What happened to the middle-aged, greying, mature, stout (wearing sensible shoes) spinster and widder-type ladies who taught us forty-plus years ago?
They knew their business, were kind but brooked no nonsense or familiarity.....and they certainly were not "best girlfriends" with any of the students.
We used to kinda laugh at them because of their manner and sometimes primness....but by golly, they gave us a helluva education.
Is there some rule now that any qualified teacher over 25 can't be hired?
Who interviews the potential teachers, Hugh Hefner?
Leni
I have to disagree. Some of the younger teachers I’ve had have been the best ones. My business professor, high school history teacher, and economics teacher all prove that point, and quite a few others I could name. As I recall none of them were into students.
The older teachers tended to be less competent except in several cases.
My 23-Year-Old nephew is a Math teacher in High School. I asked him how he related to his students, if he was their pal, or if he kept his distance.
He told me that stupid teachers try to befriend the students. These are the teachers who wind up in trouble. He assured me that he was sensible to the trouble one could get in by getting involved in any kind of a personal relationship with students, and kept all interaction on a arms-length-and-then-some professional basis.
I always knew he was a bright kid.
The problem is political correctness and the abolition of any notion of in locis parentis have made teaching in American public schools a massive exercise in frustration, particularly in urban settings where there is not underlying community support for the schools because there is little sense of community.
Teachers tend to burn out. Hence lots of new teachers replacing the experienced ones.