Comments on: I’ve Been Thinking… http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/ crafty goodness Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:50:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: ms_teacher http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-133 ms_teacher Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:26:52 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/#comment-133 Oftentimes, I post on my own blog because it's a place to vent my frustrations. Even when I try to share what I'm feeling with my husband, he doesn't get it, even though he tries. This year, I've had more positive interactions with parents than any other year that I've taught. Of course, when we feel good about something, we don't dwell on it because we don't need to "fix" anything. When I post about a troubling incident, I'm looking for answers and I usually get much more feedback on my venting posts than those that are positive. I just don't think reading blogs from teachers is an accurate reflection on how many of us feel about teaching. If I had more bad days than good, I wouldn't stick with it. Hang in there - you are making a difference, even if you may not realize it at this moment! Oftentimes, I post on my own blog because it’s a place to vent my frustrations. Even when I try to share what I’m feeling with my husband, he doesn’t get it, even though he tries. This year, I’ve had more positive interactions with parents than any other year that I’ve taught. Of course, when we feel good about something, we don’t dwell on it because we don’t need to “fix” anything.

When I post about a troubling incident, I’m looking for answers and I usually get much more feedback on my venting posts than those that are positive. I just don’t think reading blogs from teachers is an accurate reflection on how many of us feel about teaching. If I had more bad days than good, I wouldn’t stick with it.

Hang in there – you are making a difference, even if you may not realize it at this moment!

]]> By: Pacian http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-132 Pacian Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:43:29 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/#comment-132 Who needs an education? Does the president seem educated to you? Knowledge is worthless in modern western society. Some people are born to do menial work, and others to profit from it. It doesn't take much schooling to fulfill either role. I think that creating a society where learning and knowledge were valued rather than looked down upon would go a long way to making schools less rubbish. Who needs an education? Does the president seem educated to you?

Knowledge is worthless in modern western society. Some people are born to do menial work, and others to profit from it. It doesn’t take much schooling to fulfill either role.

I think that creating a society where learning and knowledge were valued rather than looked down upon would go a long way to making schools less rubbish.

]]> By: Tonya http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Tonya Fri, 15 Dec 2006 05:36:48 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/#comment-131 I am troubled by the climate of education in the public schools these days. I feel so sorry for teachers who have the passion to do a great job but are cut off at the knees by that toxic climate -- be it administrations, the mean parents, or the students themselves. But I wouldn't beat myself up for being "tough" in your situation, because sometimes "tough love" is called for. Consequences are important for disrespectful behavior -- and criminal behavior. If kids are going to learn anything from poor choices, it might well be as a result of those consequences. (Some will). I am troubled by the climate of education in the public schools these days. I feel so sorry for teachers who have the passion to do a great job but are cut off at the knees by that toxic climate — be it administrations, the mean parents, or the students themselves. But I wouldn’t beat myself up for being “tough” in your situation, because sometimes “tough love” is called for. Consequences are important for disrespectful behavior — and criminal behavior. If kids are going to learn anything from poor choices, it might well be as a result of those consequences. (Some will).

]]> By: papyrus http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-130 papyrus Fri, 15 Dec 2006 05:35:21 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/#comment-130 Just one more thought on what you said about high standards. I think it’s important to expect high standards from your kids, because you expect things from them and for them. That has to be behind all teaching. I suspect it’s because some of your colleagues have lost these high standards that they are saying things like “retarded worthless pieces of shit” about the students.

]]> By: papyrus http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-129 papyrus Fri, 15 Dec 2006 05:32:55 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/#comment-129 I too hear your doubt and your frustration loud and clear. I sometimes wonder if making kids go to school is really doing them a favour, certainly those who don't want to be there. Forcing them is counter-productive in my opinion. I've had several adults in English classes tell me, they did English at school but were never interested. Now they realise they need to learn it and are motivated. That's how it should be. But forcing people is not motivational. I do understand how making school obligatory arose. People wanted to give everyone a chance to get a good education, and that's laudable, especially in a context where the poor, or girls, etc. didn't have any opportunities like this. But today I have to ask if it's working. I too hear your doubt and your frustration loud and clear. I sometimes wonder if making kids go to school is really doing them a favour, certainly those who don’t want to be there. Forcing them is counter-productive in my opinion. I’ve had several adults in English classes tell me, they did English at school but were never interested. Now they realise they need to learn it and are motivated. That’s how it should be. But forcing people is not motivational.
I do understand how making school obligatory arose. People wanted to give everyone a chance to get a good education, and that’s laudable, especially in a context where the poor, or girls, etc. didn’t have any opportunities like this. But today I have to ask if it’s working.

]]> By: gary http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-128 gary Fri, 15 Dec 2006 05:15:49 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/#comment-128 I think the system started breaking down many years ago, caused by misguided people with good intentions. People who didn't really understand human nature but thought they did. That makes your job much harder, and less fun. I think teachers just have to focus on helping those who are ready to accept their help, and not let the others frustrate them too much. I guess that may be easier said than done. I think the system started breaking down many years ago, caused by misguided people with good intentions. People who didn’t really understand human nature but thought they did.

That makes your job much harder, and less fun. I think teachers just have to focus on helping those who are ready to accept their help, and not let the others frustrate them too much. I guess that may be easier said than done.

]]> By: ken http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-127 ken Thu, 14 Dec 2006 21:14:51 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/#comment-127 I need to get out of my own system too. But when I think about that I sometimes think about teaching. College-level, not (god forbid) grade school. You have earned many hundreds of karma points for teaching as long as you have. Here's what we do: we write wildly popular novels and sell them to Hollywood. KR keeps telling me to "write the next Cold Mountain" and I say, "Okay," and go back to watching America's Funniest Videos. I need to get out of my own system too. But when I think about that I sometimes think about teaching. College-level, not (god forbid) grade school. You have earned many hundreds of karma points for teaching as long as you have.

Here’s what we do: we write wildly popular novels and sell them to Hollywood. KR keeps telling me to “write the next Cold Mountain” and I say, “Okay,” and go back to watching America’s Funniest Videos.

]]> By: Kamsin http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Kamsin Thu, 14 Dec 2006 19:46:48 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/#comment-126 I so hear you about the state of education! In theory I'm teaching at the university level, although it's really more like High School, but I feel like I'm fighting half the time to get the kids to listen and learn, and these are basically "good" kids from good wealthy backgrounds, so I can only imagine what it is like with your kids! Lack of respect for teaching as a profession seems to be part of the problem, and the fact that you give so much of yourself when you teach and seem to get so little in return. I hope you are able to rediscover your passion, and feel a sense of worth in what you are doing. I so hear you about the state of education! In theory I’m teaching at the university level, although it’s really more like High School, but I feel like I’m fighting half the time to get the kids to listen and learn, and these are basically “good” kids from good wealthy backgrounds, so I can only imagine what it is like with your kids! Lack of respect for teaching as a profession seems to be part of the problem, and the fact that you give so much of yourself when you teach and seem to get so little in return. I hope you are able to rediscover your passion, and feel a sense of worth in what you are doing.

]]> By: Lee Anne http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-125 Lee Anne Thu, 14 Dec 2006 15:08:28 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/#comment-125 Oh my...this scares me into wanting to home school my children when they get old enough to attend! I can only imagine what it will be like when they are teenagers if it is this bad now. I don't get our society. We are supposed to be the most powerful nation and yet we let things like this happen in all our education systems. I honestly think we have lost so many of our values over the last 30 years or so and now people of my generation and the one before that have teenagers are paying the price. I won't go there though...just my thoughts. We want what we want and who cares who or what gets in our way. Okay...off soapbox now...promise. Oh my…this scares me into wanting to home school my children when they get old enough to attend! I can only imagine what it will be like when they are teenagers if it is this bad now. I don’t get our society. We are supposed to be the most powerful nation and yet we let things like this happen in all our education systems. I honestly think we have lost so many of our values over the last 30 years or so and now people of my generation and the one before that have teenagers are paying the price. I won’t go there though…just my thoughts. We want what we want and who cares who or what gets in our way. Okay…off soapbox now…promise.

]]> By: JanePoe (aka Deborah) http://www.singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-124 JanePoe (aka Deborah) Thu, 14 Dec 2006 11:21:48 +0000 http://singingthesky.com/writing/2006/12/14/ive-been-thinking/#comment-124 What a sad commentary on the educational system and how it's wearing down good educators like yourself ... and no wonder, when we're asking teachers to now be social workers, police officers, counselors, etc. And your questions about what is changing, what is happening to the quality of society? Why the last ten years? Why the rise in school and workplace violence? How do we chart a new course for societal expectations, reduction of violence and increase in the quality of life? What will these young people grow into? So many things to think about ... On a lighter note, thank you for the comments on my blog! Yes, we must be around the same age - I'm forty - too funny about the "Baby Alive!" Much peace, JP What a sad commentary on the educational system and how it’s wearing down good educators like yourself … and no wonder, when we’re asking teachers to now be social workers, police officers, counselors, etc. And your questions about what is changing, what is happening to the quality of society? Why the last ten years? Why the rise in school and workplace violence? How do we chart a new course for societal expectations, reduction of violence and increase in the quality of life? What will these young people grow into?
So many things to think about …

On a lighter note, thank you for the comments on my blog! Yes, we must be around the same age – I’m forty – too funny about the “Baby Alive!”

Much peace,
JP

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