When did teacher bashing become acceptable?

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Wow!!!! You learned how to run a business and the science of agriculture before Kindergarten!?!? Just by watching Sesame Street?!? Gee, I thought Sesame Street was mostly about letter and numeral recognition.

Not that I don't think teachers are important (after all, I AM one), but I do think that both our countries have been historically founded by farmers, many who probably didn't attend school and managed to succeed perfectly well. I do believe that everyone can benefit from attending school, but I do think there are other ways the skills and trade of farming can be learned!

 

[Mkrop]

It would surprise alot of people just how big of an issue this is. It's not just about obesity (although that is such a big problem). Lack of movement does have a profound impact on emotional development and reading comprehension as well as language, mathmatical, and social skills. Progressive teachers and school principals are starting to intigrate movement into classroom lessons as a way to engage the students brains before the 'actual' learning begins.

Years and years ago (1970s) there was a study done in re. to developing nations and why it was so difficult to teach children to read and comprehend. What it came down to was that if you don't let your child crawl (and in a developing nation that can be a dangerous thing, to crawl, snakes and rats are on the ground) there is a brain pathway that doesn't connect that relates directly to reading comprehension. Fastforward thirty years and the same thing is being seen again, only in the U.S. Experts point to children being carted around in child carriers without enough time left to free movement.

I never appreciated all the gross and fine motor skills that kids need to learn until I had my son diagnosised with hypotonia and sensory intergration issue at 1 years old. He did not meet his milestones for holding his head up and sitting and walking. But the first thing they did when he went for PT was to teach him how to crawl on all fours instead of jumping right into walking. They said that it was critical for his motor development as well as reading comprehension to be taught to crawl properly first.

Also his sensory issues are tied into his motor skills, he has balance issue and had many vesitbualr issues but is outgrowing many of those on his own and with therapy. It is amazing what early intervention can do, he is in his final year of preschool and we have been doing OT and PT each once a week and will continue. It is amazing to see how much physcial activity is tied to learning. People keep stressing academics academics which is great but if the kids brains are not trained properly to intake all the knowledge, it really doesnt matter what you teach them.

So parents make sure you give your kids plenty of floor time and make sure they crawl properly!

 

[Daxx]

The username itself is actually a spelling error. Shouldn't it be my2cents?

Not knowing the difference between knew and new and sense and cents ... that poster must've been either absent or not listening the week the teacher taught homophones!!!! Or had a crappy teacher. Maybe that's why he/she is so down on teachers ... he/she didn't have any that were good!

Regardless, the person is a coward for posting under a new user name and not being forthright w/their true identity!!!

PS -- how much do you want to bet that if the poster typed the above bolded sentence it'd read like this: "Regardless, the person is a coward for posting under a knew user name and not being fourthwrite w/there true identity"?!!?!?

 

[monsterkitty]

Not knowing the difference between knew and new and sense and cents ... that poster must've been either absent or not listening the week the teacher taught homophones!!!! Or had a crappy teacher. Maybe that's why he/she is so down on teachers ... he/she didn't have any that were good!

Regardless, the person is a coward for posting under a new user name and not being forthright w/their true identity!!!

PS -- how much do you want to bet that if the poster typed the above bolded sentence it'd read like this: "Regardless, the person is a coward for posting under a knew user name and not being fourthwrite w/there true identity"?!!?!?

Wouldn't that be irregardless?

 

[aprilgail2]

I also don't know of any teachers who are allowed to go out to lunch. We have 26 minutes, and one week a month we spend that in the cafeteria supervising the students (no bathroom break that week). I actually think kids NEED more time to run and play on the playground. at.

Teachers here sure do go out to lunch, I have ran into my daughters teacher at Panera bread on Fridays when she goes there. We have people that are paid to supervise the kids in the cafeteria and on the playground, that is not the teachers job. They are at lunch for 30 minutes and on the playground for 30 minutes so the teachers had 60 minutes to go or do what they wanted for lunch.
Plus they have a specials class like library or art each day (only one per day) for 30 minutes so that is supposed to be their prep time, grading papers etc.

 

[Daxx]

Wouldn't that be irregardless?

Funny you mention that b/c I was going to write irregardless!!! Since it wasn't a homophone (knew/new, their/there, etc.) I didn't want someone to question my skills and say "You're a crappy teacher -- irregardless is not a homophone!" so I left it as regardless and focused solely on the homophones!

 

[Daxx]

Teachers here sure do go out to lunch, I have ran into my daughters teacher at Panera bread on Fridays when she goes there. We have people that are paid to supervise the kids in the cafeteria and on the playground, that is not the teachers job. They are at lunch for 30 minutes and on the playground for 30 minutes so the teachers had 60 minutes to go or do what they wanted for lunch.
Plus they have a specials class like library or art each day (only one per day) for 30 minutes so that is supposed to be their prep time, grading papers etc.

Must be nice. I have had as many as 21 Kdg. students in my classroom in past years and didn't have an aide. Nobody has an aide. Why? No money to pay an aide. Cafeteria helpers? We're lucky that we have one extremely dedicated mom who volunteers to run the cafeteria on a daily basis. The school gives her money, she picks up the food, prepares it (hot meals every day), serves and runs the cash register. I have one 45 min. special a day ... but now don't have computers as we don't have a computer teacher yet. Chances are the school year will start w/o a computer teacher. If that's the case, the likelihood of getting a computer teacher will dimish greatly!

Let me tell you, I'm thankful that we have a Cafeteria Mom b/c now I know that even if one of my students has lunch money, he/she will get lunch. Lunch used to be completely brown bagged and the teachers used to eat w/the students. I can't tell you how many times I'd go w/o lunch so one of my students could eat. I used to bring in cereal, bowls and spoons b/c it stored well and was an easy lunch for those who would often come without!

I teach in the inner city b/c I want these kids to get a good education and not end up in the jails or on public assistance. At least their parents want the same for them since they scrimp and save to send them to private school. Spending hard earned money on private school is the better alternative as many of the nearby inner-city schools are worse than zoos.

As for lunch out ... the cafeteria mom does a voluntary Tim Horton's run for the teachers on a daily basis. We give her cash for bagels to eat later on or we eat what the kids are eating that day. No luxury to run out and get food. Simply not enough time!

 

[SavvyMom]

Teachers here sure do go out to lunch, I have ran into my daughters teacher at Panera bread on Fridays when she goes there. We have people that are paid to supervise the kids in the cafeteria and on the playground, that is not the teachers job. They are at lunch for 30 minutes and on the playground for 30 minutes so the teachers had 60 minutes to go or do what they wanted for lunch.
Plus they have a specials class like library or art each day (only one per day) for 30 minutes so that is supposed to be their prep time, grading papers etc.

----> fainting from envy.

 

[Daxx]

----> fainting from envy.

ITA! Even if I wanted to go out for lunch, I'd be worrying about drive-bys! I'm safer if I eat in the cafe! Niiiice. But, that's the area I teach in! The kids are great, the degenerates, not so much!!!!

 

[MM27]

When did teacher bashing become acceptable?

My school has a large population of students that have just arrived from Haiti, various countries in Africa, Portugal, Brazil and other South American countries. You would be amazed at the difference between the levels of respect both parents and children have for teachers from these non-US areas. It really doesn't matter how wealthy or educated the parents are. They want the best for their children too and they know that the teacher is an important part (not the only part) of their child's success. Sometimes, it's the people the have the least amount of "stuff" that want their children to have the best educational opportunities.

On a side note: I taped and showed my classes the Oprah special when she opened her school in South Africa, and what an eye opener it was for some of the kids. It made for good discussion when kids complain about homework or something else they have to do when they could see kids that would do anything to be able to attend school. When I saw some of the kids tearing up during it, I realized (through my own tears) that they were really "getting it".

 

[Daxx]

When did teacher bashing become acceptable?

My school has a large population of students that have just arrived from Haiti, various countries in Africa, Portugal, Brazil and other South American countries. You would be amazed at the difference between the levels of respect both parents and children have for teachers from these non-US areas. It really doesn't matter how wealthy or educated the parents are. They want the best for their children too and they know that the teacher is an important part (not the only part) of their child's success. Sometimes, it's the people the have the least amount of "stuff" that want their children to have the best educational opportunities.

ITA! We have had an influx of students particularly from Africa coming to our school. It amazes me at how these children want to learn! We have students who are so excited to be in school and look forward to coming every day! They just soak up everything they can and are always anxious for more! I had this darling girl in Kdg. and she's now going into 2nd grade come Sept. When she was in 1st grade, her mother still stops by my room to give me kisses on both cheeks and a big hug. Talk about being grateful for an education! She is just so happy that her child is doing so well and is in a safe environment, learning and enjoying! That just astounds me how much people from other countries value an education ... esp. when getting a good education in their country is prob. v. difficult to come by!

We have this one woman who comes to our school yearly. She runs a mission in Nicaragua and always collects used clothing, school supplies, etc. She brings along videos and shares stories. She talks about how important shoes, white shirts and blue pants/skirts are to her mission b/c those are the uniform for any child who wants to attend school. Without those, you cannot attend school!!! My students are stunned that kids don't have shoes/white shirts/blue pants. They're amazed that the children in Nicaragua anxiously await for Miss Ann Marie to return from her trips back home b/c they know she'll have shoes, shirts and bottoms so they can go to school. My students are amazed at how the children in Nicaragua have to walk miles to school and carry their own chairs with them so they have somewhere to sit. We practiced being those children by carrying our chairs down the hall and most kids said that they prob. would never go to school b/c they couldn't carry their chairs!

ETA -- I would love to go work in Oprah's school! Even if it were volunteer for a semester!!!! I keep telling DH that when DS is in college, I'm going to work in Oprah's school! Talk about kids who want to learn and don't take their education for granted!!!!!

 

[Kath2003]

In the UK the teachers don't supervise the kids during lunch - that's what dinner ladies are for

 

[hildasmuriel]

In the UK the teachers don't supervise the kids during lunch - that's what dinner ladies are for

and only supervise recess once a week, taking it in turns with other teachers.

All our classrooms have at least one teaching assistant. Below Year 1 they have trained nursery nurses rather than teaching assistants.

Daxx - you are one dedicated teacher.

 

[Daxx]

Daxx - you are one dedicated teacher.

Thanks! Pay sucks, school location is the closest place to hell on earth ... but the kids are def. worth it!!!!! They want to be there and I'm glad I can be there for them!!!

 

[rie'smom]

I respect good teachers and I bash the bad ones. I also repect good doctors,lawyers,sales clerks,McDonald's workers,bank preseidents and I bash the bad ones.

 

[MM27]

ETA -- I would love to go work in Oprah's school! Even if it were volunteer for a semester!!!! I keep telling DH that when DS is in college, I'm going to work in Oprah's school! Talk about kids who want to learn and don't take their education for granted!!!!!

Same here. I have some friends that did half of their student teaching in South Africa through an exchange program my college did and when they came back to the US to do the other half, they complained about the way the kids lacked that same desire. These girls would take a city bus an hour each way with the kids that went to the school they student taught at. There was just this spark in those girls that Oprah has at her school that makes you want to really teach them everything you possibly can. They don't allow the hardships in their lives stop them from getting an education. That is awesome

I had a little boy in my class 2 years ago that was from Haiti. He always said "Yes ma'am" and "no ma'am" even though he spoke barely a word of English other than that. On the first day of school he came over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. After talking to our ESL teacher, who worked with him during the day, she said that in his school in Haiti all of the kids would come in in the morning and kiss the teacher because there is a strong feeling that the teacher is an important part of the child's extended family.

 

[Daxx]

in Haiti all of the kids would come in in the morning and kiss the teacher because there is a strong feeling that the teacher is an important part of the child's extended family.

That is so wonderful and true! As teachers, I'd guess we spend more "awake" time w/kids than many parents do (particularly full time working parents) on a weekly basis (weekends not included). Most parents have an hour or two in the morning and a few hours in the evening depending on what time you get home!

Now, please don't go off saying "this isn't true of me" b/c I realize that everyone's case is different. Some parents are home-schoolers and are w/their kids the entire day. Some work from home and do get to see their kids immediately after school, some work part-time, some are SAHMs or SAHDs, some volunteer or work in their child's school. Some parents don't put their kids in an after school program, etc. I'm talking about the parents who work full time 9-5 jobs.

I'm going to use my brother, wife and their kids (elem. school) as a generic example. They work 9-5. The kids get up at 7 am and leave for the bus stop around 7:30. Bus picks them up at 7:40. They're in school all day 8-3), then after school program (3-6) until my brother or his wife can pick them up (5:30 pm). Then, home, dinner, homework maybe soccer practice or ballet, bath and to bed by 8 pm. So, that's 40 mins. in the morning and 2 1/2 hours in the evening. 3 hours and 10 mins. of awake time they get per weekday from their parents. Shave one hour off on one night a week for ballet for her and soccer for him. They're in school for 7 hours (8-3). We'll slice a good hour and a half to cover lunch and special class/day), so that's 5/12 hours the teacher sees his kids per day. 5 1/2 hours that the teacher sees them compared to the 2.10 - 3.10 hours that DB & wife see them per weekday. Big difference, no?

In essence, we do become family. We're the care takers. We're the ones who are w/your kids the most during the week.

Figure it out ... if you're a full time working parent, how much time does your in-school-full-time (traditional hours) child spend w/you per weekday compared to the time he spends w/his teacher?

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Wow!!!! You learned how to run a business and the science of agriculture before Kindergarten!?!? Just by watching Sesame Street?!? Gee, I thought Sesame Street was mostly about letter and numeral recognition.

 

[Daxx]

If you started farming at age 5, and all you needed to know you learned from Sesame Street ... how would you figure out how much to sell your crops for in order to order more seeds and make a profit? I didn't know that Sesame Street taught that kind of math. I thought Sesame Street taught counting and not adding, subtracting and dividing and profit margins. Heck, why do people pay for Ag school if they can learn it all on Sesame Street. They must be a bunch of dummies, eh?

 

[#1hockeymom]

I wonder if the grads who went to Michigan state for Agri degrees knew about this Sesame Street diploma?