Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Teachers

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What then is good? The knowledge of things. What is evil? The lack of knowledge of things.
Seneca - Epistulae morales ad Lucilium c. 65 AD

One thing I notice about web commentary is how professionals can be somewhat reserved about their professions. It is far from being universal, but I often sense a degree of caution or reticence when it comes to matters closely linked to professional background.

Teachers for example. There must be a vast amount they could say about a centralised curriculum, bureaucracy, political correctness, inspections, paperwork, parents, politics and child welfare. Teachers are hardly silent on these issues, but somehow I feel that this most central profession doesn’t say what needs to be said.

As a grandparent I have the impression that all is not well with education. The supposed problems are not news to anyone, but political froth and partiality muddy the waters for those of us on the sidelines.

No doubt part of the problem is a need to protect the identity of individuals, but I’m sure there is still much to say and I’m not convinced we hear it.

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4 comments:

Paddington said...

You are correct, and they are generally afraid of the administrations.

I work at a university, and our President recently told us that his model for the future is a few tenure-track faculty who 'manage' an army of people to 'deliver content'. I told him that I didn't know how to do that, I only knew how to teach and train students.

Sackerson said...

More than me job's worth, squire.

A K Haart said...

Paddington - delivering content sounds ominous, like a phrase picked up from some vast corporation intent on expanding its educational interests.

Sackers - know what yer mean squire. Probably a problem for all professions.

My pension could be withdrawn in circumstances which are no doubt extremely unlikely, but nobody is unaware of the possibility.

Paddington said...

It is indeed from corporate doublespeak. I told him that it wasn't as if we opened their heads and poured in knowledge. He went off on a 2 minute tirade about 'diversity' and appreciation of other people's language and viewpoints.