Monday, May 06, 2013

Illinois columnist offers support to me

Columnist Brenda Krause of the Northern Star in DeKalb, Ill., offers some support in her latest offering:


Turner explains teachers are being told not to teach but to guide students to learn on their own. He agrees students need to be actively involved in their own learning, but also believes teachers can be a great aid to students. I understand this. I’ve had teachers who clearly did not want to be involved, but I was also lucky to have a few that sincerely cared for their students. I remember the ones that would willingly go out of their way for their class. It’s those select teachers that made my decision easy to go into education.
I grew up with a parent in education, so I realize how difficult the profession is. You’re basically “damned if you do and damned if you don’t.” Teachers are constantly being ridiculed for one thing or another. Granted, there are many who get away with the bare minimum. For those whom give their life to it, it’s a neverending battle.
Since the blog post, Turner has been suspended from his position for supposedly distributing a book to his students that he wrote which contains sexually explicit material. Turner denied these allegations and claims he never forced his students to read the book. Whether or not Turner actually made his students read the book is still being debated; however, I feel it was unfair for him to be let go from his position before the truth could be revealed. ”
Turner may have lost his position, but he has gained respect from fellow teachers around the country, and certainly from this columnist.
While I appreciate Ms. Krause's kind words, there is no debate on whether I forced students to read the book; everyone involved knows that is not the truth- including those who are accusing me of doing so.

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