Posted on 05/04/2007 9:13:05 AM PDT by bedolido
MANCHESTER, Mo.- A music teacher who twice ordered a seven-year-old pupil to hit himself in the head with drum mallets will not return to the Parkway School District next year. The incident happened on February Ninth in teacher Paul Provencio's music class at Carman Trails Elementary School in suburban St. Louis.
State officials say the 36-year-old teacher intended the head-banging as a lesson to Justin Barricklow about hitting the drums too hard.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
In my experience, most teachers are indifferent to children and see them the way post office workers see customers: a necessary inconvenience standing between them and their paycheck.
Yes, they are plenty of dedicated, wonderful teachers out there. You can spot them because they stand out in such contrast to most of their coworkers.
Could have been much worse - his teacher could have been Gallagher...
Personally I don't hold a grudge against soccer, but this most likely due to the fact that I used to play the game. I used to play cricket too, but I don't expect any American schools to be picking up that sport any time soon.
I honestly don't understand why some people seem nearly offended at the idea of soccer. IMHO I think some people feel as if the American identity is threatened by it. Eh.. Whatever..
To each their own.
I think it was overreaction, and the problem is, we are making the environment for kids so constrained and bizzare they will be unsuited for the real world when they get there.
Good Grief...
I was in school back in the 40's too.
Those old common sense methods of instruction are long gone.
A thing of the past. Sad but true.
If a band teacher told my 7 yr old daughter to hit herself on the head with the drum sticks she wouldn’t do it. I tend to think the parents aren’t teaching their child to think for himself. If she was in trouble for not doing it then I might want a talk with the teacher.
Exactly.
I have thought about this for a few minutes and in reality this is an excellent way to teach the concept of control in drumming to children of this age. They have a tactile example for a concept they may not be able to grasp.
My other thought is that the parents could possibly sue the school district. Cha-ching!
When I was in seventh grade, I had a teacher who put my hand in a vise.
I lived on the Subic Bay Naval Base, and was going to George Dewey Junior-Senior High School.
I was in Mr. Stauffer’s shop class and had put a fountain ink cartridge in a vise and squished it. A completely brain damaged thing to do (I readily admit) but I wasn’t a particularly bright kid, to be honest. My mind worked in funny ways. Anyway, while I was examining my handiwork, I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. I turned, and Mr. Stauffer directed me towards another shop table as he began talking to me in a soft voice. I do not remember at all what he said, but I do remember the words “...is a tool, and you don’t use a vise like that...”
When we got to the other shop table, he gently took my hand and put it in the vise, all the while talking to me in that low, unemotional voice while he began tightening the vice very slowly.
He didn’t do it very tight at all, but...jussssst tight enough to where for a split second...I wondered if he was going to keep going. He loosened the vice, gave me a gentle pat on the shoulder and said something about needing to be careful.
I always noticed those three fingers on his right hand he was missing.
Two other incidents: Once, a kid cut off the tip of his finger with a paper cutter, and didn’t want to mention it to Mr. Stauffer. The first indication something was wrong was the puddle of blood beneath the kid’s seat. He was swiftly and expertly ushered out of the class.
And he used to paddle people frequently. My brother, a year older than me, was horsing around in class. Mr. Stauffer sent him out to the wood storage area with instructions to bring back a piece of wood for the purpose of being paddled with. My brother was a notorious wiseass, and came back with a eight foot long 2 x 4. Mr. Stauffer went back to find an appropriate piece for the task.
The thing is...he was universally and without exception one of the most liked, respected and obeyed teachers in that school. Both of my brothers regard the memory of him in the highest respect and affection today, as do I.
And I do think we learned a lot from him. Today, he would be ejected in disgrace.
LoL, your brother and I would have been good friends in school, my teachers were so glad to see me and my friends go they gave us graduation gifts.
It is teaching to breath from the diaphragm that can be problem. Music teacher don’t care if drummers breath...
right.
Talk?
Hmmm, after reading the article, pandy, I think the parents and school are the problem not the teacher.
My music teacher used to bean me in the head with a chalkboard eraser.
lousy movie, low talent.
watch corps style marching to see real musicians and real talent.
Over reaction.
I’m not offended by soccer, it’s just so boring. We already have basketball, why do we need another snooze-inducing sport.
What we need is Rollerball! Like, the James Caan version, I haven’t seen the new version. That would be a cool sport to watch:
Jon-a-than! Jon-a-than!
Last week, the county next to mine had a case where a bus driver who had just dropped a bunch of kids off on a field trip out of town decided to do a little shopping while she waited.
The only problem was, she did her shopping in an adult bookstore, parked the bus in front of said store, and left a sick kid on the bus.
When she came out, the cops were outside waiting on her, wanting to know what she was up to.
The board is still fighting to fire her.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.