Subject: Time Magazine attacks teachers!
To whom it may concern,
It is extremely upsetting to see the cover of the next issue of Time Magazine when it attacks an occupation that is an essential public service that directly impacts the communities that the individuals are employed in.
Please consider the following:
- Within the past 5 years there have been a number of teachers that have been killed doing their job in defense of students during school shootings. Would you write an article attacking police officers? Rescue workers?
- Teaching has the lowest pay for the amount of education required and these educators are often swimming in school loans to make, on average $41,000/year. Compare that to the top education system on the planet (Finland) where teacher salaries average around $100,000/year more than in the United States. These are not positions that a person signs on for light-heartedly.
- Your cover is wrong. It is not "nearly impossible" to fire bad teachers. In fact there is, in every district, contract conditions that allow a teacher to be removed. It is the district's choosing whether they wish to exercise these conditions. It is a lengthy process but please consider that a teacher works under state practices that originate from politicians that have not stepped foot in a classroom since they were in high school. They subscribe to practices brought on by private business that claim to have the latest and greatest techniques for education. Common core is a perfect example. Tenure allows a teacher to challenge administration and elected officials without fear of losing their livelihood. Why? Because we are the ones in the classroom spending our time with the children that are data points to everyone else. Including your publication. Besides the apology to teachers, I wish to take this time to ask for you to apologize to every American student for treating them as soulless data while you're at it.
- Instead of writing how its near impossible to remove teachers compare how hard it is to remove an elected official before the end of their term. Namely, the supreme justices that, arguably have the most power in our government of checks and balances. A teacher is far easier to remove and that is a mistake.
- Are there bad teachers? Yes. In any profession, including journalism, there is a small percentage of employees that are not meeting the requirements of their position. I emphasize a small percentage and in EVERY occupation. To focus solely on teachers and to use it as a means to remove an essential tool that defends students is poor, biased, sensationalized journalism.
I personally am a teacher rated as "Highly Effective" within the standards of APPR and I do not feel out of line when I say that I live up to the standard each and every day. I ask you to please apologize for this article. As I say to my students, it is one thing to make a mistake it is something completely different to close your mind and not consider correcting that mistake. Better than an apology, I ask you to please go into 100 classrooms throughout our country, and tell me how many "bad" teachers you come across compared to the most passionate, compassionate, and driven individuals you have ever met.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Sincerely, Jason Brownell
Believe
There is
Good
in the World
Jason Brownell
8th Grade Science Teacher
Class of 2015 Co-Advisor
ECO Club Advisor
East Rochester Schools
Room 319