Bash Street Pols

Could it be that some of the harping on 21st century skills and the need for 21st century schools is partly a political pretext for the ignorant and arrogant to bash and trash teachers and schools?

Just a thought in response to Teacher of the Year Anthony Mullen’s Road Diaries in Teacher Magazine.

“Teachers should be seen and not heard”.

“What do you think?” the senator asked.

Where do I begin?

I spent the last thirty minutes listening to a group of arrogant and condescending non educators disrespect my colleagues and profession. I listened to a group of disingenuous people whose own self-interests guide their policies rather than the interests of children. I listened to a cabal of people who sit on national education committees that will have a profound impact on classroom teaching practices. And I heard nothing of value.

“I’m thinking about the current health care debate, “I said. “And I am wondering if I will be asked to sit on a national committee charged with the task of creating a core curriculum of medical procedures to be used in hospital emergency rooms.”

Everyone went to school so so everyone is an expert on education. And teachers and educators are routinely dismissed and their expertise and experience cast aside.