Posted on 04/18/2006 5:23:39 AM PDT by 13Sisters76
The very best I can believe about YOU is that you are a liar- or taught when MY mother was in school. I'll bet I can imagine ANY "conditions" you say you faced. How many of those adult literacy students are finally learning to read AFTER being in the public school system. That's unfortunate that you are "sick of me" or those LIKE me- it sure beats the hell out of paying attention to the problem, doesn't it?
IF you were a teacher, what drove YOU out?
I think that part of the problem is that a lot of people simply are not cut out to be teachers. They waltz in with the idea of cute little tykes gazing up at them adoringly while they share their wisdom.
That's not reality.
Teaching your own kids is, in a way, very easy. Because you love them you look for solutions and ways to help. You usually don't feel the same connection to kids that are not your own. You aren't inclined to put the effort in. People who can do that have "the heart of a teacher" and they are all to rare.
You have it. Others don't.
...which is why, with secondary and early childhood certifications and enough graduate credits for a masters degree plus some, I have had a ball over the last 20 years teaching and facilitating the education of the truly great, our American soldiers.
All of them. And how many of my future students will be adults that you have failed?
I'll bet I can imagine ANY "conditions" you say you faced.
Really? I taught in Moshi Tanzania. Many of my students were orphaned Somali's. No, my dear, you have no idea.
Your point is legitimate but unnecessarily rude, IMHO.
You have Freep mail
I remember when there wasn't HTML paragraph tags. Reformat it for her and she will never do it again. What is you comments on the contents, if any?
Depends on your definition of lately!
I was in one in 1955!
And that is your solution, to rank on the poor woman instead of helping? Your observation, while quite accurate, is also totally useless, begging the question of why make it. Put in some paragraph marks for her, it should be a minutes work for you, and be a hero.
Ah, well... I enjoyed the post. Did you catch her observation that militaty schools were different than public schools, and her thought that it was because military parents could be held accountable for their offspring?
I substitute in a public high school and would like to say that your description is excellent.
I disagree with you on one point, though. My classes are not out of control. I wouldn't sub if I couldn't control the kids.
Welcome to FR!
It's your first year? Did you have student teaching, and was it in a public school, or did you teach for several years previous to this in a DOD school?
You obviously weren't prepared for this type of student, and you obviously aren't getting any support from the administration.
My bet would be that they've decided you're a prissy old white woman who's easily shocked, made the comment about getting laid as much to get a reaction from you as anything else, and then laughed like crazy when it worked.
I'm also betting there are some people in that school who can control those kids. My advice would be to learn what you can from them, finish the year (if you can, or maybe tell them you can't deal with the lack of support, and leave), and find some place that is a better fit for next year.
don't worry about the grammar police around here. they bust on my lack of capitalization. i like annoying them.
Good pearls of wisdom. I do think that some people in too many situations (talking about life here) don't look for wasy to solve things, but look to do the blame game, emphasize the negative, and whatnot.
But you are SOOOO right. You have to know what's real. That's why I've become a little more adaptive and flexible over the years. Some things are just not worith it to get too upset about and you move on with life. I've realized long ago that I hardly will ever get my way (if I had a penny for all the times things haven't gone my way, I'd be a zillionaire), but I try to learn from the roadblocks and use them to make myself a better person.
Some people expect to get their way every time and for people to bend to their will, go after people who disagree with them, pass the buck, and so on. And that happens in all walks of life or on any side of politics.
I have learned long ago that as a teacher, I'm not going to satisy everyone. It's near impossible (with 75 very different personalities to deal with every year). I just try the best I can.
I put in the time because I can (uh-oh, I'm not waxing Clinton-esque, don't worry:). Many teachers are busy with their own children, other jobs and responsibilities, and so on. There are some here who take care of sick relatives and other things. I see it with parents too. Some just don't have all the time they would like to (who does?). I don't have any children of my own and my wife is quite busy on her own. I can afford to give a little more time than the average bear. It also helps that I live in the neighborhood. I couldn't put in as much time when I had a 2 hour commute each way some years ago as well as a second job.
BUT you do have one thing wrong--I count my students as my kids. That remains one of the big black holes in my life--that I have not been able to have the blessed opportunity to raise my own child. It's something that gnaws at me every day and that I ache for every day and something that I pray for every day. I see so many wonderful parents and the experiences they have with their children (as well as the ones my parents and we kids had) and I yearn for that as well. As the years go by, that feeling gets more urgent. I am still some years off from maybe adopting, but in the meantime instead of sitting there feeling sorry for myself, I try to do my best to serve others' children and realize how much God has blessed me. I have so much. It amazes me that he gives such a dumdum as me so many stinking (literally) chances.
I sure do appreciate your comments. People like you are what keep me going.
Not far from where I live.
But the area is already growing too fast so I'm not gonna say.
It won't take long before its success is what ruins it if we're not careful.
After 2007 I will have had 4 kids graduate. Of the first three, two have academic scholarships. The fourth will also.
If I didn't mention it before, the school probably has the most un PC mascot in the country--a revolutionary minuteman!!
Any issues with her post--let her have it. She's a big girl and can take criticism with the best of them
Love ya, kiddo :)
In every class, there is only as much disrespect as the teacher allows.People tend to focus on the bad ones and forget to see the good.
The latter I think is especially true. Yes, there are problems in the public schools, just as there are problems in society. However, there also many good schools, many good students, and even many good teachers. It's quite easy to focus on the bad, however, because usually the bad examples are the ones who make the news.
Thanks again for your input! :-)
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