Dear Governor Cuomo,
I find it insulting that your office claims to promote “student performance and teacher accountability.” As if the two are the only factors related to “putting students first.” Unfortunately, you have joined ranks with the countless politicians across this nation who knee-jerkingly blame teachers for the poor performance of our nation’s students. In this case, you are far from a leader, and merely a politically triangulating follower. While I do agree that ALL professionals in ALL vocations must be held accountable, I find it frightening that teachers must shoulder the entire burden of accountability when it comes to educating our children. You say this as if there aren’t myriad moving parts, many of which are out of our control.
For instance, I teach in a low-income area of the South Bronx. Budget cuts have decimated staffing, facilities are overrun with filth (mouse excrement throughout) and technology is limited and outdated. During the first two weeks of school I taught high school students in a classroom with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees. You speak of “putting students first.” This sounds wonderful. Unfortunately actions speak louder than words, and these children clearly feel that they are undervalued. They roll their eyes when their arms slide across the sweat on their desktops. They snicker as technology that is designed to enhance their education fails because it is beyond repair.
And what of student accountability? Many students in the lowest-income areas in our great state of New York are accountable to no one. They read the signs that politicians and policy-makers find no value in them. They often lack support at home, so they find no inspiration there. They are bombarded by a culture that glorifies all the wrong things while obfuscating all of the right things. Why should they feel accountable? Often times, teachers are the only people trying to hold them accountable. We set limits and standards, provide support and care because we know the world they will shortly enter. We know that without feelings of self-worth, pride, work-ethic, character and kindness our students do not stand a fighting chance. So we look for ways to motivate, to inspire, to educate. We think “outside the box” of ways to motivate those who have never felt worthy of motivation. We do what we do because we love what we do. I’ve often said that this is the hardest job I have ever loved. It is excruciatingly difficult, but infinitely rewarding.
So what is your solution to all of this, Governor Cuomo? Increase student performance by changing the way you hold teachers accountable? Surely you are smarter than that. Surely you know there are factors that must be mitigated before you hold your hardest-working professionals accountable for everything that is outside of their control.
I am writing to you as a professional who deeply loves my chosen vocation. As hard as the job can be, there is never a day I am unhappy to do it. I know the looks of students who are “getting it.” And I don’t mean getting what I’m telling them. Anyone can inculcate. I’m talking about the face of enlightenment. The face of a student who realizes his or her mind is a treasure of unspeakable riches. A student who realizes his or her future is a garden to cultivate for a lifetime. Do not insult my profession by demanding my “accountability” as if I am an unruly pre-schooler. I hold myself to higher standards than you could ever quantify on a rubric.
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