Letter: Teachers get no respect these days

Monday, May 28, 2007 | 6:08 a.m.

The late comedian Rodney Dangerfield used to quip, "I get no respect!" For a comedian it's a funny line, but for public school teachers it is the sad reality of the profession in the U.S. today. Lack of respect comes from the media, politicians, parents, students and the public.

The media and publicity-seeking politicians attack teachers for not doing their job and for contributing to the decline of public education. Parents demonstrate disdain for teachers by openly challenging teacher authority and policies regarding discipline, grading standards , and quality and quantity of homework assignments.

Today students are surly, rude, disrespectful and defiant of teacher authority because parents and administrators fail to respect and support the teacher as an authority figure in the classroom. Students give teachers little respect when they mimic parents and administrators who openly discredit every form of teacher authority.

Over the past century, school districts have mandated policies of tolerance that have led to rampant permissiveness. Teaching in public schools today is being reduced to the status of baby sitting. The teaching profession no longer experiences the same status as in the past and is blamed for educational decline resulting from societal changes and turmoil in our country over the past 50 years.

Poor working conditions, mounting discipline problems and other factors contribute to the public view of teaching as a third-rate career. Academic knowledge, excellence and competence in teaching have little to do with public respect for teachers. Respect and prestige flow easiest to those having occupations viewed as glamorous, exciting and financially rewarding.

Virgil A. Sestini, Las Vegas

The writer is a retired 30-year biology teacher in the Clark County School District.