Me! Me! Me! (And My Issues) - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

Me! Me! Me! (And My Issues) - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher:

Me! Me! Me! (And My Issues)

by Nancy Flanagan

Here's a story: Teachers and spouses are milling around after a statewide Educator Recognition banquet. It's been a wonderful evening, celebrating dozens of teachers and administrators who have been named Teacher/Principal/Superintendent of the Year, Milken Award winners, National Board Certified Teachers, etc. A former TOY's husband comments: Why did all the teachers cross the stage tonight with their heads down? Why were they so anxious to get back to their seats? If this were a real estate sales banquet, they'd be raising those plaques over their heads and grinning. If they were athletes, they'd be pumping their trophies in the air.
A long-time school superintendent asks me: If teachers are so outraged about an excess of testing--if testing mandates have destroyed their curriculum and forced changes to what they know to be effective practice--why aren't they marching in the streets? Why are they so compliant with the destruction of their professional