I had the joy of teaching Middle School math for a few years. I had amazing math teachers myself, and passed it on to the students.
Yes, Middle School age children are, basically, aliens. Some are 4 feet tall, a few are 6’5”. And every height in between. When the hormones start up, they are hilarious.
I loved it.
Sometimes, the textbooks were, well, ridiculous. I would show them how I learned to make it simple. Tried and true methods since, oh, I don’t know, Pythagoras.
One time, the students asked “why don’t other teachers teach this way.” I took advantage of such times as teachable moments. I would say something close to “you cannot control what others do, only what you do.” (I knew that there were many good teachers, and others who just “used the textbook.”)
I also loved teaching the children that had been told that they could not learn. I knew that if given the chance, almost any child can learn. One on one instruction. You start by determining what the child already knows, and build on that. After a few weeks of progress, you begin to witness the light in their eyes. The realization that they can learn more.
PS - Hillsdale College is bringing the lantern of truth, reason, common sense, and the American Founding to the Left Coast. In Placer County, Kalifornia, they are establishing a Hillsdale College. Hope Springs Eternal
Thank you for your post. I worked over 26 years as an engineer but also was able to teach in high school for 12 years. The union rules made for difficult teaching but these were enjoyable years. Layoffs governed by seniority sent me back to my engineering career.
School choice may help the school system but good teachers must be in the classrooms or it will not matter what school you choose.