A meeting I had on Tuesday left me feeling helpless and frustrated. I think it left everyone in the meeting feeling helpless and frustrated.
The meeting wasn't supposed to be about how teachers feel about curriculum and testing requirements, but that ended up being the main topic of conversation. Teachers feel like they can't teach. They feel like their hands are tied and they feel like their principal's hands are tied and she feels like her District's hands are tied and the District actually does have its hands tied and is getting really tired of walking around, unbalanced and angry at a state government who is just doing what is mandated by a national government.
Presidential Election 2012 approaches. When Americans debate, education should be a topic that's bigger than Jesus and bigger than wrestling, bigger than the Beatles and bigger than breast implants, bigger than guns and bigger than cigarettes.
It should be a topic that's bigger. But it's not.
You're right, and I think education can be bigger than guns and cigarettes (not sure about Jesus ;-)). I'm working with other Minnesota State College Faculty to put it at the front of the conversation locally (for sure) and nationally. I'm sure we're not alone. Gotta swing these legislatures.
ReplyDelete