What’s the Word: Paige drops bomb on nation’s teachers
By now most people, particularly anyone involved in education, are aware Education Secretary Ron Paige recently referred to the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers and educators professional organization, as “terrorists.”
Understandably, our nation’s educators viewed Mr. Paige’s remarks as an insult, and even more, as a betrayal. To have the country’s top education official demean teachers in such a manner goes far beyond faux pas and right into defamation territory. Though Paige later apologized and said it was a poor choice of words, it did little to assuage the shattered feelings of NEA members. Paige’s remarks have led NEA President Reg Weaver to go so far as to call for President Bush to ask for Paige’s resignation.
One can only wonder what Mr. Paige was thinking when he made such a remark in public. Did he not consider the repercussions? Did he think our nation’s educators would take such a comment lightly?
If he did, he was wrong on many levels. Wrong to think NEA members wouldn’t take it to heart. Wrong to assume he could get by with it. And most importantly, wrong to have ever made the statement at all.
The Encarta College dictionary defines terrorist as, “a person who uses violence, especially bombing, kidnapping and assassination to intimidate others, often for political purposes.”
Doesn’t sound much like the generally accepted image of a teacher does it? Certainly not my image. It seems Mr. Paige has subsequently decided “terrorist” might have been too strong a word.
“Well, duh!” as any eighth-grader worth his salt could have told him.
In fact, the remark is all the more appalling because the great majority of teachers enter the profession believing they can make a positive difference in their student’s lives. Most would be quick to tell you it isn’t for the money or prestige.
It’s certainly safe to say, even with the bad eggs any profession suffers, no one goes into teaching with destruction, violence and intimidation as their professed aim. Indeed, it would be hard to come up with a much more benevolent profession.
What, then, could have prompted Mr. Paige’s remarks?
Apparently it’s because the NEA has raised what it considers legitimate concerns about President Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” law.
Now, while teachers have made it clear they don’t disagree with the aim of this program, they have made it clear they are not satisfied with its implementation. The NEA has stated the organization will continue to insist on fixing the law’s inadequate funding and unworkable rules.
One of the things the NEA has expressed concern about in NCLB is that it generates what amounts to punitive testing. The NEA says states and schools should have room to create systems that won’t have the majority of schools labeled as “low-performing,” and that schools and students should not be judged solely on reading and math test scores.
The NEA also sees funding as a major issue, noting the president’s proposed 2004 fiscal budget would cut funding for ESEA programs by $1.2 billion. Obviously the president is quite willing to pass laws he claims will improve education, but he isn’t quite as willing to put his money where his mouth is.
It seems Bush finds it politically expedient to pass laws that make it look like he is pro-education, but not so expedient to back up those laws with hard cash.
Of course, one could say that’s understandable. After all, he certainly wouldn’t want it to look like he is backing a “terrorist” group.
(Charlie Johnson is news editor for the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at newseditor@southernstandard.com.)