Maybe once a year, a documentary will somehow break through the mass of superhero sequel remakes, prestige Oscar bait, and movies that star Meryl Streep Read the full post.
May 11
2010
02:50 PM ET
'Waiting for Superman' trailer: Children Left Behind?
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I am a public school teacher in a Title I school in an urban district. I never attended a public school as a student. The thing that I was impressed with is that any student can get a good education in public school, they just have to want it. The teachers are there and the resources are there if you go after them. I have been impressed with the level of dedication of the great teachers on my campus. With the proper leadership, expectation and dedication a public school campus can do remarkable things.
As I teach in Texas, unions do not have much power. Collective bargaining and striking is illegal. I am only a union member for the civil liability protection that is offers. Teachers are poorly compensated and there is no career track. I spend quite a bit on my classroom supplies as the funding system in Texas is horrific. In this state teachers may complain about a two percent raise because our insurance has gone up from four to seven percent. So, please do not take that in the press at face value. Not that our insurance is that great anyway.
Recruit form the top of college classes not the bottom, offer proper salaries and provide a career track and benefits (not simply linked to a standardized test). Tests are another issue. Do not judge my performance from a single test given a single day in the school year. In closing, treat teachers like professionals, not volunteers.
I hope that this documentary is not a promotion of charter schools. Their performance is not better, on average, than a public school. Remember, charter schools pick their students fro a pool of student that are motivated (they have applied), have fewer special education students and spend far more on administrative costs. Public school are legally obligated to teach everyone, whether they wish to be at school or not. Parents are the key. The more involved the parent, the better the success of the student, normally.