You hold the dentist accountable for his activity as a dentist. But the real danger the fate that is far more serious to our nation is that a continuation of the last ten years of uncontrolled teacher bashing may finally drive away our best teachers. And when aspiring and novice teachers throw up their hands and walk away from the criticism, the bashing, and the impossible, phony, accountability schemes, this society will face a future that is far more sobering than that caused by the loss of public schools. But if you are puzzled that teachers don t stop their work and make you welcome at school, then you are unrealistic. No assembly line worker would stop in the midst of producing a complex product to visit with parents.
Teachers make education happen.
It s not thoughtful or wise to interrupt their work. And when too many people assume that at any chosen moment they can divert teachers into other tasks such as touring the school and chatting about students, they are way out of bounds. Think of teachers as the author, director, and performer of a new play that lasts only one day. Then realize that tomorrow a new play must be created and performed. If you have any idea what it takes to write, direct, and perform, you ll start seeing why teachers don t want parents interrupting their work.