I thought this was an astonishingly blunt statement about a frank "political" reality of public education, from a writer and publisher probably not prone to the worst of hippie histrionics:
Maeroff, Gene I., The School-Smart Parent, New York: Times Books, 1989; Chapter 11: Working With the Staff (p. 187):
"Each principal operates a sort of fiefdom, paying tribute to the superintendent, but having considerable latitude in running the school. The children in an elementary school are powerless; they are not even big enough to intimidate anyone. School systems are like the Kremlin in their hierarchical nature. The power flows down from the top. Almost none of it--in an elementary school especially--gets to the students, who occupy a role not unlike the serfs in the Middle Ages. So the lowly little student in an elementary school needs allies wherever they can be found. The principal is a good one to have on the side of any child."
Good lord, that is almost unbearably grim. (Also presumably accurate.)
ReplyDeleteThat's why I am so conflicted about teacher's unions. I've seen them do bad and I've also seen them do good. I've worked at a school where the teacher's union was the only thing making sure kids got recess (so the teachers could have a 15 minute break).
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