Well, the red tide has returned to south Florida. Did it ever leave? Today I went kayaking, but couldn't bring myself to swim amongst the dead fish. Paddle, paddle, thwack. Paddle, paddle, thwack. There is something disconcerting about the red mixed with my blue-green ocean that leaves the sandbars a muddy brown. I, nor the dogs, have yet to notice any sort of throat or eye irritation this time, just the smell of dead fish. And I can't honestly say the dogs mind that so much.
Shweggy called from Bloomington today. She just seemed to realize that I have really left. She has been having her own adventures traveling in Alaska and Las Vegas. And yet, there is no blog where I can read about her adventures. Seriously, though, it was so nice to hear from someone from home. Since Mike went back to Orlando on Sunday, I've developed a little cabin fever. That shall, of course, come to an abrupt end as the family vacation begins with the parents arrival on Friday.
I was sent this link to this CNN article about the desire to attract more males to the teaching profession and some of the things it said rubbed me the wrong way. While I absolutely agree that good male teachers bring something different to the table and should be valued, especially at the elementary level, I took offense at the underlying tone of the article.
For example, the article refers to education as "a field long dominated by women." Why does this use of the word dominate irritate me so? Because it is clearly a misuse of the word. Women do not "control, govern, or rule by superior authority or power" the field of education. I know it's semantics, but it was only the beginning of what annoyed me.
Next, a fellow named Nelson was paraphrased as expressing the view that men in the classroom "would help show children that society as a whole places a deep value on education. . ." Excuse me? The mind boggles at the number of things which must take place for a demonstrated value of education, not the least of which is treating teachers like the professionals they are. Does Nelson mean that societal value is demonstrated by equal representation of the sexes or that male presence alone represents value? If it is the former, than I must point out that there are other fields which society apparently values which do not have equal representation of the sexes. Orthopedic Surgery, a profession that continues to be virtually unattainable to women, comes to mind. And if it is the latter, my response is not appropriate for public presentation.
The final irritating tidbit of this article involved a principal who does a little dance when she hires a male teacher. This female principal tries to make her staff more accommodating to men by "asking female teachers to rein in their lunchroom chatter about intimate matters." Oh, tell me your toes are curling, too. I now have a new vision of the professional teacher as a woman sitting around at lunch talking about her period and sex life. Perhaps she's even eating cherry bon bons.
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2 comments:
Oh my freaking word. We need more quality people working in the classroom. That will show the children that education is important.
"Getting more men into classrooms, Nelson said, would help show children that society as a whole places a deep value on education..."
Well, having even more men stay at home to raise their children would help too but you don't see that happening any time soon, do you? Pay women more for the professional work they do (and give them the concomitant respect) and maybe you'll see some changes.
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