Teachers Can Handle the 'Huge Changes'

Within the past forty-eight hours, the Illinois State legislature has proposed changes to tenure, the length of the school day and year, job layoffs, dismissing teachers, holding strikes and more.

Some people within the field, or outside of it, may view these changes with some reluctance or skepticism. The vast majority of teachers and other professionals will handle these changes with very little difficulty.

Here's why. The agreements were arrived at through negotiations. Whenever changes take place within the education profession that are done through collective bargaining, the constituents will typically accept them and move on. Groups of people gathered together, in this instance, to determine the way forward with respect to helping students. The result was arrived at through discussion and that sure beats someone 'from on high' dictating the path ahead.

Also, anyone who has taught any length of time knows that, within their own discipline, updates, modifications, inventions and changes occur with great frequency. As teachers, we are use to changes, it is part of our job description! Flexibility is part of our lexicon.

As in the past, I think the general public will find that teachers will continue to do their jobs and do them quite well.

Thanks,
Dick