SHORT COMMUNICATION 192
The Unmentioned Fact
By
Roger Behra
It is a known fact the elementary and high school systems in most places in America’s culture are quite dysfunctional. That is part of the counterculture legacy for all time. It is quite evident when 35% to 50% of high school students do not graduate. That also means thousands of new adults are going to be a great future drag on the American culture and a great disservice to themselves. But one important factor that is never mentioned greatly aids school dysfunction, and it is very important.
Throughout America there are thousands of very experienced teachers who are very productive still and have been extremely successful for thirty years or more. And the unmentioned fact is this. Because of the present situation in most American schools, that includes so many self-inflicted problems, the problem is not being mentioned at all. It can also come under the situation of self-infliction, how ever. Thousands of experienced, productive, and successful teachers are RETIRING TO EARLY. The self-inflicted problems have produced another one-early retirement throughout America. They are saying you can have it. They are throwing in the very towel of experience. They are saying you can have it. They are throwing in the very towel of experience. This fact is directly aiding the dark days of America’s school culture, and there is no remedy for it under the present conditions. These teaching gems are being replaced with new young teacher who cannot handle it. Fifty-percent of them leave at the mid-year point teachers who cannot handle it. Fifty-percent of them leave at the mid-year point. All of this greatly contributes to the seriously dysfunctional school environment in America today.
One teacher in the Fountain Valley, California school system has 37 years teaching experience. He could teach another ten years or longer, but his last day was June 18, 2010. He could not take the numerous defeating problems put on teachers by the administrators at his school. The No Child Left Behind Act tops the list and adds so much to the disillusionment. The nonproductive red tape and the great amount of busywork dumped on students and a teacher makes the school day an uninteresting chore. The six pre and post test and the six pre and post writing assignments suck the fun and interest out teaching and learning.
The students of today are also very different. Surprise! They except very quick results with very little effort put forth. They want something for nothing. Their interest in learning is very shallow because they could care less. The fast-paced American culture has really gotten in the way.
The bottom line is this in regards to the very many experienced, productive, and successful teachers who wish to continue teaching for several more years. I can do that. I would like to do that. But I am not going to do that. The school environment and all the problems contained therein makes me instead say with great sadness and regret, “No, I’m not going to do that! I’m out of here!!”
R.B.
7-210