Quit whining; focus on improving schools

[ilbegone]

Interesting opinion piece in the Press Enterprise by an old school and presumably retired teacher:

Quit whining; focus on improving schools

March 30, 2011

By RANDY DONG

Having taught for a number of years in junior high and high school, I feel that I am qualified to share some insight regarding teachers and students.

First of all, anyone who has only been involved in education and not ever worked a real job in business or some type of industry where income is based on production is totally clueless about the real world.

All these pampered teachers who have never worked in a business to see what it takes to generate jobs and revenue need that experience.

Those teachers who have worked in business are usually not the whiney ones who complain about how tough they have it. They acknowledge that what they get in terms of vacation time, sick leave, tenure, pensions and other benefits is an unbelievable deal.

Unfortunately, teachers today think they're entitled. Who among us, though, has not worked hard or sacrificed? What makes teachers any different than the rest of us in that regard? We all could say we deserve more money.

What is different, though, is this: If teachers were paid depending on results, like the rest of us are, they would not deserve squat when comparing current students to those who graduated in the '50s and '60s.

Enough money

When my aunt began her teaching career in the '50s, her beginning salary was $2,200 her first year. My first year teaching in 1971, I made $8,800 and still managed to buy a truck and a stereo, learned how to scuba dive and continued my education without a loan.

My daughter-in-law in her first year of teaching made more than $40,000.

Throwing money at the problem is not the solution. So what is? We need to focus on the school environment.

First, we need to get rid of social promotion. Every year we graduate students who have an entitlement mentality. They have never known failure, have no work ethic and take no pride in what they do.

We need to hold back kids who aren't making the grade and get rid of the students who will not work. Kids don't need to feel good because they exist. They need to learn how to find satisfaction in work and in the joy of learning.

They cannot expect the life they live within the safe womb of education to continue forever. They need to learn how to get promoted in business, not expect to drive along the easy road that runs through government-sector jobs. America is not going to be innovative if we do not promote an atmosphere of initiative in our schools.

Second, we should not expect everyone to go to college. We should not coddle students who refuse to try and we must divorce ourselves from the notion that somehow they will magically turn into college material. Fact is, a good craftsman can earn more than a doctor in today's market anyway. It takes all types to make a great country.

Work and learn

Unproductive students only hinder teachers and other students who want to work and learn. No one who works and is willing to try is a failure, but to do nothing and be promoted or rewarded anyway is not right.

By keeping students under a constant umbrella of protection, we are creating irresponsible, lazy young adults.

Teachers can produce good and productive graduates, but not in today's environment. We need to take concrete step to produce better students. So let's focus on that, teachers, and stop whining like spoiled brats.

Randy Dong is a resident of Riverside.

http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/...1.1d6ac45.html

This opinion piece by Randy Dong does not indicate affiliation or agreement with any organization.