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Teachers’ Rights & Responsibilities
Increasingly, teachers are being asked to do more with less. The “powers that be” have ever higher expectations of teaching performance. Yet, and still, administrators offer very little practical help.
Teachers are expected to execute instructional planning; prepare meaningful lessons; select and prepare instructional materials; review and evaluate students’ work; communicate and conference with students, parents, staff, and administrators; maintain appropriate records; provide leadership and supervise student activities, just to name a few.
The obligations of teachers to students and parents don’t stop here however. Teachers are also (by law) compelled to report any suspected child abuse. Teachers must report all suspected sexual harassment, not to mention any and all forms of prejudice, discrimination or suspected hate crimes. There is little doubt that teachers are responsible for far too much while being paid far too little. All the while, fat-cat administrators are being paid six-figure salaries for holding meetings, writing memos and making speeches about how teachers should be more effective. Again, offering little but asking much.
Of recent date teachers in this neck of the woods have also been asked by their administrators to turn a blind-eye to the teachers most important responsibility and legal duty ... to keep their students away from harmful environmental hazards, namely toxic molds.
To many administrators, the problems of toxic mold cannot be addressed because it just costs too much money to fix. We have been told, year-after-year, by teacher-after-teacher that their pleas for a safe indoor environment have been completely ignored. And year-after-year the teachers and their students become as sick as the buildings they are forced to occupy.
Although you are continually asked to do too much, Education Advocates asks for just one more thing: Please take a stand to protect your health and the health and welfare of your students. Insist that you will not allow “health” to be compromised because some administrator believes it costs too much to properly perform your sacred duty to protect children. Putting you and your students at unnecessary risk is just not acceptable.
Insist that your administrators respond to leaks and wet building materials within 48-hours. Demand that your district establish a regular schedule for inspecting roofs, ceilings, walls, floors, and carpeting for water intrusion and mold growth. You are (although you shouldn’t have to be) the first responder to your students health needs. You are responsible because you are able to respond. For the sake of your own health and the health of your colleagues and students, make yourself heard. If that doesn’t work or you would like our help, please contact us; we will make sure you are heard. Please educate yourself about these important issues. Linked references are provided in articles listed below. |
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