Posted on 11/13/2002 4:28:23 PM PST by Clara Lou
If I read one more time that teachers are responsible when students fail academically, I am going to be sick right on the doorsteps of the Texas Education Agency.
The politicians who govern TEA and board members Mary Helen Berlanga and Geraldine Miller (who were quoted in the Nov. 9 Chronicle article), would be well-advised to let people who care about children run their agency.
After a 30-year career as an engineer, I'm now in my second year of teaching math at a middle school. I have seen that most teachers are dedicated and work hard for a fraction of private-sector pay.
Those who run our education system overlook the essential factor in the education equation: the students and their parents.
J. Kusters, Houston
I blame the parents too! NO DISCILPINE...they need more discipline.
I have seen that most teachers are dedicated and work hard for a fraction of private-sector pay.
This thing about private sector pay kills me. They work less months, get cheap medical...get paid for sick leave..get vacation or personal time! I work very hard too and don't make a fraction of what teachers make! I have a few degrees too....so they can spare me this crap.
Even the badass kids did not disrupt learning.
Learning will never return to public schools until discipline returns to public schools.
Until that time, homeschooling, private academy or Christian schools (including Catholic) are the only sane alternative to the LOSER public schools.
Most kids want to learn. But some need their little butts spanked first.
Translation: "I failed as an engineer, and now I am going to give NEA Union Speeches about underpaid teachers so that I can fail as a teacher, too."
Those who run our education system overlook the essential factor in the education equation: the students and their parents.
OK, there's a good point. He gets a "C".
Not long after opening, graffiti and vandalism overwhelms the maint staff who finally throw up their hands and only fix the worst problems. 30% of the student body are gang bangers or wanabees and disrupt anybody else who might want to learn.30% of the other students have already decided they don't need an education because they are either going to be NBA stars, fruit pickers or it ain't cool to emulate white folks by getting an education.
Within a short period of time, this new high dollar school is run down, the best teachers have left and 60% of the students are failing..........and some politician comes along and says the school has failed and the only way to save it is to pour in more money.
All the money in the world is not going to educate kids who don't want to be educated and don't have anyone at home to motivate them to do so. Schools don't fail. Students do. Yup, there are a lot of problems with the school systems (lib indoctrination centers), but we can't go on blaming teachers and the system.
Of course, the term 'private-sector teachers' must refer to private schools. Do Public teachers actually make a fraction of the pay that private school teachers earn?
How?
Is there something wrong with being a success in one's first career? Do you mean that only by changing one's mind about what they wanted to be guarantees success?
I'm taking issue with the fact that you call a man who has a 1st career of 30 years "failed." (See above quote.) I say that a person with a 30-year 1st career must have had some degree of success, or the career wouldn't have lasted 30 years. I'm also saying that you have no basis whatsoever for calling the guy a failure. ¿Comprende?
Good point. I see what you mean, because if they were that bad, they would not have lasted 30 years.
But consider this, for what it is worth:
All of my very best Science teachers left teaching to go into industry or R&D.
None of my best engineering peers left to become teachers. The ones that did leave, should have.
At least this is what I have seen over the years. Does it really make sense to leave a successful career? Not to me. I would think that a successful career is too enjoyable to leave.
(Of course, considering the state of my 401(k) I may well be resigning myself to never retiring, and giving myself a pep talk!....)
Ooohhh...I recall some of these when I was in school.
The kids ate them alive.
I do not think teaching in the current environment would be a particularly serene way of heading for retirement.
But it does appear the individual wasted no time in learning the NEA speech, and that set me off.
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