In light of Professor Kumashiro's talk on the neoliberal education reforms sweeping that nation, what do you think of the entrepreneurship highlighted here?
The ideology behind this teacher's "selling lesson plans" essentially positions the teacher as a technician, "delivering" content from a script. I'd argue that in one light, this teacher's business could be seen as another contribution to the slow and steady deskilling of the teaching profession.
The profit motive is the all-mighty value of our society, but at what cost? The collaborative, collective model of teaching that I value - and that I think other Donovans value - is about sharing, not selling, lesson plans to other teachers. If for some reason this script takes off (and we all agreed it was "good teaching", which I don't), what happens when the underfunded school district can't afford the shiny, prepackaged lesson plans? Yet another possible way of reproducing the status quo, corporate-reform style.
I am happy for this teacher and the financial success she has gained while still being able to remain a teacher. This is an interesting way for teachers to make money from their craft. From the brief glimpse into her class, it seems to me she enjoys being creative in her teaching and her ideas have gotten her the money she needs to continue to be creative. I have no problems with her doing this for money and it is something that I would think about if I were to default on my loans or some other financial crisis.
A quick google search tells me that 62% of teachers work two jobs. The ultimate problem with this story is that is promotes the false image of the American dream again. It takes the attention away from teacher salary and back into the mindset of "look at how she is making it work" and undermines teacher unions that look for better pay.
If people truly believe teaching is an art and not a mechanical type job, then the salary should be enough to take the financial problems off the table. I am not saying I want to be paid enough to afford luxury items but I don't want to live check by check to pay bills because then I will look at my job as hours of wage instead of a profession. I think this video is a symptom of a problem and not the problem itself. You fix the problems by raising the status of the profession and this website will not harm the art of teaching.
EDIT last sentence: If you fix the problem by raising the status of the teaching profession, this website will no longer be a threat to the art of teaching.
Immediately, I thought, “What does this do to teacher collaboration?” How are we, as professional teachers, supposed to succeed in this profession that very much requires us to communicate and share ideas with one another if this very concept is being thrown out the window? It made me think about a new teacher my CT talked to me about. He said that last year, there was a new teacher who was struggling to teach a unit on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. So what he did was give her a binder with all the material and lesson plans he uses to teach Hamlet. Basically, his feelings about it were that if he could help this teacher successfully teach students, why wouldn’t he give her his lesson plans? I believe the mindset to collaborate with one another is what’s in jeopardy because of this website. It’s an unsettling situation because on one hand, what this market for selling lessons is communicating is the idea that if you want me to help your student succeed, you have to the student worth it, monetarily. On the other hand, it’s just another attempt for teachers to make a living for themselves. It’s hard for me not to sympathize with the woman.
I hear you out, Jianan, when you say, “[This video] takes the attention away from teacher salary and back into the mindset of "look at how she is making it work" and undermines teacher unions that look for better pay.” However, I’m confused by your statement that suggests that the money has allowed her to continue to be creative. Just wondering if you could elaborate on that.
The ideology behind this teacher's "selling lesson plans" essentially positions the teacher as a technician, "delivering" content from a script. I'd argue that in one light, this teacher's business could be seen as another contribution to the slow and steady deskilling of the teaching profession.
ReplyDeleteThe profit motive is the all-mighty value of our society, but at what cost? The collaborative, collective model of teaching that I value - and that I think other Donovans value - is about sharing, not selling, lesson plans to other teachers. If for some reason this script takes off (and we all agreed it was "good teaching", which I don't), what happens when the underfunded school district can't afford the shiny, prepackaged lesson plans? Yet another possible way of reproducing the status quo, corporate-reform style.
I am happy for this teacher and the financial success she has gained while still being able to remain a teacher. This is an interesting way for teachers to make money from their craft. From the brief glimpse into her class, it seems to me she enjoys being creative in her teaching and her ideas have gotten her the money she needs to continue to be creative. I have no problems with her doing this for money and it is something that I would think about if I were to default on my loans or some other financial crisis.
ReplyDeleteA quick google search tells me that 62% of teachers work two jobs. The ultimate problem with this story is that is promotes the false image of the American dream again. It takes the attention away from teacher salary and back into the mindset of "look at how she is making it work" and undermines teacher unions that look for better pay.
If people truly believe teaching is an art and not a mechanical type job, then the salary should be enough to take the financial problems off the table. I am not saying I want to be paid enough to afford luxury items but I don't want to live check by check to pay bills because then I will look at my job as hours of wage instead of a profession. I think this video is a symptom of a problem and not the problem itself. You fix the problems by raising the status of the profession and this website will not harm the art of teaching.
EDIT last sentence: If you fix the problem by raising the status of the teaching profession, this website will no longer be a threat to the art of teaching.
DeleteImmediately, I thought, “What does this do to teacher collaboration?” How are we, as professional teachers, supposed to succeed in this profession that very much requires us to communicate and share ideas with one another if this very concept is being thrown out the window? It made me think about a new teacher my CT talked to me about. He said that last year, there was a new teacher who was struggling to teach a unit on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. So what he did was give her a binder with all the material and lesson plans he uses to teach Hamlet. Basically, his feelings about it were that if he could help this teacher successfully teach students, why wouldn’t he give her his lesson plans? I believe the mindset to collaborate with one another is what’s in jeopardy because of this website. It’s an unsettling situation because on one hand, what this market for selling lessons is communicating is the idea that if you want me to help your student succeed, you have to the student worth it, monetarily. On the other hand, it’s just another attempt for teachers to make a living for themselves. It’s hard for me not to sympathize with the woman.
ReplyDeleteI hear you out, Jianan, when you say, “[This video] takes the attention away from teacher salary and back into the mindset of "look at how she is making it work" and undermines teacher unions that look for better pay.” However, I’m confused by your statement that suggests that the money has allowed her to continue to be creative. Just wondering if you could elaborate on that.