The Discovery Network has launched an absolutely awful show called “Bad Teachers.” Here how it’s described:
There are some teachers who don’t play by the rules, who ruin lives instead of changing them for the better. They’ll go dangerously beyond the lesson plan to fulfill their youthful fantasies and selfish desires, often dragging students down with them into a WORLD of deceit and danger. The educators exposed in Investigation Discovery’s new, three-part series Bad Teachers had been beloved by students, looked up to by faculty peers, and trusted by parents. Little did anyone know that their extra-curricular activities crossed the line into Twisted chemistry, secret lust, shocking exploitation, and felony seduction. Interviews with former students, loved ones, and law enforcement paint a portrait of teachers who abused their power and found themselves on the wrong side of detention.
Have they no shame?
I agree with John Spencer’s tweet:
Instead of a show called Bad Teachers, why not create a series focussed on celebrating good teachers?
— John Spencer (@edrethink) April 28, 2014
Note: I have a The Best Funny Movie/TV Clips Of Bad Teachers, but I use that as an engaging opening to a serious lesson for my students on teaching, and it certainly is done in the spirit of fun. I also have The Best Places To Learn About (And View Video Clips Of) Teachers In The Movies.
Wow- feels like a betrayal from the title. Will have to look at it. I agree, shouldn’t the goal be to highlight some of the good so many teachers do?
Where’s the show about bad bankers, bad politicians? Where is the funding behind this show really coming from? This constant teacher bashing is wearing thin and become a bit too obvious. ‘They’ really need to change their game plan if they want to take over public education.
Hey Larry. Your post has generated quite a bit of discussion at the halls of Discovery Education. I appreciate both your candor and the passion with which you share it.
My collague and VP of the DEN team, Lance Rougeux, has posted a blog that addresses our thoughts on the subject. I encourage you (and your readers) to give it a read.
http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/blog/2014/04/28/we-love-amazing-teachers/
One last follow up. The leadership at Discovery Communications took the feedback shared by educators very seriously. You can see the response at http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/blog/2014/04/29/good-news-from-discovery-education/
Thanks for being passionate, vocal supporters of the education community.
Kudos to teachers who use Discovery products for speaking out about this, and kudos to Discovery for responding to the concerns of teachers and canceling this program!
http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/blog/2014/04/29/good-news-from-discovery-education/