We Are So Powerful!

Did you know that educators are so powerful they have caused the problems with NJ’s economy? We are responsible for high taxes and power outages. (Weren’t schools closed for so long during the recent storms because teachers wanted time off? It could not possibly have been that police in some towns wanted streets free for tree companies and power companies to be able to perform their jobs.)

We are responsible for our students’ problems with test scores and drug use and unwanted pregnancies. If we were doing our jobs right, all students would score 100% on all of their tests, never abuse substances, and be perfect human beings. We would, of course, be expected to create these perfect humans at no cost to taxpayers because we love what we do, and it is our duty to accept less than those in business who manufacture all of the widgets that society must have. And how about those Kardashians and other pop culture icons and sports heroes who MUST make the big bucks? Am I being too cynical at the start of the New Year?

I don’t know about you, but the irrational attitudes that seem omnipresent in today’s culture absolutely baffle me. We must not teach our students to be critical thinkers or thinkers at all because they might balk at the manipulation that is so blatantly part of our everyday lives. But are we thinking at all? If we are, then why are we accepting all of the hype that tells us that our system of public education must be reformed?

Education Reform is the primary path that New Jersey’s Governor is taking and his agenda is to blame educators for all that is wrong in our state. Forget the problems with infrastructure, congestion on our highways, blight in cities, the poor and needy, teen pregnancy and substance abuse. NJ will be a better state if teachers are evaluated according to test scores, merit pay is instituted, and tenure is abolished. This must be the legislative focus for NJ according to Christie. Of course, the ultimate goal of all of these so-called "reforms" is really the privatization of our public schools so that his billionaire hedge fund buddies can cash in on education dollars.

The lame duck session is in full swing in our state legislature, so let’s see if our legislators will man or woman up and stand up against the ongoing battle with Christie versus Public Education/Teachers. Perhaps then the real problems in NJ will be addressed, and public schools can continue to do what they have always done best, educate NJ’s future – our students. Research shows that our schools are among the top in the nation and compare equally to the top in the world. How about shouting out with pride in our great NJ public schools instead of denigrating those whose tireless dedication has made our schools great?