School Board Speech

      Tonight I address your myopic or shortsighted vision. Education as a profession has had a long history of sacrifice and service. As teachers, our jobs have been far more than academic. In fact, covering curriculum is the last of our duties as we test our students in mind-numbing standardized to appease your shortsighted need for data. Our children deserve to be seen as far more than a number on a test.

      I see how important your alliance is with commerce and industry, but that is so far from why most educators choose this as a profession. We are loyal to student development and independent thought and have sacrificed time with our own families to be good teachers. We have chosen education not for the dollars but for the sense, common sense that is when we recognize the impact good teachers have on the future of our society.

      Now, for our efforts, many of us are walked from our classrooms during the school day and from our buildings in disgrace without even knowing our errors. After a lifetime of service this aligns clearly with an insensitive business model of downsizing which lacks consideration and courtesy. Where is the humanity in this indignity? So now you have a temporary fix by paying a substitute and the teacher put on administrative leave. However, the injustice done to these people leaves a lifelong scar. The bottom line is that everyone is replaceable because there are numerous inexperienced teachers who are cheaper on your payrolls, but I question how long they will last without mentoring from our veteran teachers.

      You need to read If Aristotle Ran General Motors  by Tom Morris. Drop such unethical practices, your costly legal bills, and your hubris. Such self-serving pride doesn’t serve us well. Education has an ethical and moral base that is not served by such disgraceful tactics.

      You need to treat your employees with civility and common sense.

      You need to investigate this practice immediately.

We cannot be sustained without the truth, beauty, goodness, and unity, and such failures divide us.

You need to remove your shades before you morally bankrupt district 205 because we all deserve better.