Listen to teachers on school reform | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register

Listen to teachers on school reform DesMoinesRegister.com The Des Moines Register:

"Some say people have no idea what they're up against. The most common obstacles they mention: Children coming to school tired, hungry or just not motivated to learn. Parents lacking the time - or interest - to make homework a priority. Administrators who pressure teachers not to raise academic expectations too high."

Others say we have been too critical of teachers, particularly by calling for a great teacher in every classroom. Our observation that there is a mix of strong, average and mediocre teachers in many schools does not sit very well with these teachers.Then there are those who say teachers have not had enough of a voice in this project, and they have a point.It's time to pay more attention to what reforms teachers think would help them give students a globally competitive education.

Yes, teachers took part in two Register roundtable discussions, and they have been interviewed for many parts of the project. The Register also surveyed teachers statewide in May and this summer began to report their views, starting with beginning minimum pay and whether they have enough time to help students.

Watch for us to publish more survey results this fall.But teachers' voices should be heard on a more consistent basis. So we invited three teachers to blog for us on the Register's Web site this school year: Frank Beard, a Southeast Polk High School and Drake University graduate who is with Teach for America in Kansas City, Mo.; Amy Prime, a second-grade teacher in Newton; and Melissa Spencer, a North High School science teacher in Des Moines. You can find them under the heading "Class Matters" on our Opinion and World-Class Schools pages online.

The plan is to ask them all the same question every week; this week it's about class size and what they'd like to change.