Replies

According to my wife too endangered. She thinks more kids need the male influence in the early childhood stage of eduction. He you described me except I'm not short and "teach" at a much later and less stressful stage, of the education process. One of our 2nd. year med. students came up to me at the first of last term and asked me if I was Mrs. X's husband. He had her in Kindergarten. Made me feel real old because even I still remember her talking about him (fondly). Unlike her I can't recognize the faces of a 5 y/o in an adult much less remember names. It always amazes me how ya'll effect kids so much that they will stop you on the street to say hello and be remembered. Even with our Grad.Students we don't have that kind of interaction in most cases.

My first first graders are in eighth grade now and many are just thriving. Even my lowest student I had in my first year of first grade teaching is doing wonderful. I LOVE to find out how the kids I've had are doing. I haven't been able to keep track of all of them, but have loved to hear how others are doing.

I AGREE strongly with your wife and that's ONE affirmative action program I would support--more male teachers in the early grades (yes, I know there's issues to consider, but that's a topic for another day).

We've had new teachers come in who've had another teacher at the school in an early grade. That'd freak me out. I feel old enough already. But teaching first grade still keeps me young. I like that you can act stupid and still they laugh. I believe in blending humor and learning and so far it's been pretty good. :)

Thanks for your comments. :)