have many friends and relatives who are in the profession.
How about we pay them what they are worth--especially since they hold the future in their trust.
I'm just sayin'....
Posts
4 comments:
Hear, hear
I think lots of people have had that idea, but the powers-that-be can't seem to figure out how to make it happen while they are still focused on "the economy." I say screw the economy. It will figure itself out while we are attending to our kids.
Maybe if we pay attention to kids and education, some of them will be able to figure out how to fix the mess...even if the economy doesn't sort itself out.
Pundits, researchers and business people keep saying the US is falling hopelessly behind in education. Then many of those same folks advocate cutting education funding. Having lived with a teacher for many years, and put two children through public schools, I know there are good teachers and bad teachers.
What amazed me while my children were growing up was how many stellar teachers they enjoyed--people who could have gone almost anywhere, and not just to teach, and been paid truly living wages. Instead, they chose to teach in one of the poorest funded states in the country, at that time.
Yes, there are bad apples--people who have no respect for the children they teach, and they can leave lasting scars on each batch they get. But, oh they were the exception. Most teachers are absolute heroes in my book.
I've asked this question before, and I'll keep asking it: What if we closed the prisons and used the money to build schools instead? Let's take it further: What if we paid teachers as much as we pay prison guards?
Post a Comment