Teachers Talk Depression, Training, Facilities, Bullying; The Atlantic Talks “Poop”
Inside Philanthropy published an article in May exploring the intersection of journalism and private, agenda-specific money. In particular, the article looked at a $550,000 grant to the Atlantic from the Walton Family Foundation – with its stated goal of catalyzing a “national movement demanding choice and accountability” in education – asking: “So how, exactly, does the Atlantic help the foundation advance its game plan?”
The article – “What’s Up With That Big Grant to the Atlantic Monthly from the Walton Family Foundation?” – states that authors had seen no “overt bias toward a Walton worldview in Atlantic’s pieces” while also noting lack of disclaimers in the magazine’s education coverage.
But an article published this week has many readers declaring that the Atlantic is now evidencing anti-teacher and union-bashing attitudes – often associated with the Waltons, as well as with the Gates foundation, which also funds the publication.
All About Poop?
The July 27 article cites a recent national teacher survey sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers and the BadAss Teachers Association. But author Alia Wong fails to interview anyone associated with the Quality of Work-Life Survey, dismisses most its findings, and calls for skepticism toward results because the AFT “clearly has a vested interest in advocating for better work conditions for educators, as does the Badass Teachers Association.”
Wong ignores findings about bullying, poor school facilities, and lack of decision-making. Instead, she zeroes in on only one of four “health and well-being” summary points, declaring: “perhaps the biggest takeaway is somewhat buried in the summary report: Of the various everyday workplace stressors educators could check off, one of the most popular was ‘Lack of opportunity to use restroom.’”
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING:
- 45% do not get adequate bathroom breaks;
- 44% are not able to use the breaks they do get.
- Only half say their school district encourages them to take sick leave when they are ill.
- 26% of respondents say that in the last 30 days, their mental health (stress, depression,
emotional challenges) was not good for 9 or more days.- 51% work in facilities that are only fair/poo
— from “Quality of Worklife Survey” Summary (full summary here and more from the AFT on the survey)
Nine percent of respondents said they’d suffered assault at school, and 30% said they’d been bullied. Wong talks about Teachers Talk Depression, Training, Facilities, Bullying; The Atlantic Talks “Poop” | Education Town Hall Forum: Archives, Announcements, & Extended Discussion on Weekly Broadcasts...: