I went to grade school through junior high in Arlington Va in the 50s and 60s. Back then the demographics were still the postwar America that boomers took for granted and Arlington was pretty conservative compared to the rest of DC. A lot of us were military brats.
I don’t remember many poor teachers. Maybe one in 2nd grade. This was a very academically rigorous area. They really pushed us considering this was public school. Maybe more so when you tested high. I remember some sort of connection between a teachers college in Slippery Rock Pennsylvania and this school district.
Anyway I know that that Arlington is just a distant memory. It was hit by a similar demographic tsunami that changed Southern California forever. Toss in the open war of the progressive Left against the vestiges of the white American culture that once existed and I suppose none of this should be a surprise.
I don’t remember many poor teachers.
1) I remember 5th grade geography. We outlined information about every country in the world. The point was to teach us to organize information.
2) I visited a grade school teacher once. She kept interrupting me. Suzy, please move that book over there. Johnny, please move that book over there and it conintued until that book went around the room twice. I asked, What are you doing? “Teaching them to follow instructions,” she said.
3) Everytime I handed in my work to Mrs. Thayer she asked, “Did you check your work?” I would say no and go back and check it and find errors. I got so damned tired of her asking I started to check before I handed it in. Still a valuable skill.