Up until now, I’ve been writing about my past. For the first time in my blog, I feel compelled to use this platform and write about real-time events, because I believe these unfolding events are going to impact education in the United States in an unprecedented way. So forgive me for interrupting the flow of the Annie Baker saga, but fast-forward a few years to now, where I am working as a teacher in a public school.
Many people have raised their voices in outrage at the recent appointment and major blunder of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education, and at the risk of being redundant, I would like to add my voice to the resounding cry of opposition. Her recent tweet (asking where were the pencils) was, at the very least ignorant, or perhaps at most, insulting. If it was intended to be insulting, look out teachers and brush up your resumes because very bad things will be happening to you and your jobs in the near future. If simply ignorant, then she is obviously unqualified for the job, which is what Senator Elizabeth Warren already pointed out in Ms. DeVos’ confirmation hearing.
Why is it that, once again, a wealthy and powerful person with no adequate qualifications has been put in a position of authority over the educational system? It happens quite frequently on the state level. Politicians who have no real expertise are making decisions all the time that dictate how I do my job. DeVos’ is just the latest and the grandest in scale of all such appointments, made in the guise of “fixing” our educational system. Unfortunately, so far, every “fix” just makes the problems worse. I am increasingly being demanded to do things in my classroom that I know are neither helpful nor appropriate for my students. When are the educational issues facing our country going to be put in the hands of trained and experienced educators who actually know a thing or two about working one-on-one with our nation’s children on a daily basis?
I think policy makers, and Ms. DeVos in particular, could benefit from a little “Teacher Truth,” don’t you?