In Praise of Teachers

We've all encountered teacher bashing to one degree or another throughout our career, bur not to the extent that the Harris government subjected teachers during the weeks leading up to the implementation of Bill 160.
It's always refreshing to read or hear the praises of teachers.
This page is devoted to such letters and articles.
When you encounter such a letter, please email it to me to include along with these. Your comments about the articles are also welcome.

1. In support of active teachers.
2. Teachers change lives

Who's Really Responsible??
For decades, teachers have been attending staff meetings where principals announced yet another government initiative in education. Many teachers objected to the Whole Language approach at the expense of phonics. Teachers never asked for the Common Curriculum. Few were fully behind Student- Centered Learning. Fewer still supported having five or six editions of various textbooks for one subject rather than having the same book for every student. The use of writing folders was seen by all but the "upwardly mobile" as a needless expense. Co-operative Learning techniques continue to have questionable educational value for many teachers. Teachers heralded the inception of special education classes in the mid-'80s, only to have them replaced under the guise of the new and improved government educational initiative called "integration" and "modified program". Invariably, principals met the challenge of dismayed teachers, responding that the new policies came from the ministry of education and that nothing could be done about them. But through it all, many teachers kept a steady hand, applying some semblance of the traditional middle-class values of hard work, discipline and accountability despite ever-increasing class sizes and meaningless government directives.
                                                                                    J.W. van Manen, Oshawa, Ont
McLean's Magazine - The Mail - November 24, 1997


I am appalled by the ruthlessness Ontario Premier Mike Harris displays in characterizing the teachers as a special interest group concerned only with preserving its prep time. The teachers are at the front lines in what seems like an endless battle since the beginning of this government's mandate, defending the humanitarian values of our society from the arrogant agenda of Harris and his cohorts.
                                                                                      Donald Strange, Woodstock, Ont
McLean's Magazine - The Mail - November 24, 1997


more