Short on Power, Long on Responsibility by Richard M. Ingersoll Essay Example

how schools can be part of the problem with teacher quality (Ingersoll, 2007). The article highlights that the main contributor to these problems is teachers lacking control over important decisions in schools, preventing them from fulfilling their responsibilities. The discrepancy lies in the amount of responsibilities that teachers are expected to carry out with the limited power they have been given to fulfill them. For example, teachers often do not have a say in the creation of disciplinary and behavioral policies.

Teachers encounter various obstacles in their profession. Firstly, they are required to follow administrative procedures that may involve paperwork and approval when dealing with disruptive students. Secondly, their personal strengths and weaknesses are not taken into consideration when assigning teaching loads. Thirdly, teachers cannot express concerns about class size or the subjects they are assigned to teach by the school principal or coordinator. Fourthly, they are unable to assess their administrators and must comply with their regulations even when disciplining students who have cheated. In addition, teachers have no say in selecting textbooks or designing the curriculum and may need to use personal funds for materials due to insufficient school budget for these resources. According to Ingersoll (2007), teachers often find themselves "in the middle," attempting to balance conflicting demands and needs of different groups.

Teachers hold the responsibility of educating, managing and disciplining students while also adhering to conflicting guidelines from administrators. It is common to blame teachers for issues in education, but this article emphasizes the importance of acknowledging their concerns. Administrators may neglect the challenges faced by teachers when controlling a classroom. Recent education policies prioritize student needs over teaching and learning, making

it difficult for teachers who feel helpless and demoralized when students are given excessive freedom instead of being taught discipline.

While some may worry about the potential for abuse of power if teachers are granted increased authority over a school's operations based on their level of responsibility, it is important to recognize that many teachers are dedicated and committed to providing quality education for their students. Despite not always receiving recognition for their hard work, it is unfair and unfounded to portray teachers as incompetent or cruel tormentors in popular media. Teachers do not act against their students, but disciplining them has become more challenging in today's climate where young people are encouraged to assert their rights under democracy. Unfortunately, teachers lack an equivalent level of power to handle these assertive students.

Many who choose to pursue teaching do so not for the salary, as the job often requires significant effort without adequate compensation. However, this aspect of the profession is often overlooked by critics.