Getting it right

The other day there was a letter-to-the-editor in a local newspaper that took a union leader (MEA?) to task for presenting an issue in contrast to the facts.  The letter-writer pointed out the inaccuracies, factual not philosophical or political.  That's fine; the truth is good.

Today the newspaper decided to turn the other cheek and allow a column by one attacking teachers' unions. They, that is, the unions should be held accountable for the low performances on international test scores by US students.  Nobody has been as critical of many of today's teachers as I.  There needs to be improvement in that area if education is to improve.  And, I had my share of disagreements with both the local and state teachers' unions when I was a member here. But to accuse teachers' unions for the poor performances of US students on international tests is simplistic to the point of the ridiculous.

Of course, as has become de rigeur, critics always point to greater US spending on education and lower test scores, implying that teachers are overpaid--and many of them are, while many are vastly underpaid. What a silly argument, from this guy and from anyone who makes it.  US automakers make more money than their foreign counterparts.  US doctors and lawyers make more money than those in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and Australia.  Let's go right down the list......  Sure, US teachers make more money than teachers in other countries.  So do other American workers vis-a-vis foreign workers.

And, again so simplistically, no other factors are considered.  Americans don't value education, not like they used to value it.  Oh, students and their parents want good grades, but don't want to work to learn the things that earn good grades.  It's as if the students are entitled to good grades.  Look at our society and who gets the highest pay.  I know, I know--there aren't many of the athletes, hippy rock stars, and Hollywood-types who make the big bucks without a quality education.  But that's not the point.  The athletes, hippy rock stars, and Hollywood-types are glorified, held up as models as if there can be many of them.  Parents let their children engage in activities that shorten their attention spans.  And quality education often requires lengthy periods of concentration.

Now part of this problem is directly related to educational practices of the past three or four decades. Teachers have reinforced the "entitlement" mentality.  Opinions are as valid as facts.  Feelings are more important than reasoning.  Self-concept and self-image have replaced actual achievement.  Instead of taking the lead in education, teachers and administrators have jumped on the "what's new today?" bandwagon, signing on to the latest and greatest trendy garbage.

And, this writer has it all wrong.  Unions do not make it impossible to fire teachers, incompetent ones.  And that's a good thing.  Why should teachers be subject to dismissal by incompetent administrators, often lacking in integrity and the knowledge of what encompasses quality education?  (The argument that, "Private sector workers can be fired..." is utterly ridiculous.  That some people aren't protected from lousy bosses means all workers shouldn't be protected is stupidity to the nth degree.)  Teachers can be fired.  There's a process, cumbersome as it may be.  It requires actual work, documentation, effort, etc.

Is it good that this same newspaper runs op-ed pieces from different sides?  Yes, it is.  Is it good that it runs these pieces--from diverse sides--even though they are lacking in accuracy or good sense??????