Comments on: The Public Option

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:13:13 +0000

Well, it’s my blog, so I’ll add a final word. Dean, I don’t think Bill’s statements in that regard are contradictory. Being an expert doesn’t guard against mediocrity. Bill, I have no idea what your last comment meant, but I’m sorry you feel the way you do.

By: Bill Brown

Bill Brown — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:57:50 +0000

Got it. I guess I should have taken both of your numbers literally rather than giving either of you the benefit of the doubt. So he really means that less than 30% of teachers have “any kind of knowledge even approaching expertise at the subjects they teach” and you really mean that 99% (or 90% or ‘a strong majority’) of teachers aren’t “an expert on much of anything” and “could easily be surpassed by any homeschooler.”

No point in any further participation on my part here, as I’m clearly not part of the choir you’re addressing.

By: Dean Kriegel

Dean Kriegel — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:54:54 +0000

Bill,

Your statements are contradictory: “public schools tend toward mediocrity” and “the majority of teachers are experts.”

There are 3.3 million teachers employed in public schools (those ones that tend toward mediocrity) and 0.5 million teachers employed in private schools (most of the rest of them). This means 85% of teachers work in a public school system that tends towards mediocrity but the majority of all teachers are experts. How probable is it that both of these things are true?

If 85% of all auto mechanics worked for a chain of garages that tended toward mediocrity wouldn’t it seem an improbable claim that the majority of auto mechanics were experts?

Also, that anyone believes a grade school teacher must be an academically active scholar to have a level of expertise to adequately teach grade school is a straw man.

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:21:32 +0000

Bill, Just a clarification: Dean’s 30% number was his “bet” (I take that to mean his guess) at the number of teachers who were experts or had a high level of knowledge in their fields. My 90% number (admittedly a total guess and really a bombastic way of trying to emphasize my point of a strong majority, as I said) was the number of teachers whose success could easily be surpassed by any homeschooler.

Neither of us were speaking about a number who “cared” or were professional.

By: Bill Brown

Bill Brown — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:06:07 +0000

I think your and Dean’s view of teachers is a caricature. My wife was a teacher for 10 years at public, private, and charter schools. I’ve met a lot of teachers (and I went through public education my entire life) and I would put the number that are unprofessional, which I take to mean not concerned with improvement and generally in it for the time off, at 10% or less. That’s an arbitrary number but it seems like the right ratio. It is most certainly not 99% or 90% or even 30%.

But if your child is stuck in the wrong end of that ratio, it could be big trouble. You can avoid that by selecting your teacher with forethought and research. In the end, bad teachers last a year. With dedication by the parents, that bad year can be mitigated considerably through at-home work or interventions with the principal and teacher.

Again, I’m sympathetic to those who wish to homeschool. If my neighborhood public school were worse or if I lived in a tougher part of town, then I might be more inclined to do it as well. But it’s not a panacea and there are good schools out there (public and private).