The continued bashing of teachers' unions is an attack on all unions and on the public education system that serves as the soil for our civic life. The Michelle Rhee/Bill Gates/Arne Duncan crowd promotes a narrowly focused reform movement based on teaching to tests that test what is least important at the expense of rich, meaningful curriculum that will educate our students for participation in our democracy. Finally, educators are starting to stand up to this attack on one of the most valuable public institutions. One example of this is a group of educators in Des Moines, Iowa who have written a "Professional Educator's Creed" to stand up for a positive vision of education.
The creed reads as follows...
As a professional educator, I believe that education is a noble profession with the power to transform lives and empower human beings to thrive and improve our democratic society and diverse, changing world. I help change the world and create our future. I understand the unique privilege and accept the great responsibility that comes with this charge. To the best of my ability, I will...
• Act on the belief that all students are unique, have worth, and can improve their lives and their world.
• Support and protect the right of every student to a free, quality, public education with meaningful and equitable opportunities to learn.
• Provide an education directed toward the development of the dimensions of human potential and personality.
• Educate with the understanding that public education is the cornerstone of a free and functioning democratic society.
• Provide rich, meaningful, engaging, and challenging experiences that empower the whole person to think, communicate, and interact so they can improve their lives and the lives of others.
• Create caring, supported, and democratic learning communities that ensure the rights of all students are respected, including those who lack the means to make their needs known.
• Provide an education that strengthens respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of all human beings.
• Eliminate ignorance and further understanding and caring.
• Advocate for the well being of students and families.
• Collaborate constructively with colleagues to improve the craft of educating and to build the learning communities that benefit the growth and development of all.
• Collaborate with our school communities and others to inform and shape healthy deliberations about the future of our schools.
• Actively resist and work to change policies and practices that devalue or harm students, the education profession, or public education.
• Exercise my professional judgment independently to benefit students.
• Never cease seeking further education for my continual growth.
With a statement of principles like this, is it possible that the teachers can start to take back the argument that has so far amounted to fawning media bowing down to Michelle Rhee, Bill Gates, et al?
Please feel free to show support for the creed by visiting... http://www.change.org/...