For your consideration ...
The equation, 2+2=5, wasn't focused on you. What I was trying to impart that since a student can get a passing grade for answering 2+2=5, how does the system juxtapose and justify the equation 5-2=3 as being correct? Using evil public school system institutional logic, shouldn't it be 5-2=2? On the chalkboard it should be written for the class to see as 2+2≠5.
I don't blame you for leaving the public indoctrination system. Public school teachers today are lackey's, controlled rubes, pushing crap on kids that most often go against their own personal beliefs. They know it's wrong, but they need/want that paycheck.
Yeah, this one sentence is not true about the majority of teachers today. There is constant discussion within the ranks concerning how toxic education has become and the negative impact that it is having upon the students. The number one mantra for the last 5 years, at least, has been "just shut your door and TEACH". There are so many ridiculous mandates being pushed down that are totally ridiculous, not to mention impossible to actually achieve. And most of them take vital time away from actually working with the students to ensure that they learn the material. There is just SO MUCH
wrong with how we are
mandated to conduct "public education" right now. There is not the time, nor the space to go into detail. Those who try to speak up from within are either ignored, targeted, or both. And if you need that paycheck to put food on the table, it's a very real economic risk to your family.
In addition, the current atmosphere in a lot of schools is very toxic due to things like micro-managing, constant disruptions, extremely unrealistic expectations, toxic positivity, threats of physical harm, and mental abuse. Burnout is very prevalent right now. Believe it or not, (and I never, ever thought I would have to say this), there are people who leave teaching with PTSD! It is very hard to explain it to someone who has no concept of what it is like. Retaliation for speaking out is the status quo so the only teachers who will speak openly about conditions are the ones who are leaving, have left, aren't dependent upon the paycheck, or just plain don't give a damn anymore.
I was blessed to work with a large number of talented, dedicated professionals over the years. And I saw most of them get progressively beaten down and burnt out with the conditions under which they had to work.
And your last sentence? Yes, teachers are for the most part, economic slaves, like a lot of other folks.
I am not saying that teachers are unique in having to work under these kinds of conditions. They aren't. What I am saying is that every other occupation comes AFTER your basic K-12 education. And if the folks involved in and responsible for providing that education are telling you (the public) that sh*t is f*cked up, you need to LISTEN to them! And if you don't/won't, what happens to all of the other occupations afterwards is on YOU, not those teacher who tried so desperately to get someone/anyone to just LISTEN.
And thus concludes my TED talk for the day. I'm off now to spend some quality time outdoors in the 56 degree sunshine on January 1st!