And the article goes on to mention that our profit-oriented health care system is largely to blame for the unfavorable comparison between American and Canadian workers. I'm glad employers are complaining about the high cost of the insurance racket. Then maybe something will be done about it.
I am, too. Medical is about to break me this year. I know several desperate, good teachers who are being forced to "teach to tests" even when it's not what a child needs, and will do nothing to give him/her building blocks for the next grade--for learning to think. Way too many teachers are on prozac, while parents expect the teachers to do everything the parents can't or won't do in raising the kids. It's not all parents--but a small percentage are destroying the system and driving away good teachers.
Americans got off easy for decades, because until the early 60s they paid teachers NOTHING--it was the only job women with certain talents could get in our society. It's one reason the retirement was decent, even if you had to stay forever to get it--it was what unmarried women did, and they needed that retirement. (I remember how shocked I was to read the Delaney Sisters' story--how the DENTIST gave up her practice to take care of Mom, while the teacher kept teaching--because she had a pension coming, when she finished her years.)
Suddenly, the workforce opened up. We aren't paid what men are, but we're there--and suddenly, few of the best and the brightest women are teaching. Before, we had top 10% for $10,000 a year. Now, colleges actively discourage talented women from teaching, except on a college level. (There was one of those last page columns in Time written by a young woman from, I think Dartmouth, who was told not to teach.)
Good schools are going to cost us. We need more money to do schools and medical, and the current administration has other priorities, I believe.
no subject
I am, too. Medical is about to break me this year. I know several desperate, good teachers who are being forced to "teach to tests" even when it's not what a child needs, and will do nothing to give him/her building blocks for the next grade--for learning to think. Way too many teachers are on prozac, while parents expect the teachers to do everything the parents can't or won't do in raising the kids. It's not all parents--but a small percentage are destroying the system and driving away good teachers.
Americans got off easy for decades, because until the early 60s they paid teachers NOTHING--it was the only job women with certain talents could get in our society. It's one reason the retirement was decent, even if you had to stay forever to get it--it was what unmarried women did, and they needed that retirement. (I remember how shocked I was to read the Delaney Sisters' story--how the DENTIST gave up her practice to take care of Mom, while the teacher kept teaching--because she had a pension coming, when she finished her years.)
Suddenly, the workforce opened up. We aren't paid what men are, but we're there--and suddenly, few of the best and the brightest women are teaching. Before, we had top 10% for $10,000 a year. Now, colleges actively discourage talented women from teaching, except on a college level. (There was one of those last page columns in Time written by a young woman from, I think Dartmouth, who was told not to teach.)
Good schools are going to cost us. We need more money to do schools and medical, and the current administration has other priorities, I believe.