Restructuring the Educational System

Some people would say that if it isn't broke then don't fix it. Well in my opinion our educational system needs an overhaul.

Some people would say that if it isn't broke then don't fix it. Well in my opinion our educational system needs an overhaul.

We the undersigned:

Some people would say that if it isn't broke then don't fix it. Well in my opinion our educational system needs an overhaul.

I once had a 13 year old student also threaten to kill me. It too wasn't taken seriously, which it seems is the usual response of Administrators.

Until 1 week later this student drew a picture of another student in the same class with his throat slit.

Even then, the student only received a noon hour detention and 1.5 hour in-school suspension!

All of this while we had the father of the victim of the "Tabor, Alberta" shooting giving a speech in our school gymnasium. 

It's time for real change!

1. The government needs to dismantle school boards. Administrators careers are on the chopping block at the whim of people who neither know little if anything about practical education or the experience of teachers. It' like a hospital administrator telling a surgeon to leave the ruptured spleen in the patient, even though the chances of survival are grim to due excessive internal bleeding.

2. When was the last time a student was expelled? It is these very students that make life a living hell for teachers, other students and their families. Make our schools safe instead of placing cameras all over the place to make people "feel better."

3. We need to re-define what the "team approach" really means. Administrators have a "we/they" attitude. (Due to the above status quo). Regardless of any hard evidence usually the teacher who attempts to make improvements gets the short end of the stick.  Aggressive behaviour is rewarded, while reporting it to administrators only gets you placed on the black list.

4. Reports need to be taken "very seriously". It seems to be human nature to act like the proverbial ostrich.

5. Administrators should be elected by their professional peers, and terms limited to 5 years or part-time classroom contact time. This keeps them in tune with what is going on in the classroom.

6. Teachers need to be given the power to suspend a student for up to 3 days without the approval of an administrator.

7. Some parents really need to get involved in their child's lives. Thank goodness there are still parents out there that are. God bless you.

8. Teachers need to be vigilant about student performance, and behaviour, and do the right thing instead of letting the current system "get to them" and thereby just give up because, "If I'm not going to be supported then why should I care?" attitude.