WSJ isn’t responsible for the invention of the stupid idea, though. Look at the methodology of the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports on which the study is based — apparently education systems, schools and school districts, report that teachers work a 7.5-hour day.
If educational administrators are clueless on this point, what the hell good are they?
Daniel Boorstin, in his trilogy The Americans, and other histories note that way back in the day the idea was that the teacher in town would be the best educated, and probably the smartest guy. The teacher was often a local pastor. American denominations set up colleges — like Harvard and Princeton — to provide the education for preachers. The curriculum was heavy on history, heavy on math, heavy on literature, included geology and natural history — all to make sure that the guy was well-versed in the real world. Religious topics were reserved for graduate study.
How far have we come when teachers are the least respected, not always the best educated, sometimes the poorest paid people in town? And religious people often support eviscerating the schools and holding teacher pay down?
I should reread Karl Kaestle’s “Pillars of the Republic” which is the best history I’ve read of the development of public education in the US. Did he write about the transition you are referring to? I think so, but I’ll reread (maybe over this coming vacation)
I don’t know how much quality time my family thinks I spend with them when I sit locked away with papers and books every evening until after 10.
An important comparison missed in the article–teachers must wait until a bell rings to go the the bathroom. No other profession has this issue.
Subway conductor? Bus driver?
college educated professional!
Of course you are right. Still lousy for anyone, professional or not.
WSJ isn’t responsible for the invention of the stupid idea, though. Look at the methodology of the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports on which the study is based — apparently education systems, schools and school districts, report that teachers work a 7.5-hour day.
If educational administrators are clueless on this point, what the hell good are they?
Is this the legacy of teaching being “women’s work”?
In any event, administrators, the gov’t, the WSJ, they all know how much we work. There is an information war against teachers.
“Women’s work?”
Daniel Boorstin, in his trilogy The Americans, and other histories note that way back in the day the idea was that the teacher in town would be the best educated, and probably the smartest guy. The teacher was often a local pastor. American denominations set up colleges — like Harvard and Princeton — to provide the education for preachers. The curriculum was heavy on history, heavy on math, heavy on literature, included geology and natural history — all to make sure that the guy was well-versed in the real world. Religious topics were reserved for graduate study.
How far have we come when teachers are the least respected, not always the best educated, sometimes the poorest paid people in town? And religious people often support eviscerating the schools and holding teacher pay down?
Has real liberalism died in this nation?
I should reread Karl Kaestle’s “Pillars of the Republic” which is the best history I’ve read of the development of public education in the US. Did he write about the transition you are referring to? I think so, but I’ll reread (maybe over this coming vacation)