WHY BE AN EDUCATOR IN THE PRESENT SYSTEM

Education is a difficult field in which to grow. The only one way to advance is controlled by the colleges and universities of America. That would probably be ok if the universities were making any advances in the field they control. So you want to teach, then you go to college, take your courses, get a degree and then you have to pass some kind of examination to get a job. A degree is not enough because the teaching in the university is not doing its job. Its a bit like Dirty Harry telling his supervisor that his mouthwash is not making it.

One of the depressing things about education is the lack of empowerment teachers receive from administrators. Administrators are limited as to the kind of positions they have in any school. The Board of Education approves the positions. If a teacher wants to move up, the question is "move up to where?" In elementary and secondary education the only up is (and that is debatable) is administration. What can a principal do to facilitate a move of that kind? The answer is not much because upward mobility is controlled by colleges and universities. No matter how great a person might be, he/she cannot move up because of the system. Because of this, many excellent teachers choose to move to another career. Even if he/she decides to go back to college and receive an administrative degree, participating in that requirement does not guarantee one will receive what is necessary to be successful.

Presently, teachers are their worst enemy. If you are a really great teacher, your salary is no better than the poorest teacher in a school. This is because of a salary schedule that is based on the number of years you have taught in a school system. I know that negotiations became a part of schools because of poor administrators. To date, there are probably more poor administrators in the field of education than any other field. I taught a class of teachers at a local university one evening and there were 28 teachers in the class from all over the greater St. Louis area. Not one of those teacher felt any kind of appreciation or empowerment from their principal. How can one grow in that kind of environment.

One thing would help. Administrators need to show appreciation to members of his/her staff. Tell them they are doing a great job if they are. Encourage them in any appropriate way. That would at least make the environment in their building one of happy feelings. Not much good teaching goes on in a bad environment. There should be a lot of smiles in a building. Now there is a novel thought that you will unlikely hear in an administrative class at the university