My niece is a very successful cosmetology instructor in a vocational high
school.
As a Christ-centered and godly woman, this wife, mother of four and vested
teacher always tries to identify God’s plan for her life; thus, she does
not take major decisions lightly. I was surprised to learn she is
considering ending her career, just 15 years short of retirement.
When I asked why, she said, “I’m a teacher whose no longer truly allowed
to teach.” As she expounded her view, she explained that the
administration perpetually fails to adhere to its own policies, and when
issues arise, it backs students instead of the instructor when it knows
the instructor is in the right.
Recently, as my niece was instructing her students, she noticed one of
them texting in the middle of class. (Apparently, this is a class-wide
problem she deals with on a daily basis.) The next moments unfolded like
this:
Teacher: Please put your cell phone away until class is over and try to
pay attention to what we are currently discussing.
Student: It’s my mom.
Teacher: That may be true; in which case, please inform her you are in the
middle of class and are not permitted to text during this time.
Student: You’re telling me I can’t talk to my own mother?
Following that incident, my niece implemented a “no cell phone usage”
policy in her classroom. One would think administrators would support her
decision. Instead, the student physically went to the office, crying. She
threw a temper tantrum, saying her teacher was trying to prevent her from
having contact with her own mother. More students complained. The
administrator called my niece to the office and told her there were
several concerns regarding her “teaching style.” My niece explained the
situation. She was told to lift the cell phone ban and not worry about
students who choose not to pay attention in class. She was, instead, to go
right on teaching, whether anyone was listening or not. In short, moving
forward, she was no longer to address the matter of student-behavior in
class — she was only to “teach the information she was hired to teach.”
This is the sad state of affairs in the public education system of our
nation. (I freely make this assertion because my niece’s experience is
not isolated. I know many teachers, and nearly all of them have shared
similar stories.)
Teachers are no longer supported by administrators. Students are being
given power over them. Instructors are merely there to spout information
in the hope that students will later be able to regurgitate it on tests;
which, by the way, is another major concern for my niece because test
results directly affect her pay, and if no one is even listening to what
she is saying in the classroom, chances are those scores will be quite
low.
Hmmmm…ya’ think this might be a causal factor in the rapid decline we’ve
been witnessing in our society?
I’d say, chances are good.
Judy Dudich resides in the beautiful woods of Pennsylvania, where 24 acres of land and a home-office provide the perfect setting for her children’s home-education and her own homesteading and business ventures. Life is full of blessings (and challenges!) for Judy, as a wife, mother of 10 and Grammy to six. She is a published author, whose book, “I Surrender/A Study Guide for Women” continues to encourage and support others in Christian family lifestyles throughout the world. Judy has also previously worked in the online speaking circuit. Her passion for permaculture, re-purposing, foraging and organic gardening fills her days with learning and adventure that she loves to share.