“The system that aims at educating our boys and girls in the same manner as in the circus where the trainer teaches the lion to sit on a stool, has not understood the true meaning of education itself. Instead of being like a circus where the trainer uses his stick to make animals do stunts to serve the interest of the audience, the system of education should be like an Orchestra where the conductor waves his stick to orchestrate the music already within the musicians’ heart in the most beautiful manner. The teacher should be like the conductor in the orchestra, not the trainer in the circus.”
– Abhijit Naskar, The Education Decree
Today’s post is for all the conductors I know who put their heart and soul into teaching our children.
Many of our North Carolina teachers have traveled to Raleigh today to rally for education. Their priorities:
- $15 minimum wage for all school personnel; 5% raise for all non-certified staff, teachers, and administration; 5% cost of living adjustment for retirees
- Meet national standards for number of school librarians, psychologists, social workers, counselors, nurses, and other health professionals.
- Expand Medicaid to improve the health of our students and families
- Reinstate state retiree health benefits eliminated by the General Assembly in 2017
- Restore advanced degree compensation stripped by the General Assembly in 2013
Visit Red4EdNC to learn more. Visit neaToday: Red for Ed to learn about the movement nationwide.
Linda hosts One-Liner Wednesday. Check out her blog to see who else is participating this week.
Riddle from the Middle 
Teaching is one of the most important jobs there is. Maybe THE most important.
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100% yes. It’s one of the few things that touches everything else there is.
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Good point!
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I love that quote. My oldest is an Early Education teacher and supervisor – and it is TOUGH work helping kids discover their world. And the pay just isn’t there. Sad – our kids are our future, we need to invest in them, and those who help them along the way to adulthood.
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I agree so much! How can people think investing in cars or iPhones is important but kids can just “make do”? Honestly, I think it’s a miracle so many good teachers stick around like they do.
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I wonder the same things. I also wonder about the caregivers for the elderly. It’s hard to find them and pay them enough for the work they do. We have missed the boat on both ends of life.
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As a teacher for more than 30 years, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this post. Teachers want the very best for their students and earn every dime they make. I regularly put in 60 – 70 hours each week and loved every minute of it!
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Seriously, if you’ve never lived with a teacher the workload is unimaginable. Thank you for everything you did for those kiddos. 💛
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Different countries but both countries have their priorities screwed up. Really hope they get some progress.
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Me too. We lose more good teachers every year. It’s hard to hold out hope that things will ever change.
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I much prefer the orchestra what a beautiful picture that paints. I hope those teachers prevailed at their rally.
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It is a lovely analogy. I’ve been looking at the photos from the rally and those signs hit home. I hope the right folks are paying attention.
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The circus vs orchestra analogy is appropriate. And I think there is value in broadening the comparison beyond the educational arena. Particularly to the groups creating the crisis for our educators.
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That’s an excellent point.
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Thank you for standing by those teachers and posting this. We need more people in this country to care more about education. It’s just so crazy to me that people really just don’t care.
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We had a bond referendum on the ballot last November — three ways to increase funding for education in our county. Voters passed the bond to build a new high school and expand/renovate other schools. They also passed one for the local community college. But a measure to increase sales tax by .25%? Nope. Can’t give the schools any more money to, say, improve teacher pay or hire additional assistants. Ugh.
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I love the quote. And I hate how underappreciated teachers are. Our new government here in Ontario has slashed funding on education, and it really makes my blood boil.
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You have to wonder how they think they can keep giving teachers less and expect them to work miracles.
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I don’t have to look any farther than my brother to see the conductor at work. I am sad, when I see state after state that have spent themselves into undisciplined holes, turn and blame the teachers for their budget crises. The less attractive we make the career of teaching, the less well-educated our children will be. I’d say, “don’t get me started” but I think it’s too late.
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I don’t understand how people roll their eyes at this. I see it all the time, and one of the most frustrating arguments is “teachers in my day did just fine.” Really?? Then I guess you’d be happy getting paid a 1950s salary? They are so short sighted, and then they’re surprised when they lack support from those generations.
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The quote is apt. I was taught in a circus trainer paradigm. It was a small school district and keeping kids in line was more important than sparking curiosity in us. Times have changed, I do hope.
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I think a lot of us went through when it was circus time. From what I’ve seen in the schools there are still some teachers who cling to the old system — there’s a lot of fighting for control in those rooms. But more and more are finding ways to create space for free learning in a system that definitely doesn’t encourage it.
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