Curr 509 - Waiting for Superman

        Waiting for Superman was the appropriate title for this documentary.The documentary was about how the United States school system is falling apart, and producing students that are behind other emerging countries.The documentary basically says that charter schools have a proven track record, and advocate that this is the answer to the failing school system, but if we replace every school we have with the charter school system what makes us think that the charter school system is not also going to start to turn.
        The failing system is blamed on teacher having tenure, and the bureaucracy that is involved in school politics. Shouldn't the answer be to lessen the bureaucracy, and hold people accountable. Yes, there were some disturbing features about teachers with tenure such as teachers just reading the newspaper and one went way over the line to put the students head in a toilet. Tenure is a good way to reward teachers, and make them feel more at ease in that they can actually teach without having to worry about their job safety. Some people do their best work when they feel safe. But, should there be exceptions to tenure, yes, a teacher who does not do their job and teach or one that goes as far as doing what was recorded by the student should be let go. I remember having a teacher like the one described when i was in middle school, someone who instead of teaching math would read the newspaper all day, and that should not be acceptable. I believe this might happen because as teachers most go into this profession enthusiastic to make a change, a difference. But, as time goes on and you cannot do it because of such factors as bureaucracy it demoralizes the teacher. There are however exceptions to that, some just do not believe. It was eye opening that in the beginning of the movie the man driving the car past the schools explained how he was a school teacher. And when he was a teacher he believed in the system and everything was fine, but when it came to having his child attend the public school system which he worked in at some point then he did not believe in it and it was not good enough. If any educator, or person who works for the school system does not believe in the system or in that it is worth it, or that they can succeed, then how they actually do it. How can one succeed at change or imparting knowledge on someone else when deep down you do not believe in it yourself, and that is the first change that needs to occur. Because in this case, charter schools are the superman of the documentary but superman can only do so much.