Commentary and Criticism about the National Education Association
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In an article by Tim Walker which appeared in NEA Today on September 5, 2017, NEA President Eskelsen Garcia complains that the decision to rescind Obama's policy on children of illegal immigrants is "un-American."
I ask: Is upholding the Constitution of the United States un-American? Obama's policy (implemented in 2012) was of questionable constitutionality. As Hans A. von Spakovsky writes (DACA Is Unconstitutional, as Obama Admited): "Under our Constitution, Congress has plenary authority over immigration. The president only has the authority delegated to him by Congress – and Congress has never given the president the power to provide a pseudo-amnesty and government benefits to illegal aliens." President Trump did the right thing. He left it to the Congress to do their proper job - lawmaking.
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Mary Ellen Flannery's article from September 5, 2017 implies that Thomas Jefferson would be an ardent supporter of today's public school system (at least the title suggests this).
Nothing could be further from the truth. While Jefferson did support a type of public education, it was on the VERY local level. He was completely against the type of education that we have today - state run and highly bureaucratic. Jefferson was in favor of a decentralized school system, not one where the state dictates all the rules and the curriculum. To quote from his Plan for Elementary Schools 1817, ME 17:417: "It is surely better, then, to place each school at once under the care of those most interested in its conduct." So what would Jefferson say to Betsy DeVos? Here is what I think he would say: "The Federal Government has no place in education. Close down that US Department of Education and let local communities make all of the decisions about their own children." Most teachers I know complain that they are underpaid.
The media tends to support this notion: Huffington Post - More Proof that American Teachers Are Underpaid And Deserve More Respect Economic Policy Institute - New Jersey public school teachers are underpaid, not overpaid Washington Post - Think teachers aren't paid enough? It's worse than you think I don't buy this point of view for a second. We work essentially 9 months a year. We get 2 months off in summer, spring break, winter break, assorted holidays, 10 sick days and 2 personal days every year. We get full health benefits. We get a defined benefit pension. We work from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM and get time off for lunch and prep so basically we are active for maybe 6 hours a day. It's a good gig if you can get it. Traditional theories of intelligence acknowledge that there is actually a thing called intelligence.
Gardner’s theory, at least as taught to K-12 educators, invalidates the very concept of intelligence. Let me explain. I am a science teacher. In the classroom, I know who the intelligent students are. They are the ones who can conceptualize, process information efficiently, do well on tests, think critically, etc. When I talk to other teachers, whether it be language arts, math or social studies, we all agree who the smart kids are. We do acknowledge that some kids are better at math and some write better but we all know who the intelligent kids are. But because Gardner posits so many “intelligences,” he is basically saying that everyone is intelligent. But if everyone is intelligent, then no one is intelligent - as the saying goes. This same approach to sports means everyone gets a participation trophy - after all, everyone contributes something to the team, right? Students should be grouped by ability and intelligence.
Currently teachers are supposed to “differentiate” their lesson plans so that the motley assortment of students that make up a typical class can all be taught at each student’s proper level of understanding or ability. In theory this is how differentiation “works.” In reality, the lumping of students of every ability in one class brings down the level of teaching to the middle. Who suffers? Students of higher intelligence and ability who must put up with moving at a slower pace to accommodate those who cannot think as quickly or as conceptually. |
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October 2018
AuthorJonathan Smith - A New Jersey Public School Teacher who disagrees with the National Education Association. |