Teachers

I have seen on a couple threads today a lot of whining about teachers teaching socialism and or "leftist thinking" (whatever that is) to our children. Without agreeing, or disagreeing, with that point of view, I do have to wonder why more conservatives aren't becoming teachers. Does anyone have stats on the political leanings of teachers? If conservatives want to change how our children are tought, then they have to be in the schools teaching, not outside complaining.

If you all don't like this thread, blame trouble, I needed to boost my "threads started" count so I could keep my posting privileges.

archer wrote: I have seen on a couple threads today a lot of whining about teachers teaching socialism and or "leftist thinking" (whatever that is) to our children. Without agreeing, or disagreeing, with that point of view, I do have to wonder why more conservatives aren't becoming teachers. Does anyone have stats on the political leanings of teachers? If conservatives want to change how our children are tought, then they have to be in the schools teaching, not outside complaining.

Wow, I could list and cite several examples...however, conservatives have changed the education landscape......and continue to do so...congrats today to Douglas County Schools.

Private Religious Based Conservative schools continue to grow. Homeschooling continues to grow. In both academics and athletics, private school and homeschool students score higher and perform better. Ironically, both do more with less money.

I guess we conservatives are self taxing themselves (paying school taxes and private/homeschool costs) they get tired of that taxation.

I don't know your exact age Archer, but I would think you can remember the curriculum on school when we were there. Most of those who became teachers began with what was called a Liberal Arts program. Does that answer your question? If not, then have you done any research on the NEA?

I sure hope I have been able to help you!!

Maybe people from the Left are more likely drawn to the education field to serve mankind?
Like journalists?
And like the above, maybe they are corrupted in college.
Or more insidious, conservative teachers don't get tenure because the administration doesn't like their ways. This supposedly pops up often in college.

archer wrote: I have seen on a couple threads today a lot of whining about teachers teaching socialism and or "leftist thinking" (whatever that is) to our children. Without agreeing, or disagreeing, with that point of view, I do have to wonder why more conservatives aren't becoming teachers. Does anyone have stats on the political leanings of teachers? If conservatives want to change how our children are tought, then they have to be in the schools teaching, not outside complaining.

I can only relate my personal experiences with teachers in the local system. I would guess a little more democrat than republican, but not by much. Of course this is Park county and is not representative of the country as a whole. I do know that the teachers union doesn't have much pull up here and that teachers get rolled out of the system (by no renewal of contract) when they start to garner a higher wage. We lose a LOT of very good teachers because of this.

I asked because when my kids were going through school I don't recall them getting a liberal or conservative education.....just an education. they were very different students, and went to very different high schools....one went to a traditional high school......in conservative Texas.....the other went to an alternative high school geared to self directed, hands on learning....because that is how she learns best. Nothing in those experiences or in my own in high school and college seemed to lean either way.

My own feeling is that parents still have more influence over a student's political leanings than does the school they attend or the teachers they have.

RT....my son and daughter-in-law are pretty liberal, but they are home schooling their children.....that isn't just a conservative "thing".

Teacher's hands in the public system are tied. They a forced to teach a curriculum created by a higher power. They do not have the flexibility that a college prof. has to push their own agenda. That said I think a lot of them go in bright eyed with good intentions and naive and are broken down by the system much like new blood going to Washington.

Baileyboy wrote: Teacher's hands in the public system are tied. They a forced to teach a curriculum created by a higher power. They do not have the flexibility that a college prof. has to push their own agenda. That said I think a lot of them go in bright eyed with good intentions and naive and are broken down by the system much like new blood going to Washington.

I agree with you BB (cue the lightening strike). There is little in our public school system that encourages teachers to be creative in their teaching.....that encourages them to excell in their field, or even rewards them for being better teachers. I would like to see public schools be autonomous, let them tailor their curriculum and their structure to their students and their staff....not to some design created by an administrator sitting in an office somewhere who doesn't know much about the individual schools in his/her district. One size fits all education is mediocre education.

The liberal slant come mostly from liberal profs in college as BB said. It took me a couple years in college to see what was happening and I was able to escape with a degree in finance with minimal liberal brainwashing. I especially remember my economics profs pushing Keynesian Theory as if it was a religion and there was no arguing the contrary.