By Tim Stocks
Brodhead
To the editor:
I read with great interest the Letter to the Editor in Thursday's Monroe Times titled "Treat our teachers like professionals." The author proclaims "Teachers are not hourly paid employees, they are salaried professionals," the implication being all teachers are professionals. Oh, if that were only true.
As a Wisconsin property taxpayer since 1973, a former school board member, a past high school sports official, and a close follower of state and local public education issues, I have witnessed and personally experienced a goodly amount of unprofessionalism from many in this group. To be fair, I have also seen many who took their profession seriously, much to their credit and the good fortune of their students. So what is it, professionals or blue collar workers?
No one would question the professionalism of policemen or firefighters. Every day they are asked to risk their personal welfare, or maybe even their lives, for public safety. Not so much teachers. Doctors and lawyers - undoubtedly professional. However, if you do have one that is not doing the job you can always go to another. Not so much teachers. Professional athletes - big bucks and organized, but I am not forced to support any of them. Not so much teachers.
If there were a book called "Professionalism for Teachers" I can imagine chapters like these:
n Beware of those who would desecrate the people's State Capitol
n Don't mix your politics in the taxpayer's classrooms or use our children for your politics
n Embrace the skills and talent of others ... you are NOT the only ones who know how to teach
n Know your product (well-prepared students), know your customer (those student's parents), and know your revenue source (the taxpayer)
n Refrain from filling the local school board with union sympathizers ... historically it has adversely affected the quality of your product. (i.e. Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, etc.)
n Honesty first, honesty always. Things like the WEA Trust Health Insurance scam and teachers soliciting false sick notes truly grate those providing your revenue source.
I'm quite certain all teachers would like to be considered professional, but it can't be decreed it has to be earned. Show me.
Brodhead
To the editor:
I read with great interest the Letter to the Editor in Thursday's Monroe Times titled "Treat our teachers like professionals." The author proclaims "Teachers are not hourly paid employees, they are salaried professionals," the implication being all teachers are professionals. Oh, if that were only true.
As a Wisconsin property taxpayer since 1973, a former school board member, a past high school sports official, and a close follower of state and local public education issues, I have witnessed and personally experienced a goodly amount of unprofessionalism from many in this group. To be fair, I have also seen many who took their profession seriously, much to their credit and the good fortune of their students. So what is it, professionals or blue collar workers?
No one would question the professionalism of policemen or firefighters. Every day they are asked to risk their personal welfare, or maybe even their lives, for public safety. Not so much teachers. Doctors and lawyers - undoubtedly professional. However, if you do have one that is not doing the job you can always go to another. Not so much teachers. Professional athletes - big bucks and organized, but I am not forced to support any of them. Not so much teachers.
If there were a book called "Professionalism for Teachers" I can imagine chapters like these:
n Beware of those who would desecrate the people's State Capitol
n Don't mix your politics in the taxpayer's classrooms or use our children for your politics
n Embrace the skills and talent of others ... you are NOT the only ones who know how to teach
n Know your product (well-prepared students), know your customer (those student's parents), and know your revenue source (the taxpayer)
n Refrain from filling the local school board with union sympathizers ... historically it has adversely affected the quality of your product. (i.e. Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, etc.)
n Honesty first, honesty always. Things like the WEA Trust Health Insurance scam and teachers soliciting false sick notes truly grate those providing your revenue source.
I'm quite certain all teachers would like to be considered professional, but it can't be decreed it has to be earned. Show me.
