Silencing Teachers in an Era of Scripted Reading
I was shocked when I read this article and couldn’t believe it was a true story. It’s hard for me to even fathom that this was in fact a reality for Elizabeth Jaeger. She was genuinely wanting the best for her children and she was punished for it. I don’t understand how the administration and county could have pulled her from her job. Why was she considered such a threat? Did they not agree with what Ms. Jaeger thought was best for the students and if not, why not? How could they not agree with differentiating instruction?
When I read the part in which the Open Court Reading had arrived, it made me think of the county in which I am employed. It seems like we get on a different bandwagon every few years. It doesn’t even seem as if we have time to implement anything before we’re changing it again. Not much time is given to see if a program or philosophy works or not. It seems as if these textbook people and/or publishing companies sell the county on their “cure all.” Sometimes I wonder exactly who these people are…have they ever taught first grade? Have they ever taught it in a school similar to mine?
As I continued to read the article, I was proud of Ms. Jaeger for continuing to fight for what she believed in. A lot of people would have given up at that point, or wouldn’t have ever started the “fight” in the first place.
People like Ms. Jaegar are such an inspiration to me. I would like to read about more people that fight for what they believe in! At least she received the “In Defense of Good Teaching Award,” but I’m sure what she really wanted was what was best for her students.
