Honestly, I'm the last to defend other teachers because the amount of nonsense I witness from colleagues on a daily basis in mind numbing. Poor teachers, in my biased opinion, are more a product of a failed system than anything, though. Young teachers are grabbing on to the newest reforms and running with them, but older teachers have been through 3..4..5.. different reforms like this that have all been completely forgotten with the next administration. Can't blame them for looking at this new shyt with skepticism.
Union also goes too far in protecting bad teachers. There's shytty people in every profession. In most, they get fired....not in education.
Ultimately, though, I can't help but place the majority of the blame on parents. There seems to be a shift in culture where parents feel they have zero responsibility for their child's education. Teachers can only do so much. If there's no support at home then its very rare that the average student will still succeed.
I did well in high school, not because I cared about being educated but because I was terrified of my father. Its a strong motivator.
