"Gig 601XL Builder" wrote

I have two problems with this. First, professional educators (read NEA)
are a big part of the problem.

I keep hearing "the union is the problem" mantra. Around here, the only
interaction we have with the NEA is the fact that they have good liability
insurance, and good legal programs if things really turn to **** for a
teacher. That's it. I'm not quite sure how much of an influence they are,
anywhere. They sure are not much, here.

Second how are you going to have the parental oversite without the
elections? And if you only let parents run for the offices or worse only
let parents vote then you get into the whole taxation without
representation thing.

Yeah, there are things to be worked out, for sure. The thing is, I don't
think parents should have real control over any situation, or they will end
up being a board of education with a different name, which is not what I
would want to see.

The whole point is that professional educators that know education should be
running the show, with parents giving guidance and sugestions, only. No
real power. If everyone says what we have is not working, why not try
something new?

That is a problem with all elected governments. (talking about new people
coming on every two years)

Yes, but when the future of our next generation is at stake, we need
something better than what government as usual is giving us, don't you
think? Also, what I see from far too many board of education members, is
that they are there with an ax to grind, and that has no place in deciding
how our children are educated.

We need to see consistancy. The programs come and go so rapidly, no program
ever has a chance to succeed, before it is changed. Things take time to get
going, and see how they work. If they don't work, then change them, or toss
them out. Changing them because a new group has come on in control needs to
be changed.

Most school administrators come up from the ranks of teachers.

It is remarkeable how quickly they forget what is going on in the
classroom.

It does help when they were a good teacher, I will admit. The very worst
administrators are the ones that went straight through to administration
without ever spending any time in the classroom.

I admit that I do not have all the answers on improving education, unlike
some others that have been spouting their own line of fertilizer. I do feel
I know what some of the problems are, however, and many other teachers and
people that are close to education have echoed some of the things I have
stated. We all can't be wrong, can we?

If I did have all of the answers, or a majority of them, I would not be
teaching construction in NC, but instead would be upwardly mobile in the
national education scene. I am confident that I know that some things I
have heard will not work, though.
--
Jim in NC