11–20 of 273 posts
I REALLY wish teaching was as prestigious as say, being a doctor, or investment banker. I read a very interesting [1] book on this and it really just opened my eyes regarding the mediocrity of teaching (not quality per say, but as a profession, which eventually leads to poor education). [1] http://www.amazon.com/Smartest-Kids-World-They-That/dp/14516...
This, I think is one of the fundamental problems:
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If parents and local decision-makers really value education (and there is a small portion of the community that does), student and teacher morale would be much different.
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The overall environment matters more than the teacher. We've mentioned it here not too long ago as well.
Doesn't matter how fancy the workbooks and new materials or how hard we flog the teachers. The environment is anti-learning. Sure there is tons of lip service of "children are our future". All the best for the children, etc, etc. Except that actions and reality doesn't reflect that.
Many students come poor and/or bad families. No new "Common Core" tests are going to help that child learn if they are afraid they might not eat dinner that evening or they will be beaten up by their drunken family members. Just flogging the teacher to teach harder won't work.
It would be nice if "teaching" was considered just as a prestigious profession as laywer, doctor, astronaut, CTO of startup. Besides attracting more talent, it would send a cultural message -- education is very imporant and only special people get to do teach.
Heck look at the stupid Breaking Bad show. If Walter would be just teaching chemistry vis-a-vis his rich startup-owing friend he would be totally pathetic and uninteresting. Media like that tends to condense, distil and reflect back cultural attidides. Well thank god Walter started cooking meth, and killing otherwise he would have been the most boring person ever.
Good read. I remember a few dedicated influential teachers. Unfortunately, they are but a few and surrounded in my memory by a large number that were simply going through the motions. That was 20 years ago, and it sounds like maybe things have not improved. Quality teachers are just about one of the most important things a society can have. Not sure why we haven't institutionally figured that out.
I've had great teachers and I've had terrible teachers. I don't think any teacher sets out to be one of the bad teachers, I think the amount of things teachers go through (low pay, unnecessary hoops to jump through, etc) just grinds a person down.
But the way it is set up now, education does seem to get a fair share of people looking for an easy path. Not sure this is the best group to be educating our youth.
I REALLY wish teaching was as prestigious as say, being a doctor, or investment banker. I read a very interesting [1] book on this and it really just opened my eyes regarding the mediocrity of teaching (not quality per say, but as a profession, which eventually leads to poor education). [1] http://www.amazon.com/Smartest-Kids-World-They-That/dp/14516...
It is (in a free market). China/HK has millionaire private teachers.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is (in a free market). China/HK has millionaire private teachers.
It is (in a socialist market). Finnish teachers have some of the utmost prestige.
More like "Waynesboro Rotary Club Teacher of the Year"? Looks like this is blogspam with a linkbaity title. Original was "The Tough Decision to Leave the Classroom": http://iamjwal.com/the-tough-decision-to-leave-the-classroom...
Whereas, this article reflects the same sentiments I have been hearing from close friends over the past years who are public school teachers. And it boils down to two facts that I have taken particular note of after listening to their grievances:
1. Government interference with education has been a huge mistake. 2. We do not pay our teachers nearly enough.
You cannot legislate education, especially when trying to create a universal adapter for all education across the country.
You cannot get quality teachers in the education system without adequate compensation, period.
Great points. This, I think is one of the fundamental problems: --- If parents and local decision-makers really value education (and there is a small portion of the community that does), student and teacher morale would be much different. --- The overall environment matters more than the teacher. We've mentioned it here not too long ago as well. Doesn't matter how fancy the workbooks and new materials or how hard we…
Great points. This, I think is one of the fundamental problems: --- If parents and local decision-makers really value education (and there is a small portion of the community that does), student and teacher morale would be much different. --- The overall environment matters more than the teacher. We've mentioned it here not too long ago as well. Doesn't matter how fancy the workbooks and new materials or how hard we…
If the problem is community, why not take the students/families who really do care (from all the schools in a metropolitan area) and put them all in the same school? That would at least be a start.
I regularly see claims that tests are at odds with learning. What I don't understand is how anyone can tell what kids have learned without some sort of test.