Where suspicion fills the air and holds scholars in line for fear of their jobs, there can be no exercise of the free intellect. . . . A problem can no longer be pursued with impunity to its edges. Fear stalks the classroom. The teacher is no longer a stimulant to adventurous thinking; she becomes instead a pipe line for safe and sound information. A deadening dogma takes the place of free inquiry. Instruction tends to become sterile; pursuit of knowledge is discouraged; discussion often leaves off where it should begin.
Justice William O. Douglas,United States Supreme Court:Adler v. Board of Education, 1951.
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9 comments:
Haven't you heard. Teachers have not been allowed to teach for decades now. It's all about teaching the test. My child who is a graduate of EBHS became an excellent test taker and never had to bring a book home much less read one. When he graduated all I could think of was there goes a young man who will struggle for a long time. He didn't learn anything except the things he should'nt have learned. Minds have to be challenged. Tests should be banned and we should go to pass/fail on classes. In college, I learned more in pass/fail classes than any other. I didn't spend all my time worrying about whether I was going to pass. It gave me incentive to listen, not take notes, and participate in the conversation. Our entire school system needs a major overhaul. The book that has you guys so upset is not worth mentioning when you realize the scope and magnitude of how our government has screwed up the education system in this country. Put your energy where it counts, educate yourself to the problems our children face and don't waste another generation of children on political correctness.
I agree that we need to get rid of No Child Left Behind and the state testing system. Saying that, I do have to point out that my child is currently at EBHS and brings home books all the time. In fact, she's had to do several projects outside class.
I love the quote, "I never let my schooling get in the way of my education." I often used it in my classroom.
Whether it be high school or college, you will come across teachers you don't like and test you feel are unimportant. As a student, you determine how much or how little you take from the class.
I believe the point of the first comment was that this parents child felt saddened that his child was not getting out of school what he experienced as a student. We are all unique and will experience things uniquely. I do agree that the entire school system should be overhauled. Our current crop of young people seem to not see the urgency of educating themselves, just passing that damn test!
The teacher stated above that the students determined how much they take from the class. This is an example of the ignorance that I have seen among teachers. TEACHERS DETERMINE HOW MUCH STUDENTS TAKE FROM THEIR CLASS. At least the good ones do. Don't slink from your responsibility teacher. My best teachers were not necessarily my favorite people. But they designed a classroom environment that was conducive to learning. When you are young you should not have the luxury of deciding what you will take from a class. Learning what is taught should be mandatory.
A biology teacher at WPCC once told me that while there are no dumb questions, that teachers who come during the summer for re-qualification ask some incredibly stupid ones. He said he could not believe how little they knew and that they were the ones teaching the children who would be coming his way in the future.
Gosh, teachers determine how much students take from their classes? Yes, it's the teacher's fault when parents let their kids lay out of school day after day. It's the teacher's fault when parents don't ever check their kids' homework to see if they actually did it. Yes, it's the teacher's fault that parents wait around for them to call rather than picking up a phone and calling to check on their kids. Yes, it's the teachers fault that kids come to school with bruises, dirty, and hungry. Yes, it's the teachers fault that parents don't instill a love of learning in their kids. Yes, it's the teachers fault that the parents of some of their students abused drugs and/or alcohol while they were pregnant. Yes, it's the teacher's fault that the kids come in from broken homes and neither parents seems to really know what's going on in the kids' lives. Yes, it's the teachers fault that some parents find it easier to medicate that to discipline. Yes, it is always the teacher's fault.
To the 1:50 poster:
When was the last time you actually tried TEACHING? I'd bet NEVER!!
I love it when you armchair quarterbacks talk smack from the sidelines. The simple fact of the matter is, you wouldn't last a day in today's classroom.
While the teacher bears a tremendous responsibility in the learning process, lawsuits and the new "victim mentality" instilled in the latest generation of students and parents have absolutuley hamstrung the teacher in the classroom. As the old saying goes, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" holds very true today. If a student is lazy, let's label him/her ADHD or whatever "syndrome of the month" you choose. If Johnny isn't doing his homework, let's just blame the teacher for not making it "interesting enough" (as if homework could ever compete with TV and video games). I could keep listing numerous examples, but I believe this gets the point across.
If you think so highly of yourself, try getting in the game instead of patting yourself on the back for winning a local election. Otherwise, you have no right to criticise my profession.
On the other hand if you decide to act upon the challenge, be my guest. It's the toughest job you'll ever love.
Amen, 2:45!
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