The Right to Education
The battle of education has always been prominent in Chilean society. University grounds are probably the most notorious areas of public dissent and the student voice the most stringent advocate for political and social freedoms. During the Pinochet era, student organizations suffered the same fate as trade unions and left-leaning political groups: repression and violence. Also during this period, spending on education, from elementary to the university level, was severely curtailed in favor of military spending and more maleable social institutions. Last week's issue of the Economist had a brief article regarding the shortcomings of the Chilean education system, specifically at the elementary and secondary levels. While spending on education has dramatically increased following the fall of the dictatorship, matching the levels of most industrialized countries, student performance has failed to improve as a response. The blame has been largely placed on apathetic teachers who are paid based on seniority instead of ability and whose jobs are virtually untoucheable under the union's collective agreement. Young students are following in the footsteps of their university brethren by staging protests against the lack of reform to this deliterious system. A new Teacher Assessment Program has angered those teachers who received the poor training doled out during the Pinochet era. A new program under consideration would use windfall profits from the copper industry to train teachers across the board and subsequently make them accountable for their students' performance. The apparent obstacle to the Chilean government is negotiating with the powerful Teachers Union, but based on the information presented I'm confused as to why this should be so problematic. If some teachers are aware of their inadequacy and fear for their jobs then why not agree to the training program. If they are truly virtuous teachers, then ensuring the healthy mental and social development of their students is of primary importance and the threat of job loss for incompetence shouldn't cause any concern. Would anyone want a half-hearted, detached surgeon fooling around with their vital organs? Ok, it's not quite the same, but the right to education should be treated no different than the right to health care or housing.
last301
The battle of education has always been prominent in Chilean society. University grounds are probably the most notorious areas of public dissent and the student voice the most stringent advocate for political and social freedoms. During the Pinochet era, student organizations suffered the same fate as trade unions and left-leaning political groups: repression and violence. Also during this period, spending on education, from elementary to the university level, was severely curtailed in favor of military spending and more maleable social institutions. Last week's issue of the Economist had a brief article regarding the shortcomings of the Chilean education system, specifically at the elementary and secondary levels. While spending on education has dramatically increased following the fall of the dictatorship, matching the levels of most industrialized countries, student performance has failed to improve as a response. The blame has been largely placed on apathetic teachers who are paid based on seniority instead of ability and whose jobs are virtually untoucheable under the union's collective agreement. Young students are following in the footsteps of their university brethren by staging protests against the lack of reform to this deliterious system. A new Teacher Assessment Program has angered those teachers who received the poor training doled out during the Pinochet era. A new program under consideration would use windfall profits from the copper industry to train teachers across the board and subsequently make them accountable for their students' performance. The apparent obstacle to the Chilean government is negotiating with the powerful Teachers Union, but based on the information presented I'm confused as to why this should be so problematic. If some teachers are aware of their inadequacy and fear for their jobs then why not agree to the training program. If they are truly virtuous teachers, then ensuring the healthy mental and social development of their students is of primary importance and the threat of job loss for incompetence shouldn't cause any concern. Would anyone want a half-hearted, detached surgeon fooling around with their vital organs? Ok, it's not quite the same, but the right to education should be treated no different than the right to health care or housing.
last301
posted by Spencer at 12:25 AM
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