Why is it so hard for state leaders to hear the views of teachers? (Capitol Updates)

Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. You can sign up on his website to receive the Capitol Updates newsletter by email.

There was recently an op-ed piece in The Oklahoman by Katherine Bishop, Vice-President of the Oklahoma Education Association. The OEA is the teachers’ professional organization, nowadays often referred to by some pejoratively as the “teachers’ union.” Not that there’s anything wrong with being a teachers’ union. You have to listen to the context to know if the description is friendly, unfriendly or neutral.

Ms. Bishop had attended the Workforce Skills Gap forum sponsored by The Oklahoman and was apparently inspired to say something about the experience. The panel of speakers consisted of officers of the Oklahoma Educated Workforce Initiative and representatives from the State Chamber of Commerce, higher education, CareerTech and the State Department of Education. There was no classroom teacher, public school parent, or student on the panel.

The Oklahoma Educated Workforce Initiative is an organization that works with the State Chamber to promote a view of education policy advanced by business leaders. Ms. Bishop does not quarrel with business leaders and others having influence in determining our state education policies. Her main points consist of the following: To improve education, those most directly involved such as classroom teachers public school parents and students should also be consulted and have a voice. In addition, no changes will be successful unless adequately funded. She says many of public education’s problems stem from so-called reforms created without teacher input and without funding to successfully implement the ideas.

I think most teachers and many parents would say the conditions prevailing in our public schools today is not okay. Ms. Bishop has a good point. It would be a good thing to listen to multiple points of view including teachers. One has to wonder why that is so hard to do.