Although most districts in Illinois have not yet gone this far, this is definitely the trend.

Children of the wealthy are taught economics and Latin in their private prep schools, to prepare them for careers in finance and the legal professions. Children of the working and middle classes are taught how to take standardized tests, to prepare them for careers as wage slaves and prison inmates.

The damned proles got uppity once they were educated.

that current and retired teachers have the same tales to tell. I would have been thrilled to work alongside this gentleman or have my kids in any class he taught. Thanks for posting this.

K&R

Some of them took early retirement because they said that the new rules had taken all the enjoyment out of teaching and were actually harmful to some kids.

Gone, gone. gone.
the John Birchers are achieving their goal.

The parents wanted it, the kid wanted it, and it was not costing the school any money. That seemed to have been the last straw for this teacher. Such a tragedy for the kids this decent man could be helping.

I'm sure they the "educrats" would consider it an issue of legal liability as well as something that falls outside the zone of their system of measurements

I have recently retired here in Arizona for similar reasons. Public schools no longer educate citizens. They have become profit centers for test publishers and propaganda mills for so-called conservative values. Teachers and students are being bullied and crushed.

What this teacher has had to experience seems to be a part of the regressive shifts this country is embracing in many other ways from the lack of sensible gun laws, to the stolen voting rights and elections, to the entire militarization of our nation, etc, etc, etc. Our country appears to be in a free fall, and it is truly painful to witness.

approach to education and a lot of other things. No doubt the educrats -as this teacher calls them - would think they are following an evidenced based approach to education. They write the criteria whereby their testing proves that their testing is working.

What they're following are the kickbacks they get from the huge corporations which sell school districts millions of dollars worth of standardized tests and test preparation materials. And don't forget that George W. Bush's younger brother being an important executive at one such corporation was a big reason for instituting NCLB in the first place.

into the 3rd world statis...

So the community decides to accept this teacher's resignation and the loss of their children's education instead of hiring the appropriate support educators at the upper administration level. Apparently the community needs to scrutinize the school board members before the election along with the contracted administrative support staff. How many parent curriculum committees are set up?

Could people read a book on the sociology of education? No, blame and destroy a teacher (and your child) instead. Let education program profiteers do the preparing for you.

Finally, disease, war and war politics (like we have today), reduces an ignorant population just like in the early history of the world.

so goes a "free" nation or any nation for that matter.

How sad to be a child in the educational milieu this teacher describes.

to the demonstorably flawed NCLB and the non-classroom tempered Arne Dunce'n. Yeah, cause like non-stop warring and the growing surveillance state, and activist judges on the SCOTUS - everything ol' W gave is works so damned good!

The new world order (which Hedges describes as Plutocratic feudalism) is the direction we are headed and of course the plutocrats want our children to be prepared to: ask no questions, follow all rules and essentially behave as though they were widgets produced on the factory floor we used to call a classroom. I am retired and could have worked a few more years but the testing was slowly taking over my classroom and draining all the fun and color and opportunity for a true education instead of training to pass a test. So I retired and looking back I and the children I taught were like a frogs in water being slowly brought to a boil as everything that I valued and they enjoyed about education was slowly being removed from my classroom, year by year, test by test.
Best of luck to you Mr Carpenter. The first year is the hardest when you will miss your students and colleagues and the school community if you were in a good one like I was. I highly recommend trying to find a volunteer position where you can still work with children. That has been a good move for me - working with my church youth group and some community tutoring groups as well.

I know many former teachers, for just the reasons you describe. One current teacher describes her job as "training dancing monkeys". What a sad commentary on the work done by dedicated, concerned educators such as you. Bless you for caring!

this year. It's an utter fallacy that the kids will be doing any kind of "work" during this feasting period. I take attendance, lunch count, and socialize with my class to a certain degree while they eat. I'm glad this poor man saw the morning breakfast period for what it should have been: a socializing period that actually *helps* the kids concentrate throughout the day. I stopped using recess as a bargaining chip for behavior problems not long ago, since it didn't change anything and kids need to get that energy out. There is one exception: poor behavior ON the playground. Then, they lose the privilege, but it is directly linked to the behavior in that environment.

As an aside, I don't know the living standards where he lives, but DAMN he made a lot more annually than I do. Granted, he's been working since 1999, but I make almost half that and I've been teaching since 2006. I wouldn't be surprised if they wouldn't let him tutor on his own time so he'd become despondent and quit, thus saving them money on a new teacher's salary. The education world these days makes me very cynical.

Last edited Sat Mar 2, 2013, 05:50 PM - Edit history (1)

getting his message out than if he had been allowed to read his resignation letter to the Providence, Rhode Island School Board.

Thank goodness I did not have those restrictions..taught high school for over 25 years..history..tried so many unusual odd things, that...the kids ...adults..remember them...15 years after I left..like the day we took a field trip outside the class.
......we walked outside to the park sorrounding the school...and hugged trees..yes we did..gorgeous fall day..perfect weather..inredible color..so that is what we did...some students understood, and some thought I was nuts...so what??

if he is lucky - This is an older teacher with several years of experience. Still even that he is willing to give up rather than put up with what is being force on teachers all over the country.

That puts him into the top 10% or so. He's wealthy enough that he can afford to quit and even offer his services for free.

In any case, I think this guy is pretty cool for taking a stand like this.

i hope some change ensues as a result of this going viral

Much the same from "surviving" teachers back in my school, I mean I haven't even asked them about school, they just blurt it out in pain and distress. In my 30 years I was very lucky and so were my students, but now...Oh baby, some big changes gotta happen' very soon. I fear they won't. Thank you Douglas for a great letter, may it be heard by millions and make a difference.

kids with limited income a better education. The charter school in my area still go on field trips, celebrate birthdays and have
parties. One size teaching does not fit all. I wish there was more support for people who are trying to make a difference.

I am not saying all charters are good, but I think the notion that they are all bad is equally as damaging.

That is awful, terrible, and against everything we stand for here.
Most, higher inexperienced cheaper staff. enuf

schools can no longer provide. They can have their own curriculums and they can allow for different time off and celebrations.
No half days ( which parents hate), holidays coinciding with teacher planning days to give parents a 4 day holiday. Pets in classrooms, with tortoises and chickens that the entire school gets to enjoy and learn how to care for these animals.

Field trips and extra help for those in need. Sound too good to be true. No it exists, and unfortunately it is a charter school that
provides it.

Many parents that have experienced a good charter ( who are democrats) can not rail against them as they are providing
the education kids need. Unlike the local public school which no longer has a PE teacher. These things matter and while I support the unions, I support my kids more. They go to the school that is going to provide the best education that my money can not buy.