HOPE, WISH, DREAM!
HOPE, WISH, DREAM!
Author of Rescue the Teacher, Save the Child! can only HOPE, WISH and DREAM
The 2022/23 school year is no longer in the offing. It officially arrived this week in many parts of the country. Here are some of the issues facing our children, as penned by Andy Spears for The Education Report:
teachers in Columbus, Ohio are on the verge of striking for the first time in almost 50 years due to teaching conditions
retired teachers are being asked to return to the classroom because of teacher shortage
in Des Moines, Iowa there is a $50,000 signing bonus
in Middle Tennessee counties, there are more than a 1,000 teacher openings (Nashville’s NewsChannel5- Emily West)
Forecasting the demise of American Education is a resumé killer. I should know as my posts do not score in popularity. After all, why would anyone believe this great country lost its way when it comes to the education of our youth? The answer is simple. Career educators are not returning to their jobs. Low pay is only a microcosm of the problem. Here is the reality:
Teachers’ Colleges are no longer relevant in the stark real world issues of teaching in today’s classrooms; this reality displayed by the lack of passion, direction and skills absent in many of today’s young educators
these colleges are unable to teach classroom management and subject pedagogy because most of their professors have not spent any time in the public school system; instead they preach on pronouns, perceived racism, gender fluidity, socialism, and the importance of sexual identity
public school administrators circle the wagons around themselves with the Emperor’s New Clothes mentality: any untenured teacher who does not agree with the Emperor’s agenda must be fired and any tenured teacher who cannot conform will be bullied to leave
weak administrators allow entitled parents to swing the wrecking ball at any staff member without repercussion
consequences for disruptive behavior and classroom discipline have been replaced with “don’t you dare tell my child what to do”
politicians have enslaved the public schools with a new world order based on race; white children are oppressors and black children are oppressed
social media has usurped parents (and common sense) by providing an unrelenting platform for hate-filled language, bullying and shaming
In 2019 I wrote the book “Rescue the Teacher, Save the Child!” with the HOPE that my four points of view (students, parents, teachers, and administrators) could come together for the betterment of our children. To date, I’ve given away more books to struggling teachers and bewildered parents than I’ve sold! My fiery passion for teaching was never doused by callous administrators, caustic parents, misguided students or unsupportive colleagues. I don’t know why I can’t fade into the sunset like most retired educators. So I HOPE you will share this blog/podcast with parents, teachers, and administrators everywhere!
WISH!
Need an informative and perhaps even an inspirational gift for that parent, teacher or administrator in your life? May I humbly suggest “Rescue the Teacher, Save the Child!” Now is a perfect time as this new school year descends upon us. Why? It is my WISH that the above mentioned points of view could find relevant information to help them navigate the rough waters of today’s public schools’ plight to survive. Here is an example of one chapter well worth the read:
Chapter 6: Teaching 1.1
The One And Only Rule
It’s All About That Pace
Classroom Mismanagement
What Is Assertive Discipline?
Consequences: The Ugly ‘C’ Word
Three Warnings
Take Five
Off To The Office
Behavior Referral
Documentation
180º In The Other Direction
Plans for Success
Assessing The Student
Assessing The Teacher
Reflection Questions
The above deals with classroom management, fair discipline, ways to create a learning environment and utilizing the system when a child is unable to function in the classroom. The Reflection Questions are the same questions asked of students, parents, teachers and administrators. These are designed for an open discussion between all four, allowing all four to walk in one another’s shoes. I only WISH these folks could learn from my mistakes. My 46 years as an educator were filled with excitement, joy, dread and finally disillusion. If the “old” me could have spoken to the “young” me in 1971 when I began my career, I believe my journey as a teacher would have encountered less drama and more delight!
I did have a DREAM. When I closed my eyes at the end of a long writing day, I envisioned myself speaking to auditoriums full of parents, teachers and administrators. In fact, I was invited to present my book to a school district and university in Iowa. I was absolutely thrilled! Always the one to pre-plan, I wrote my script, bought my “speaker” outfit, purchased hundreds of postcards, several posters and support materials. But in a fog of miscommunications, the invitation was rescinded. To this day, I can only assume my commentary appeared too conservative for a university or school board. Thus I stored my purchases in my garage where they lay packed away. This summer my challenge was to clean out this storage space and give up the DREAM. I just can’t do it. A few months ago, I heard from a former student that a school district in Ohio was using my book for a faculty inservice. I believe this DREAM may still find wings.
So HOPE, WISH and DREAM are the vehicles in which I allow my subconscious to travel. I always preached to my students that one person really could make a difference. I HOPE that is still true. I WISH for an opportunity to leave a legacy. I DREAM of America’s public schools retaking their place at the top of the best of the best.
RESCUE THE TEACHER, SAVE THE CHILD! Winner of the 2020 Topshelf non-fiction book award.
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Here is a better idea: contact me and I will help any school board or school district implement the Golden Rule Project. Contact me by clicking on the links provided.