Arne Duncan "teachers in America often come from the bottom of the academic barrel"

[Chiquitita]

156. I don't think there is anyone in this country who cares enough to stand up for teachers.

That's a sad truth. There are groups of teachers that try to defend themselves and they are not listened to or respected. It is amazing to me that educated people who vote for Democrats think things like, "Someone needs to teach the teachers how to teach." They get these ridiculous sound bites from somewhere and never realize how condescending and alienating they are to real teachers. Who needs to be continuously taught how to do their jobs? Just listen to teachers (not Duncan who has no teaching experience) to know how to fix public education. Put the money into teachers and materials (not assessments, administrators, technology, privatization).

No one needs to teach my husband how to teach his second graders. All are on free or reduced lunch and almost all are at or above grade level. He needs to have access to materials, resources and PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT time. To achieve what he achieves with his students he works 7-5 at school M-F and at least 8 hours on the weekend, grading and doing lesson plans. Kids come at 7:15 and he oversees the last one getting on the bus at 3. Planning time during the day: 35 min (plus the 2 hours he stays over which at times are taken by "data driven" meetings and other silly buzz words). HA HA HA. Unfortunately the joke is on us and our lost quality of life.