Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 1 November 2002 — Page 9

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2002

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE A9

Thank teachers for all the work they do trying to educate our children

How long must we endure the blame for the lack of student success in the classroom? From many radio and television talk shows, to the many newspaper and magazine articles, teachers often take the brunt of the responsibility for failing students and failing schools. The feedback that comes from uninformed parents and media outlets attempting to receive higher ratings often places the classroom teacher at fault for low achieving students. When it comes to Black history, moral character, citizenship, or test scores, the schools are often held responsible and the classroom teacher is the one to blame. If Black history is so important, why don’t we teach it in our homes, churches, and community centers? If we want our children to be of higher moral character and a positive citizen who contributes more to our society, why don’t we promote, advertise, and celebrate these values over our child’s progress in the sporting arena or seeing them dressed in the newest fashion? When many of those who succeed in the classroom are recognized, it is because of their parental support, family values, and hard work ethic. But when they fail, it is because of “the system.” Every United States president, world leader, doctor, lawyer, athlete, and auto mechanic, was once a student in the classroom. Every individual in our society, at some point in their life, had to get some form of education from a schoolteacher. In a teacher’s 30-year career, they have the ability to

affect the lives of tens of thousands of young people. There is no other job in the world where one individual has this type of influence on hundreds of people on a day-to-day basis. With this much influence to shaping and molding the minds of young people, why does America under appreciate those who work as professional teachers and view their job as one of little significance? In “Jobs Rated Almanac,” recently published by Lee Krantz, 250 occupations are ranked according to income, stress, physical demands, growth potential, job security and work environment. These occupations are categorized as great, average, or awful. Krantz used information that he gathered from trade groups, government research, and telephone surveys. Where do you think the wonderful profession of teaching ranked? Teachers came in at 164. Behind a teacher’s aide at 111, janitor at 154 and housemaid at 157. We are aware that in America, the monetary value is placed on what we, as a society deem important and valuable. We compensate those in our society who we feel are of the most value to us. We place a high value on those who entertain us. This is why movie stars, musicians, and athletes are able to command such huge paychecks. We pay those who heal us, mend our wounds, and keep us healthy, a nice yearly compensation. We even reward those who we feel are the most savvy with computers, a nice large salary. But those who

shape the minds of our young people continue to be underpaid, over worked, and unappreciated. During the 1998-99 school year, beginning teachers across the country earned an average of $26,639 per year. This beginning average does not sound too bad. However, in some states such as North and South Dakota, and Mississippi, 10-year veteran teachers make less than $30,000 a year. Besides the terribly low pay, why does Krantz have teaching ranked so low? Because of the daily stress that comes from the ever increasing numbers of misbehaving and disruptive students. Because of the minimal growth potential, long hours after the school day attending meetings, preparing lesson plans, grading papers, and talking to or meeting with uncooperative parents, are all reasons why the profession of educating our young people is ranked so low. Other reasons include the lack of job security in some areas, working with difficult administrators, difficult parents, and the all too familiar levels of violence inside the school environment. How are teachers responding to this lack of respect and dismal pay? They are either leaving the profession all together or they are passing the days just to collect a paycheck. Some of you may know how it feels to work a job that you do not enjoy. Your productivity and your enthusiasm begin to suffer. And when teachers begin to feel they are not appreciated

and their jobs are not that important, you know who really suffers. How can the world’s most industrialized country allow one of its most valuable resources to continue to be treated in such a disrespectful way? Maybe America does not value a good education as much as it does a super star entertainer. Maybe the general public thinks that teachers should “love” their jobs and be happy because they really are making a difference in society. If the general public thinks this, it should support a policy that intends to increase teachers’ pay, make their work environment less stressful, and give them more power in the classroom. They should stop viewing standardized test scores as a measure for success and good teaching, and most of all, encourage, support, and thank a teacher at every opportunity you get, because they are truly shaping the minds of the future. For speaking engagements or education workshops, contact me at: educationdoesmatter @ hotmail.com or write me at: 9701 E. 63rd St., Indianapolis, IN. 46236. My contact number is (317)502-0272.

John C. Warren Jr. Ballot #7A / Will Bring Hoosur Common St nst Back to Our Ltgislalur* in 7003 Indiana State Representative House District 100 Rtpufolican Cbmdukto I warn to Work ani Fig to for You Citizens for John C. Warren Jr. 56 North Being Street • Indtampols, Indiana 46201-3625 Phone: (317) 3502400 E-mal:[email protected] •Website wwv4ohncwarrenjr.com PLEASE VOTE FOR ME ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5.2002 P»td tor and authorized by Citizens tor John C. Warren Jr

VOTE

W *

David Shaheed for Judge ■Experienced Eight years as a judicial officer in the Marion County Superior Courts ■Rated "Highly Recommended" by local attorneys in the 2000 and 2002 judicial evaluations conducted by the Indianapolis Bar Association ■Endorsed By The Fraternal Order of Police, Indianapolis Lodge #86 Ay ■Involved in the Community Indiana Juvenile Justice Task Force, Interfaith Alliance of Indianapolis, Peace Learning Center and North Central High School Alumni Association Pull down lever #25B • • • • * **<*•': ■ ■ - C! on election day Nov. Stb Paid for and authorized by the Committee to Elect David A. Shaheed Judge. Timothy V. Clark. Treasurer - P.O. Box 2287 »Indianapolis. IN 46206

* i

VOTE DEMOCRAT VOTE FOR MARK “TONY” DUNCAN CENTER TOWNSHIP CONSTABLE

PULL LEVER “B

Charles Deiter

AND YOUR DEMOCRAT JUDGES

V!!

David Dreyer

4*. KHfC

Z. Mae Jimison

A 1 ‘ l

Jr‘

Lou David Jane Tanya Rosenberg Shaheed Magnus-Stinson Watton-Pratt

Patrick McCarty