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helping teachers
Posted:
Mar 15, 1995 11:06 AM
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From: SMTP%"Postmaster@APSICC.APS.EDU" 15-MAR-1995 09:04:39.89 To: CHAPMAN CC: Subj: Undeliverable Mail
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 1995 9:04:39 -0700 (MST) From: Postmaster@APSICC.APS.EDU Subject: Undeliverable Mail To: <CHAPMAN>
Bad address -- <nctm-l@swarthmore.edu> Error -- Address refused by receiver: <nctm-l@swarthmore.edu> (550 <nctm-l@swarthmore.edu>... User unknown)
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Date: Wed, 15 Mar 1995 9:04:38 -0700 (MST) From: CHAPMAN@APSICC.APS.EDU To: nctm-l@swarthmore.edu Message-Id: <950315090438.664c@APSICC.APS.EDU> Subject: What do we do for teachers? In response to Tad's comments about Ron's questions (actually about someone else's answers to Ron's questions--anyway) Tad asked if teachers are dropping out of teaching because they are not respected by administrators, what would we do for teachers? As one (a teacher) my biggest sadness and frustration right now is the lack of respect for teachers on the part of the public. At least SOME of our administrators give GREAT respect for teachers and what we do--some ]of them actually understand what it is we do. The public, on the other hand (and I know it isn't ALL of the public) right now in New Mexico is gleefully writing letters to the editors and calling talk shows to put forth their blinding and insulting ignornance about what we do--and their deep and abiding disrespect (hatred?) for us. They talk about our being overpaid (we are 47th--round there--in the nation and the lowest in our region in terms of pay) and how teaching is really only a part-time job ("I don't care what you say"), and how we just ought to be happy we have jobs at all. If anything makes me want to quit it's just this kind of idiocy. It is SO painful to sacrifice my time and money to do something I think is REALLY important and then get this kind of response. Many of the parents I've worked with over the years are VERY happy with my work and the work of my colleagues--they can't imagine how we do what we do and are very grateful to us. Sadly enough, they aren't writing or calling. Tad, if we could SOMEHOW inform the public, I think that would help teachers. The thing about teaching is that EVERYBODY has been to school and has had teachers and so they think they know all there is to know about teaching. I remember what Roger Mudd said at the end of the acclaimed PBS series "Learning in America" in reference to elementary school teachers: "No matter who you are, no matter what you do, they work harder than you do." It made me cry! But the public DIDN'T HEAR IT. Those stalwarts of knowledge about education in our country were watching something else. (Whew! Sorry to sound so bitter!!) Cindy Chapman@apsicc.aps.edu
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