this post was submitted on 29 Apr 2025
-1 points (46.2% liked)

Opinion Havers

81 readers
3 users here now

This is for people to express opinions, ideally those that are unpopular, boutique, eccentric or otherwise outside the norm. Please strive to upvote posts and comments that are articulate and somewhat thoughtful, even if you disagree with the opinion.

Argument and debate is completely acceptable and in fact what we're going for here! Dumb drive-by comments are not allowed and may result in a short ban.

founded 3 months ago
MODERATORS
 

The word "educator" has grown in prominence in the past 10 years, but it's not a real profession. I completely understand why people involved in education administration like to use it - because it makes it sound like they're directly involved in teaching students, when in reality they are part of the gigantic bureaucratic structure that is siphoning money away from actually teaching students.

Teachers should call themselves teachers and be proud. It's a noble profession. Administrators, assistants, program coordinators, etc should just call themselves administrators for short, because they aren't educators. Being involved in education, and being an educator, are two different things.

top 9 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Squorlple@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

The word “teacher” connotes a grade school teacher, but tutors, professors, teaching assistants (TAs), and intervention teachers are all educators with roles distinct from grade school teachers’ role. They do teach, yes, but their professions don’t fully match what people generally associate with the professional title of “teacher”.

[–] Peasley@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I'm not saying this doesnt happen, but i have a fair few friends and family who work in public schools.

The only ones that call themselves "educators" are teachers or professors. Secretaries are secretaries. Principals are principals. School board members are assholes.

[–] BothsidesistFraud@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Definitely not the case, every administrator without a widely understood job title (like principal) is called an educator these days.

[–] Peasley@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Perhaps!

I have a close friend who does payroll for a community college, and he says he "does payroll for a community college". Calling himself an educator would be stolen valor by his own admission.

[–] sxan@midwest.social 2 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I feel the same way about "warfighter." I don't know why "soldier" wasn't good enough, but I refuse to use "warfighter."

[–] MintyFresh@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It's because the various branches get their panties in a bundle when you call them soldiers. Call a Marine a soldier and watch them throw a hissyfit. "War fighter" is a term doubtlessly thought up in some godless boardroom and applied to some soulless style guide in some shitless publication.

[–] sxan@midwest.social 2 points 1 day ago

What I read was that Congress people are too stupid to remember soldier, marines, sailors, and airmen, and tell them apart; and "service person" wasn't bad-ass enough for the hawks.

I'm a vet, and "warfighter" is insulting.

[–] klemptor@startrek.website 1 points 1 day ago

Fight war, not wars

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Administrators should call themselves “support staff” since that’s what kids and teachers need them for the most.