tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post6148419812399253498..comments2023-05-06T07:21:21.292-07:00Comments on Leading by Example: Dear Time Magazine...Nancy Chewninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935515897350165533noreply@blogger.comBlogger468125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-79041246386031669442016-04-12T19:55:40.408-07:002016-04-12T19:55:40.408-07:00The teachers union is NOT that strong or teachers ...The teachers union is NOT that strong or teachers would make morerod3357https://www.blogger.com/profile/07768428273737706807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-7927421153765487652015-11-06T14:49:47.119-08:002015-11-06T14:49:47.119-08:00I didn't go into teaching for the money. I hav...I didn't go into teaching for the money. I have been teaching for 48 years, and still going. Every day is a joy and I love it. It is also hard work starting at 7:30 and ending at 5:00. Then you take work home for evenings and weekends. Teachers can't attend events and meetings during the day. You can't just walk out on the students. Business people can have evening events during the week because they dont start work at 7:30 AM. So a good teacher needs to love what they do.<br /><br /> I often wonder if society view the products-commodieities (i.e. children) on a lower scale. Society suffers when you pay (less) for what it needs. teachers are paid a lower wage than other professions because society doesn't value the "commodities" of our "business". I don't understand why people do not put more resources and political and emotional support into valuing our product - the education of our children (the "commodity or product" of the industry of education). Aren't educated children the most valuable things a country or the world has for our future (survival)?Ken Rohrs-MS Science for 48 years and still going.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-28656546799417164782015-07-13T13:00:41.890-07:002015-07-13T13:00:41.890-07:00Thank you so much for this letter. Wow, your only ...Thank you so much for this letter. Wow, your only blog post and it garnered 466 comments. Obviously impacted quite a few people that read it. You didn't even mention the ridiculous disparity between politicians pay and teachers pay. Absolutely disgusting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-36488656429630419712015-06-17T08:06:49.247-07:002015-06-17T08:06:49.247-07:00Even though I don't know what the article was ...Even though I don't know what the article was about, I have one thing to say to all the teachers in the non-Silicon Valley world out there...I don't think you all are well-appreciated for what you all do. I see it day in and day out how you all are with your students. I'm just an aide and I gotta hand it to you guys. You all know what you're doing. I send my appreciation and gratitude to you all. And Nancy Chewning: I love what you said in your article to Time magazine. I wish I had the guts to do what you did. Way to go!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-21657106422878680122015-02-26T06:14:48.409-08:002015-02-26T06:14:48.409-08:00Well saidWell saidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-42749599643072508732015-02-25T14:17:32.194-08:002015-02-25T14:17:32.194-08:00I really appreciated the remarks by one person wh...I really appreciated the remarks by one person who said the Republicans are trying to ruin public education for their own advantage. Strange, because public education used to be thought of with pride as part of democracy. I also like the comment on tenure, that all it does is guarantee due process. I note from the comments that a lot of misplaced anger has been stirred up against teachers.Cindy Piersolnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-24614339494854953302015-01-23T12:09:26.036-08:002015-01-23T12:09:26.036-08:00What a wonderful support for teachers. As a paren...What a wonderful support for teachers. As a parent and teacher, I hear from the parents about teachers and am apalled by what they say, basically "Don't say anything about my child he/she is perfect -- it is the teacher who is the problem, who can not teach." Yet the same teacher can teach my child as well as the other 18 children in the same classroom. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-36401571921018149062014-12-30T15:35:52.978-08:002014-12-30T15:35:52.978-08:00You are so right. I've been retired for 20+ y...You are so right. I've been retired for 20+ years because I had a work related stress induced heart attact in 1992. I miss teaching and the kids. I loved it, and I was good at it because I went the extra distance, like so many others I know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-11838191102094915912014-12-01T00:58:33.893-08:002014-12-01T00:58:33.893-08:00Interesting blog. This is one of my favorite blog ...Interesting blog. This is one of my favorite blog also I want you to update more post like this. Thanks for sharing this article.<br /><a href="http://www.myhome-myneeds.com/searchresult.php?country=India&city=Chennai&service=Newspaper%20and%20Magazine" rel="nofollow">Newspaper Distributors in Chennai</a><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13870343227119773255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-89222300909546341782014-11-24T05:00:34.786-08:002014-11-24T05:00:34.786-08:00Thank you for your article! My husband is a publi...Thank you for your article! My husband is a public school principal in a very low income title I school. He works incredibly long hours and does an amazing job with almost no resources at his disposal. We spend our own VERY limited family income to pay for the lunches, haircuts, and supplies for high poverty kids. We use our own money to take teachers out to lunch so they feel appreciated and loved. I wish more people understood the incredible complexity of what goes on in schools, as you do. Because, of course, there are really bad teachers out there. But even working in a rural community that pays 6K less a year than the county five minutes down the road, the vast majority of our teachers are loving, dedicated, and effective. Schools are NOT the source of the problem... poverty and inequity in school funding are the problem. Thanks for the work you do! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-16843884072980970612014-11-22T08:59:57.373-08:002014-11-22T08:59:57.373-08:00Dear Ms. Chewning,
Your response to Time Magazine&...Dear Ms. Chewning,<br />Your response to Time Magazine's article was spot on. Many of the things you wrote brought tears to my eyes. It described things that many of my rotten apple co-workers & I do ALL year.<br /><br />Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy & extremely hectic schedule to speak on the behalf of all rotten apples & the students we teach. <br /><br />I was incensed & offended with Time's cover. I signed the petition & wrote a lengthy comment. When I saw Time's cover all I could think about was ALL the things I do as a public school teacher in an urban environment. Once again my feelings were hurt by someone who doesn't understand, or, refuses to understand what we do. I am so FRUSTRATED, ANNOYED & ANGERED with the constant disrespect showed to rotten apples. I am a hard-working professional!!! Thank you for the thorough explanation & the comparison of our profession to others.<br /><br />I will stand with you & raise my voice. I've been raising my voice for my students for years.<br /><br />Thank you again. It's wonderful to know that there are people like you who are courageous enough to speak up during this age of the 'witch hunt'.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12464671134199236013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-65258086548748879272014-11-21T12:49:47.385-08:002014-11-21T12:49:47.385-08:00Thank you for a wonderful letter. I just wanted ev...Thank you for a wonderful letter. I just wanted everyone to know that after teaching for 29 years in an urban high school setting, I don't consider myself a "rotten apple". I think American teachers are mom's apple pie. I'm apple pie. What about you?<br /><br />AnnonymousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-42288781976239416442014-11-21T11:50:59.664-08:002014-11-21T11:50:59.664-08:00My Granddaughter sent your article to me. I haven&...My Granddaughter sent your article to me. I haven't read the original article that prompted your response, but I don't really have to since I thoroughly agree that teachers are not thought of very well and are very underpaid for their time even though "they get 3 months off in the summer". which I always hear when ever I mention how underpaid my Granddaughter is. I know the true story of the required continuing education classes and the long hours throughout the school year. In the 81 years that I have lived I have seen the plight of school teachers go down hill and it is a wonder that there are still young people who are willing to take on the job. I truly believe that she was born to be a teacher and I'm sure she is not the only one. <br />So what is to be done? Maybe teacher originations need Press Secretaries to get the word out. There are 456 comments here that are mostly favorable. Can your article, complete with comments, be sent to State and Federal Congresses. <br />Needless to say I am very proud of my Granddaughter. But what is to be done?blogger.com/comment.donoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-36532509856730417322014-11-20T07:48:53.673-08:002014-11-20T07:48:53.673-08:00Maybe you should hold your school's administra...Maybe you should hold your school's administrators to a higher standard and require that they stand up for the students by working to remove the teachers who are not educating students as they should. That is part of their job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-21544574205838833692014-11-20T07:31:08.767-08:002014-11-20T07:31:08.767-08:00Amen to that!Amen to that!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-23273382838916205682014-11-18T18:50:36.468-08:002014-11-18T18:50:36.468-08:00As a retired principal, I fully understand your po...As a retired principal, I fully understand your position on this matter. You have written well and hit the nail on the head for the teaching profession and student care. A frustration for an administrator is the fact that it is mostly impossible to remove a slacking teacher that is really not doing his or her job in the classroom. In my experience, teachers are protected when they should be removed and replaced with a dedicated person. Years of tenure should never stand in the way of removing the less desirable teacher. Nor should a union be forced to stand up for that person at all costs. This is happening and is a disparage for improving education at all levels. A problem in education that needs repair.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-57858643675004347532014-11-18T18:22:06.439-08:002014-11-18T18:22:06.439-08:00Well stated. We need more administrators and educa...Well stated. We need more administrators and educators like you to stand up for teachers, especially when so many teachers feel afraid to speak up against the system. I'm currently a student teacher at a high-needs school, and even though the teachers support each other, the administration creates a toxic environment with the constant evaluations, micromanagement, and general belittling.<br /><br />Our government agencies come up with things like NCLB and Goals 2000, which try to show the world that USA is number one in everything. These policies do little more than inflate the egos of those in office and punish teachers, students and families for circumstances that are beyond their control.<br /><br />As a student teacher, I'm starting to see the harm that NCLB has done and am inspired to fight back against these asinine laws. I look forward to reading more of your blog.Melissa C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-43789590103713038332014-11-18T18:21:28.295-08:002014-11-18T18:21:28.295-08:00Well stated. We need more administrators and educa...Well stated. We need more administrators and educators like you to stand up for teachers, especially when so many teachers feel afraid to speak up against the system. I'm currently a student teacher at a high-needs school, and even though the teachers support each other, the administration creates a toxic environment with the constant evaluations, micromanagement, and general belittling.<br /><br />Our government agencies come up with things like NCLB and Goals 2000, which try to show the world that USA is number one in everything. These policies do little more than inflate the egos of those in office and punish teachers, students and families for circumstances that are beyond their control.<br /><br />As a student teacher, I'm starting to see the harm that NCLB has done and am inspired to fight back against these asinine laws. I look forward to reading more of your blog.MKiwihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09823430512863305548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-41785934408150493062014-11-18T18:21:03.263-08:002014-11-18T18:21:03.263-08:00Well stated. We need more administrators and educa...Well stated. We need more administrators and educators like you to stand up for teachers, especially when so many teachers feel afraid to speak up against the system. I'm currently a student teacher at a high-needs school, and even though the teachers support each other, the administration creates a toxic environment with the constant evaluations, micromanagement, and general belittling.<br /><br />Our government agencies come up with things like NCLB and Goals 2000, which try to show the world that USA is number one in everything. These policies do little more than inflate the egos of those in office and punish teachers, students and families for circumstances that are beyond their control.<br /><br />As a student teacher, I'm starting to see the harm that NCLB has done and am inspired to fight back against these asinine laws. I look forward to reading more of your blog.MKiwihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09823430512863305548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-62011370475215062142014-11-18T18:20:33.141-08:002014-11-18T18:20:33.141-08:00Well stated. We need more administrators and educa...Well stated. We need more administrators and educators like you to stand up for teachers, especially when so many teachers feel afraid to speak up against the system. I'm currently a student teacher at a high-needs school, and even though the teachers support each other, the administration creates a toxic environment with the constant evaluations, micromanagement, and general belittling.<br /><br />Our government agencies come up with things like NCLB and Goals 2000, which try to show the world that USA is number one in everything. These policies do little more than inflate the egos of those in office and punish teachers, students and families for circumstances that are beyond their control.<br /><br />As a student teacher, I'm starting to see the harm that NCLB has done and am inspired to fight back against these asinine laws. I look forward to reading more of your blog.MKiwihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09823430512863305548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-77646330702988507542014-11-18T07:57:56.992-08:002014-11-18T07:57:56.992-08:00I think this conversation has been had thousands o...I think this conversation has been had thousands of times already. Everyone gets that teachers sacrifice. The problem isn't that we don't get thanked enough or that magazines criticize us on their covers. The problem is that we allow ourselves to be underpaid and undervalued. <br /><br />http://paintbynumberparents.blogspot.com/2014/11/undervaluing-teachers-and-women.htmlLyndshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16928929334999985887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-25370825076027849472014-11-18T03:39:16.859-08:002014-11-18T03:39:16.859-08:00When a football player is paid more than a teacher...When a football player is paid more than a teacher, there is something wrong with this picture. America thinks more of entertainment than they do of educating their children. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-74891146737378626892014-11-17T16:51:16.002-08:002014-11-17T16:51:16.002-08:00God bless you....I taught in nyc for 31 years and ...God bless you....I taught in nyc for 31 years and I fear for our profession.. I have never seen such animosity in the media before towards my colleagues. Unrealistic expectations of teachers and NO expectations of society, politicians. I am retired now, but I loved teaching. And yes, I did buy sneakers for a student when I saw him playing in a muddy field with gigantic holes in his shoes. I did make Thanksgiving dinner (with all the trimmings) along with my colleagues for all our classes.....and I did it joyfully. It fed me....that's why this political agenda is very cynical, and a poorly disguised attack on teacher's unions. Where would we be without our union????? Imagine...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01772638446551691639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-20847115648102116732014-11-17T16:18:18.126-08:002014-11-17T16:18:18.126-08:00A century ago a only a small percentage of people ...A century ago a only a small percentage of people even made it to high school let alone graduated. In the 70s when I was in high school it was expected that many students would drop out at 16 to go to work. And as for immigrants magically learning the language in a few months, the actual statistic are 5-7 years before an English language learner has academic language proficiency beyond social conversation. I'm sure somewhere in this response is an extra comma, I hope I can recover from the embarrassment. BTW I believe it is P.S. not PS, shame...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-408329276513306973.post-29012131312533892532014-11-17T12:41:56.248-08:002014-11-17T12:41:56.248-08:00What makes me so very angry is that none of the pe...What makes me so very angry is that none of the people who "bash" the so-called "rotten apples" EVER offer to shadow a teacher or administrator for any length of time, especially those who are in our government. I have invited congress members to come and spend a month, a week or even a day in the life of a teacher or school administrator. The time, expertise, money, etc. that we spend trying to get through and teach our students as well as deal with all of the other outside factors beyond out control is unending. We have no control over the students we get, yet we get blamed for their apathy, their appalling behavior and total insubordination, then get sued because we did not reach them. What happened to working together to raise our children? "It takes an entire community to raise a child" used to be the mantra. Now, it's a blame game. Shame on you, Time Magazine for only looking at one side and kowtowing to the almighty dollar. You should be ashamed!Long-time educatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15336802330785421297noreply@blogger.com