Submitted by Mary B. (not verified) on January 2, 2007 - 05:11.
I have entered teaching as a second career. Like Bill, I served 22 years in the military. I have been teaching now for one semester and I have learned much these months.
1. A sucessful student starts with a successful home. Everyone needs a base and those students without that base are at a huge disadvantage. In some cases that disadvantage cannot be overcome. It is very hard to watch a student fail because no one at home cares and the school cannot be the parent.
2. As a society, personal responsibility is a dying concept. If a child fails, it is not that child's fault even if the child chose to not do any homework, pay attention in class, or seek offered additional help. It is a hard truth, but students who choose not to learn will not learn despite any of my efforts. I think we are failing those students by allowing them to continue if they are not prepared for the next grade.
3. Each school is different and I am quite lucky to be in a school system where the teacher is supported with a great administration and superior co-workers. I do not think larger is better. Nor does one set of rules work for every school. Schools need to be able to tailor their methods to the resources (students, teachers, money) they have available.
4. Teachers are ridiculously underpaid. I cannot believe that you can stick it out for 20 years on the salary available. Summers may be "off", but in name only. That time barely compensates for the long work week and the amount of time out of school spent trying to be a better teacher.
Given that changing parenting and individual responsiblity are challenges like world peace, I am not hopeful these issues will be resolved any time soon. I think the drive to standardized schools will run its course, and in some ways the tide is turning. The best way to retain teachers is pay them adequately for the work they perform.
I have entered teaching as a
Submitted by Mary B. (not verified) on January 2, 2007 - 05:11.
I have entered teaching as a second career. Like Bill, I served 22 years in the military. I have been teaching now for one semester and I have learned much these months.
1. A sucessful student starts with a successful home. Everyone needs a base and those students without that base are at a huge disadvantage. In some cases that disadvantage cannot be overcome. It is very hard to watch a student fail because no one at home cares and the school cannot be the parent.
2. As a society, personal responsibility is a dying concept. If a child fails, it is not that child's fault even if the child chose to not do any homework, pay attention in class, or seek offered additional help. It is a hard truth, but students who choose not to learn will not learn despite any of my efforts. I think we are failing those students by allowing them to continue if they are not prepared for the next grade.
3. Each school is different and I am quite lucky to be in a school system where the teacher is supported with a great administration and superior co-workers. I do not think larger is better. Nor does one set of rules work for every school. Schools need to be able to tailor their methods to the resources (students, teachers, money) they have available.
4. Teachers are ridiculously underpaid. I cannot believe that you can stick it out for 20 years on the salary available. Summers may be "off", but in name only. That time barely compensates for the long work week and the amount of time out of school spent trying to be a better teacher.
Given that changing parenting and individual responsiblity are challenges like world peace, I am not hopeful these issues will be resolved any time soon. I think the drive to standardized schools will run its course, and in some ways the tide is turning. The best way to retain teachers is pay them adequately for the work they perform.