DON'T IGNORE

NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I TELL MYSELF TO IGNORE THE NONSENSE SPEWING FORTH FROM THE MOUTHS OF EDUCATORS, I CAN'T REFRAIN FROM COMMENTING UPON ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION OF INCOMPETENCE OF THE NANNY STATE. BIG BROTHER AND BIG SISTER (STATE GOVERNMENT) NOW MANDATE AN ENTRY YEAR TEACHER PROGRAM. THE WORD 'PROGRAM' USUALLY INITIATES MY 'FIT' BECAUSE THE DEVIL LURKS IN THE DETAILS.

THE PROGRAM IS ABOUT MENTORING NEW TEACHERS. I'M TOLD THAT IT INVOLVES PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE AND ASSESSMENT OF THE NEOPHYTE'S PORTFOLIO BECAUSE MANY (NEW TEACHERS) "NEED HELP." WHAT IS THE ASSUMPTION BEHIND THIS PROGRAM? TEACHERS ARE INCOMPETENT OR JUST INSECURE? THEY ARRIVE ILL-EQUIPPED TO TEACH, EVALUATE OR SELF-START? OR DO THEY LACK SELF-ESTEEM? THIS MENTORING PROGRAM BUTTS INTO A TEACHER'S CLASSES, MANDATORY STUDENT TESTING PROCEDURES, SELF-EVALUATION AND EDUCATIONAL TECHNIQUES. SUPPOSEDLY, IT IS WELCOMED WITH OPEN HEARTS BECAUSE TEACHERS WISH TO "AFFECT LIVES" AND FOLLOW THEIR "PASSION." IT'S FUTILE TO WISH THAT I BE SPARED SUCH IDEALISTIC BROMIDES THAT OFTEN REFERENCE THE IMPORTANCE OF A "PROPER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT" WHICH ONE TEACHER APPRECIATED BECAUSE WITH AIR CONDITIONING HE DIDN’T "HAVE TO SWEAT TO DEATH."

EACH TOUCHDOWN TO A FOOTBALL NUT IS ANOTHER ORGASM. WHY DO I FIND SPORT IN MONITORING THE SACKING OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM? EACH TIME I HEAR ABOUT ANOTHER PROGRAM TO IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS, I AM OVERCOME WITH A PAROXYSM OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RETCHING. WE DO NOT NEED TO FUND PROGRAM AFTER HAND-HOLDING PROGRAM THAT WASTES TAXPAYERS' MONIES. IF WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TEACHERS ARE UNABLE TO TEACH, WHAT PURPOSE HAS BEEN SERVED BY THEIR EXPENSIVE COLLEGE EDUCATION INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL COURSES, PROBABLY SUBSTANTIALLY SUBSIDIZED BY GOVERNMENT LOANS? ARE THEIR SALARIES AND BENEFITS JUSTIFIED? TEACHERS LESS PREPARED EACH YEAR CORRELATE WITH STUDENTS LEARNING LESS EACH SEMESTER. IT'S MADDENING THAT EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY PERSISTS IN HITCHING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.

WE DON'T NEED TEACHERS WHO CAN UTILIZE EDUCATIONAL TOOLS. WE NEED INDIVIDUALS COMPETENT TO SHARE INFORMATION AND PRESENT IT TO STUDENTS READY TO LEARN. LOTS OF INFORMATION, OFTEN AND WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT IT MUST BE ASSIMILATED. A BOOK, A ROOM, A BREATHING VEHICLE FOR DELIVERY OF INFORMATION - THIS MINIMUM WOULD SUFFICE. EVEN IF THE DELIVERY WERE PASSIONLESS, INFORMATION CAN ONLY BE AFFECTIVE IF A MIND IS RECEPTIVE. A SMOLDERING ACADEMIC INTEREST WILL NEVER IGNITE IN EVERY BRAIN. BUT THE POVERTY OF LEARNING IS IN "LOW EXPECTATIONS" TO PARAPHRASE PRESIDENT BUSH, NOT IN THE RICHNESS OF WASTEFUL SCHOOL FUNDING.