For the first time since 1969 when Phi Delta Kappan (PDK) started polling the opinion of Americans on public school education,
a majority now would not want their child to become a teacher in a public school. Here in Fairfax county, Virginia, it is the first school day. Hearing that most parents now desire their children not to choose the teaching profession as a career is disheartening. On September 5, the National Teachers' Month will begin in the Philippines. Sure to dampen this celebration is the recent death of a newly hired kindergarten teacher, Shannen Espino. The death is a suicide. According to the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, "Espino teaches two classes from 7am–4pm, even her lunch breaks are usually spent in the Office of the Principal doing tasks especially assigned to her; she prepares different logs, multiple lesson plans per day, worksheets which she herself must provide; she underwent 3–4 observations since her start last June which is brought about by the latest addition to teachers' workload."
We need teachers. We all recognize the importance of basic education in a society. And yet, we are grossly marginalizing the teaching profession. And here in America, we do not even want our own children to take up teaching.
Comments
Post a Comment