This is my first article in a series of A to Z concerns of public education. I am very passionate about my job and would choose no other career. However there will always be imperfections and things that we would like to change. My first concern that I would like to address is the attitude of the general public in my community toward education. A is for attitude.
In my area the attitude toward public education is not as supportive as I would like it to be. Actually it is not necessarily the attitude toward public education that is not desirable, but the attitude toward education in general. Many parents have a very ‘old fashioned’ opinion about school. Because they did not complete high school or go to college, they do not push their children to succeed in education.
While this is not the attitude of all of the community, teachers are not held in high regards in society such as doctors and political leaders.
Because teachers receive summer vacation and other holiday vacations, many believe that teachers work very little. However, these individuals do not realize how much time is spent on our jobs outside of the eight to three time period. There are many weekends that I return to school or bring work home. I also spend much of my own money on my students and supplies for them.
It is also difficult for our community to understand the growing increase in standards being taught at younger ages. Many still think we should only play in kindergarten. They view us more as ‘babysitters’ for children.
The increase in technology has also been a huge adjustment.
It does seem that attitudes are slowly changing for the better. I can understand that parents want to compare their children’s educational experience to the one that they had. However in today’s time, it is almost impossible to make a comparison of the two.
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Parent Involvement: Primary Verses Middle
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Perks of Public Education: A = Assemblies