This is a long article, but it’s worth your time.
How I Joined Teach for America - and Got Sued for $20 Million.
Many of the problems that Kaplowitz writes about in this piece are familiar to me. Of course, I’ve never been in a situation as extreme as his was, but the underlying problems he presents were issues that I faced in the public schools.
In my educational training, I was taught and re-taught to refrain from touching my students. Even giving hugs to students was something we were warned about… because all it takes is one person (intentionally or not) “misinterpreting” the gesture to have a lawsuit on your hands. My classmates and I were told horror stories about teachers who had a great love for students and teaching, but who were asked to leave their teaching job due to events not unlike those Kaplowitz describes.
Another problem that faces teachers today that simply disgusts me is the power that parents have over teachers. Most teachers I know are afraid of parents. Lawsuits over seemingly silly events are not uncommon, and they could easily cost a teacher his career. Parents recognize this power and try to intimidate teachers. I had a parent write me a note last year threatening to go to the “B.O.E.” about how I was being so unfair to their child. I pointed out that I was acting in accordance with my policies as described in my start-of-the-year syllabus (which the student had agreed with, signed, and the contract was in my file cabinet), and I encouraged the parent to call the Principal if my explanation was unsatisfactory. I didn’t hear anything else from this parent. I was indignant that the parent thought I could be cowed so easily, but the truth is, if I had not taken the precaution of having the students sign in agreement with the syllabus at the beginning of the school year, I would have been more nervous.
Anyway, I could write a lot more about problems in the educational system, but Kaplowitz does it better. Seriously, read the article when you can. This stuff is really happening in American schools.
Posted in Teaching
