Treating Teachers as Less Than Educated Professionals...What are the true costs?

An interesting article form the New York Times on the impacts of disrespecting the teaching profession and treating teachers as less than educated and knowledgeable professionals it subtle ways such as respect, salary, and general abilities.  I am very concerned that America will not recognize and support changes in meaningful ways until it is too late for the very children we are charged to educate, nurture, support, and shape for future endeavors.  A comparative education, skill set, and knowledge base is valued much higher in the business world than the educational one.  Hence, the reason so many leave the teaching profession to pursue careers in areas where they are respected, valued, and accorded with the dignity and acclaim that recognizes what they have accomplished and their value is compensated accordingly.  When over half of the teachers in America retire in the next 2-3 years, who is going to replace them?  Very few want to enter the teaching profession for the reasons stated above and many more.  Professionals do not want a second career as a teacher because they are not treated as professionals.  Yet, these are exactly the people that our students can benefit from the most.  A disconnect exist and until it is corrected, we are at an impasse and the education of our children will continue to suffer.

The High Cost of Low Teacher Salaries

Back to School and Filling in for an Absent Teacher

After my wonderful break from reality in Agra at the Oberoi there, it was back to work albeit a bit late this morning in Kolkata.  When I arrived, I started the day with the delightful 6th grade students working on magnetic properties and experiments and then it was an exciting day of teaching all the classes (10, 8, 7, 12) of the Geography teacher who was absent.  Three teachers were absent today, so it made for an exciting and busy day.

Geography here is not just locating countries on maps, it is more of an environmental, locality, natural resources, manufacturing resources, etc. type of class.  Had quite the day of fun locating the various classrooms and teaching lessons on the fly.  Overall, it went very well and kept me busy the entire day.  I think my favorite class today was the year 12 girls.  I had them read and mark an article from the New York Times on waste-pickers in India and their formalized status and its impacts.  We had a really amazing discussion about the impacts on India's class and caste systems, on local communities, on the idea of self-respect and what it means for a person and a community.  This was one of the best moments so far of my teaching here in Kolkata.  Excellent insights from the students and a wonderful way to learn about the many variations found throughout the country.