Sad state of affairs in education - a rant or musing, take your pick

Teaching is challenging always, but well worthwhile when fruits of an educator's labors are realized in the success of one his/her students or a simple "thank you" from one of those same students is given.  Inherently, most teachers are called to the profession to inspire and invigorate young minds with the opportunity to share the passions they possess for the content area they work with.  Unfortunately, often in spite of that desire, other realities contribute to a negative tone that mutilate even the most well-meaninged professional.

This year, NYC has experienced budget cuts and financial attrocities that have taken the focus off of what should be our main concern as educators: the children.  We have been subjected to new regulations and the kids have suffered test after test to assure they aren't left behind only to find themselves being dragged from the beaurocratic bulldozer.  Administrations are working hard to insure numbers and the status quo is the appearance of high expectations supported by a void of real learning.

We, as a public school system, have spent more times creating acronyms and fancy jargon that is subject to change at any time (i.e. Objective, Aim, Learning Target, Focus Question, etc), than we really have focused on fostering an intrinsic love of learning.  Kids are obsessed with grades rather than the joy of synthesizing and critically thinking.  The number represents nothing, yet it is the carrot that they all reach for. 

Tauting my own idealism and real high expectations, set with a foundation of skills and solid, consistent boundaries and rules that are the same for all, I scratch my head at the end of a year like this one.  I feel disenchanted with my profession and question my effectiveness daily,  worrying that worst is still yet to come.  Students have oft complained that I give too much work (and in my estimation, never enough) and I wonder what justice we are doing these children by allowing them to get away with so much.  My end goal, is to have adaptive students who can think creatively, welcome a challenge and can appreciate the subject matter if not develop a healthy respect if they can't have a true passion for good literature/writing.  I will continue to persist the way I have, demanding every students' possible best.