From Caitlin Casement,

“I worked in urban schools for 25 years. On Wednesday, June 13, 2012, I received my final send-off from the school district I worked for for all of those years…—among the retirees who left with me, more than 200 had served at least 25 years, and one woman had taught for 50 years…….

Some, like me, are being driven out through harassment campaigns conducted by vindictive and insecure administrators threatened by our vigilant advocacy for our students—and to save money on our salaries by hiring less-experienced teachers.

The rest, cowed by witnessing this intimidation and fearful of becoming the next target, keep their heads down, their classroom doors closed and don’t make waves while they wait out the days until they too can retire.”

I suspect the “reformers” think that anyone who has stuck with this for more than a decade is either stupid or incompetent or a trouble-maker–plus at the top of the salary scale.. There’s even a drive, coming from the same corner, to forget about all “qualifications” altogether. Or claim a few months to be “highly qualified.”

We’re going 180% in the opposite direction as Finland. And for a good reason. The Finnish direction works best when society truly is concerned with everyone. The good old USA isn’t. Or so it seems.

My best to Ms Casement and her two hundred friends and colleagues.

From: www.laprogressive.com/retired-teacher-speaks-postout