What's the Bottom Line?

The bottom line is that we should be educating our students, preparing them for tomorrow's challenges. To do so we have an abundance of school options, teaching programs, laws and regulations to make this possible. As a nation we have become conditioned to think education is key in our society and is needed to become successful in life's endeavors. However, how can a place as opportunistic as America have issues in schools where teachers don't lose their jobs for consistent poor performance and sexual relationships happen behind the coach's door? Some educators have either displaced their reasons for going into teaching or have decided incorrectly on a career that they are not suitable for. Careers in medicine, education, politics and law are professions you prepare for, invest in and commit yourself to. Teaching is a job that often goes unappreciated, underpaid and in some instances abused because of the loopholes in unions and undefined policies in its regulations.

In the American Road to Culture by George Counts he brings up points that are similar to those we earlier in the semester. He says it is principals and ideas that shape the conduct and evolution of education in the United States (1930). In order for education to be effective, it theories must be part of civilization and sustain the intimate relationship with social life and institutions (Counts, 1930). As I think about it, this makes sense because the education one receives will be effected by the environment that it is obtained. Counts mentions that it is the power of environment that offers the individual survival of man and how man depends on the process of education as it relates to social order. For these reasons it is our duty as educators to be role models and act accordingly. We want children to walk out of our buildings at the end of the day and feel like we have a genuine care and interest for them. But unfortunately we learned through Lindsey's presentation this is not always the case. We are here to nurture students and foster their growth as individuals not tear them down and set them up for emotional downfalls in their future.

As Counts acknowledges the importance of faith in the individual and schools in his work, this is the same thing we have lost in education. I think the loss of faith in the indivdual and schools has lead us to the issues we face today. Is there a difference between misconduct and the order of unions...not in the sense of losing the faith and belief for what purpose we serve as educators today.