In the typical public school nowadays, if the teacher follows the watered down, time wasting curriculum a typical elementary students receives more education from alternate resources from "Leap Frog" educational toys, kid web sites, and certain cable TV channels.
After retiring from full time teaching in 2000 (in California), I continued to keep my toe in the classroom by substitute teaching (in Nevada). If a 4th grade teacher faithfully follows the curriculum, a student is fortunate to receive an hour of hardcore math, reading and writing lessons. Much of the day is devoted to mind-numbing busyness, waiting for slower students to catch up and discussions of social issues.
You seem quite chipper for a 138 year old!
"I taught in both public and private schools from 1868 to 2005."
I hope you at least got a gold watch for THAT many years! ;-D
Let me stick in my two cents. I taught in both public and private schools from 1968 to 2005. In the typical public school nowadays, if the teacher follows the watered down, time wasting curriculum a typical elementary students receives more education from alternate resources from "Leap Frog" educational toys, kid web sites, and certain cable TV channels. After retiring from full time teaching in 2000 (in California), I continued to keep my toe in the classroom by substitute teaching (in Nevada). If a 4th grade teacher faithfully follows the curriculum, a student is fortunate to receive an hour of hardcore math, reading and writing lessons. Much of the day is devoted to mind-numbing busyness, waiting for slower students to catch up and discussions of social issues.