No Scapegoating Teachers Here - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Parents' Job II

Submitted by Debbie Smith, Aug 1, 2007 13:49

I agree we should not scapegoat teachers - there are many good teachers. But we should also not lay the blame of our failing public schools at the feet of parents and students. The real culprit for the decline of our public schools is the overwhelming dominance of the teachers' unions. Until we begin to openly discuss and debate the strong influences of the teachers' unions and how they must change in order to spur real reform in our public schools we will continue to let our children down. Successful schools recognize one thing - that every child, regardless of race or socioeconomic status, is capable of learning. These successful schools also demand accountability measured through meaningful testing and employ a staff of dedicated and qualified teachers who create an environment that encourages children to succeed. In order to reform our public schools we must discard the politics of the teachers' unions and support teachers while creating an environment of accountability and transparency through the adoption of school choice. Children must have the freedom to attend the school that best fits their educational needs, regardless of where they live, and parents need the piece of mind that comes with knowing that their children are not merely pawns in the promotion of union politics. For more information on school reform, visit www.paths2choice.com.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
If some children are apathetic, it's because in the age of technology, schools seems obsolete. Kids sit in classrooms learning... [MORE]	Tony S	Aug 3, 2007 00:51
What is the purpose of education? I've always thought to better society as a whole. Then, given the current structure... [MORE]	Brian	Aug 2, 2007 15:27
Brian, I agree 100%. I am middle aged and studying to become a teacher. The number of students who care... [MORE]	Rollie	Oct 20, 2007 10:17
Blaming the problems in the US on teachers and administrators does little good. After spending 16 years as a high... [MORE]	Frank Johnson	Aug 2, 2007 14:14
This article says: "Almost everything that students need to do differently takes place at home. None of it costs an additional... [MORE]	Jed Rothwell	Aug 2, 2007 13:20
Instruction in English must come first. If an American child living on an American base in germany were to apply... [MORE]	John Schuh	Aug 3, 2007 00:45
John Schuh asks: "My question is, however: How effective is the ESOL program [Rothwell] supports?" If the ESOL program is not... [MORE]	Jed Rothwell	Aug 4, 2007 17:40
That all the issues raised here are legitimate does not address the problem. After so many generations of increasingly bad... [MORE]	james wilson	Aug 2, 2007 11:29
You are right about not blaming the teachers. The unions, however, are obvious targets. Unlike the teachers, they do not... [MORE]	Gil Reeser	Aug 1, 2007 22:06
Diane Ravitch: "Until we as a society begin to recognize that students and parents must take responsibility for the part... [MORE]	Tom Shuford	Aug 1, 2007 18:41
It is indeed sad to read an opinion piece by such a respected education commentor as Diane Ravich that is... [MORE]	Betsy Combier	Aug 1, 2007 17:51
Diane Ravitch and classroom teacher David R. are right: scapegoating teachers while satisfying will not resolve America's educational crisis... [MORE]	Richard "Ricardo" Munro	Aug 1, 2007 17:26
Ms. Ravitch - I read with great interest your article on Parent's Job II and feel that, while many of... [MORE]	Ken Slentz	Aug 1, 2007 17:17
I agree we should not scapegoat teachers - there are many good teachers. But we should also not lay the...	Debbie Smith	Aug 1, 2007 13:49
Some major civil rights leaders seem to agree: Rosa Parks: "I do not question so much how to make the schools... [MORE]	Richard	Aug 1, 2007 10:58
When you become a mother, your hopes are of having a normal child with ten toes and ten fingers and... [MORE]	Marie Ribaudo	Aug 1, 2007 09:54
Ms. Ribaudo expresses a very important truth, but one we don't want to deal with. As our nation has grown... [MORE]	T Mulligan	Aug 2, 2007 11:44

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