What's Your View on Teachers

[Dollabillyall]

I've personally had a pretty bad time in the education system.
The part where it all goes wrong is when you take children who are either A: Little apes or B: just becoming sexually mature... and then telling them to sit down and listen for 6 hours. A classroom should be setup more like a "home base" from wich the children learn in and about the world around them. Experiencing things first hand is a lot more impactfull than just telling them.
Especially if their minds... are somewhere else...

That's why we need teachers and education to be a much more respected, better financed and somewhat updated field. The thing that most people in the US seem to be worried about is if schools might (accidentally or not) teach opposing religious or political views. In Europe it's more a culture of overprotection (as long as children are shielded from anything unpleasant everything is ok). Both approaches are missing the point of actually making people love what they do so much they persue a succesfull carreer in it and giving them the tools to do so.
Don't (just) teach geography off of maps.. actually show them on regular field trips. And don't just leave philosophy for a handful at a later age but engage children in some fundamental questions about life at a young age. For this we need more development than research. We need to just prune the philosophical and other questions and examples we have and see how children react to them and from how young an age we can actually teach them complicated things in a rudimentary form.

 

[Hawk eye1466]

It's largely based on your experience their style and how you learn if you go into a class at least wanting to learn then you'll probably like the teacher if they aren't happy that will probably rub off on you and you'll hate the class. It's all about how you approach it and whether or not the teacher wants to do their job in a fun way or get the lesson over with as soon as possible.

The other major factor that determines whether you like a teacher or not is how the rest of the class is, I'm very good at English and god awful at math but I enjoy math more because, even though both teachers are nice, they help me and answer any questions I might have and seem to enjoy their jobs but the reason I hate going to English every day is because the rest of the class fucks around and I mean it we'll be taking a test and they'll just get up and start yelling to each other from across the room, they give that teacher no respect and I'm amazed she hasn't killed one of them. The math teacher however will have comebacks if someone says something stupid so he keeps people on topic without them realizing it.

The main point is I like teachers in fact being a teacher as a career is an idea I've had for a little while now but it's all based on them and their environment.

 

[Theminimanx]

Teachers are a fall back career for people who didnt make it in the real job.

This is entirely wrong.

Teachers have to go to college as "Education Majors" to learn how to teach to children. It is an entire four-year program with certification. No one "fails" at some other job and then "falls back" on public school teacher - they have to go to college specifically for being a teacher.

I'm curious, what kind of teaching position do you have to take a four-year program for? My mother only had to take lessons for half a year before being allowed to teach. Maybe it's different in the USA than it is here in the Netherlands. Or does this have something to do with the level of education you're teaching? My mother teaches in what would be a middle/high school in America, do college professors have to learn for a longer time?

 

[Easton Dark]

Teachers are a fall back career for people who didnt make it in the real job.

This is entirely wrong.

Teachers have to go to college as "Education Majors" to learn how to teach to children. It is an entire four-year program with certification. No one "fails" at some other job and then "falls back" on public school teacher - they have to go to college specifically for being a teacher.

I'm curious, what kind of teaching position do you have to take a four-year program for? My mother only had to take lessons for half a year before being allowed to teach. Maybe it's different in the USA than it is here in the Netherlands. Or does this have something to do with the level of education you're teaching? My mother teaches in what would be a middle/high school in America, do college professors have to learn for a longer time?

I'm taking a four year program just for the basic teaching license for high school social studies classes (along with math and science qualifications).

It looks like it is different between countries. Unless your mother is a substitute teacher.

And yes, professors have to have... I want to say 6-8 years.

 

[gamerguy20097]

Aren't paid enough.

 

[Theminimanx]

Teachers are a fall back career for people who didnt make it in the real job.

This is entirely wrong.

Teachers have to go to college as "Education Majors" to learn how to teach to children. It is an entire four-year program with certification. No one "fails" at some other job and then "falls back" on public school teacher - they have to go to college specifically for being a teacher.

I'm curious, what kind of teaching position do you have to take a four-year program for? My mother only had to take lessons for half a year before being allowed to teach. Maybe it's different in the USA than it is here in the Netherlands. Or does this have something to do with the level of education you're teaching? My mother teaches in what would be a middle/high school in America, do college professors have to learn for a longer time?

I'm taking a four year program just for the basic teaching license for high school social studies classes (along with math and science qualifications).

It looks like it is different between countries. Unless your mother is a substitute teacher.

And yes, professors have to have... I want to say 6-8 years.

Come to think about it, I think she started of as substitute, and only got a permanent position a year later at a different school. Does being a substitute teacher make big a difference in education lenght?

 

[Easton Dark]

Come to think about it, I think she started of as substitute, and only got a permanent position a year later at a different school. Does being a substitute teacher make big a difference in education lenght?

I think the substitute teacher question varies between schools. I'm pretty sure one of my substitutes had literally no training or education on how to be a teacher. Which is fine because mostly what substitutes do is tell the kids what the teacher wanted them to do for the day and then just make sure you're working.

For other schools, substitute hirings might require a few more qualifications.

 

[newwiseman]

I work with a lot of teachers,

They deserve a lot more than they get, both in respect and pay. Even the bad teachers, and there are a few, for the most part have just become so totally soul crushingly disheartened with the state of education that it completely inhibits a positive learning experience.

Doesn't help that all the new money we get keeps getting put towards new ways to test, instead of new materials to learn or technology to teach with.

 

[White-Death]

I feel sorry for a lot of teachers since the educational budget is being cut down and exams being made harder,making them much more stressed,by the looks of it.

I managed to get good teachers for my Junior cert cycle.
Our budget is pitiful,mainly in our woodowrk/metalwork classes.Our teacher has to buy tools himself,and sometimes materials,A few of us in class took pity(By that,I mean "Christ,our tools suck,I'm buying my own")And bought in our own drill bits and in some cases,bits of wood and a saw from time to time.Using cheap Chinese knock off tools and rusted british tools gets a bit annoying.
I love the way the Irish government is following the Brits and slashing our budget while making exams harder.
We opened up a fund for a private school for myself,so if the educational budget goes down the shitter,I can do my Leaving cert in a private school.

 

[thesilentman]

I've had good experiences with my teachers so far and I'd say they're underpaid. Also that they are expected to do EVERYTHING every time, which doesn't work out for them.

But, like all professionals, when teachers are good, they are really good. When they are bad, they really stink.

 

[AlbertoDeSanta]

There are definitely good Teachers and Bad teachers. When I think of good teacher, I think of my Grade 6 Teacher. She was nice.
When I think of Bad Teachers. I think of my Current P.E Teacher. He's douchebag.
Overall, I think most teachers are Overpaid. But there are a few, who I'd happily give a payrise to.

 

[Random Argument Man]

Studying to be a teacher and I feel good reading some responses here. I do have a few gripes with the education system we have here. The system doesn't treat teachers as human, but as symbols. We have to be the example to follow 24h/7 a week/365 days per year. I don't mind being an example, but some rules take it to an extreme because some parents took it to an extreme. The teacher's association is basicly telling us to shutdown any form of social interactions with society unless it's school related.

Can't go to a pub to enjoy a beer. Can't have a smoke. Can't have a party at your place. Can't critize any decision made by the teacher's association. Can't say anything on a news paper. Can't make your opinion public. Can't...you get the picture.

My other gripe is when I see to see some of the other students trying to become teachers. Some of them aren't really smart or even interested. Some of them just want an easy A. The worst things I've heard from them were

-" Subject X doesn't have any purposes". If you're a teacher, you should be able to see a purpose for every lesson.
- I once heard "what's the purpose of knowing children's rights". I've never been so disapointed in humanity like that in my life.

 

[Evil Smurf]

teachers are not not payed enough, but have one of the most rewarding jobs ever: Guiding the next generation of children to become adults whom you can be proud of. Yes I plan to become a teacher.

 

[Wolf In A Bear Suit]

I've gotten to the age where I can get along with my teachers. I'm actually quite chatty with some of them. Once we get a control freak idiot, and they did't last long. He was chased out of the school by older guys who were throwing water at him. Every other teacher I've had sice I was 12 is decent, as long as you don't make trouble.

 

[Something1something]

Teachers are a fall back career for people who didnt make it in the real job.

This is entirely wrong.

Teachers have to go to college as "Education Majors" to learn how to teach to children. It is an entire four-year program with certification. No one "fails" at some other job and then "falls back" on public school teacher - they have to go to college specifically for being a teacher.

I'm curious, what kind of teaching position do you have to take a four-year program for? My mother only had to take lessons for half a year before being allowed to teach. Maybe it's different in the USA than it is here in the Netherlands. Or does this have something to do with the level of education you're teaching? My mother teaches in what would be a middle/high school in America, do college professors have to learn for a longer time?

I'm taking a four year program just for the basic teaching license for high school social studies classes (along with math and science qualifications).

It looks like it is different between countries. Unless your mother is a substitute teacher.

And yes, professors have to have... I want to say 6-8 years.

Come to think about it, I think she started of as substitute, and only got a permanent position a year later at a different school. Does being a substitute teacher make big a difference in education lenght?

It depends, if your mother has a masters degree in the field she is teaching, a one year study is enough to be allowed to teach (never heard of halve a year though). People with a masters degree are allowed to teach the upper levels/classes of high school in the Netherlands (we have different levels of difficulty in our high schools). People who only have a bachelors degree can only teach the lower classes/levels. As far as I know there are no official 6 month studies to become a teacher though.. it might have been because she did well as a substitute.. with there being a shortage of teachers in the netherlands and all.

To people saying it's a backup study, or taking a small part of a study they couldn't finish. It doesn't work like that in the netherlands at least, it's something you do after completing your masters in a specific field (again, for the higher levels).

 

[AngloDoom]

I respect teachers who went into teaching out of a passion for wanting to be a role-model for the next generation.

I hold a wavering pity/contempt for people who chose teaching because they weren't sure what else to do: wavering toward pity if they hate it but need it to pay the bills, contempt if they blame the students.

 

[Twilight_guy]

My mother is a teacher. The job is slowly killing her. It's one of the worst job you can have. Low pay, underfunded, deal with parents who hate you, get no respect, hated by the public who think you're just not doing your job well and that's why test scores suck, run by politicians who have no idea how much testing sucks, and you spend a whole lot of unpaid time doing lesson plans and grading in your free time. Oh and in my state they're getting their pay cut every year too.

Of course other teachers are jerks who put zero effort into things as well... and ruin children. So you suck it sucks?

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

I'm curious, what kind of teaching position do you have to take a four-year program for? My mother only had to take lessons for half a year before being allowed to teach. Maybe it's different in the USA than it is here in the Netherlands. Or does this have something to do with the level of education you're teaching? My mother teaches in what would be a middle/high school in America, do college professors have to learn for a longer time?

Undergrad College Professor: Requires a Masters degree minimum in the area of specialization. This typically takes 6-7 years of college. Teaching graduate level classes requires a Doctorate, which is 8-10 years of college.
For example, I have a Master of Fine Arts (a 7-year degree between an MA and a PhD) in English: Creative Writing, so I am qualified to teach undergraduate English and Writing classes. I am not qualified to teach graduate level classes.

Elementary, Middle, or High school teacher: Requires a Bachelors in Education. That's a 4-year degree. Additionally, a school teacher requires Teaching Certification.
Also - and anyone with additional information correct me if I'm wrong about this - most education majors don't specialize - they are taught to be able to teach any subject. Instead, they specialize in an age group - elementary, middle, or high school.

Finally, substitute teachers require less - any Bachelor's degree qualifies one to substitute teach. I tried that back before I got my master's degree. It was AWFUL.

 

[Aetera]

I respect teachers. It's a demanding, important job that doesn't pay as well as it should. My mom works at a school(as an aid for mentally disabled students, not as a teacher) so I've gained more of an understanding of what they go through through her.

 

[Relish in Chaos]

I like most of them, and even respect some of the ones I dislike. Apart from my old Music teacher who was a terrible teacher, often picked on the students (once making a girl in my year cry due to his multiple insults), not even most of the teachers like him, and he?s just an overall jerk. I can?t believe he?s still even employed in the school. His one redeeming trait is that he can be relatively funny at times.

But most are pretty decent, and some do genuinely make an effort to engage with the students and make their lessons interesting. Like my old Science teacher, and my current A-Level English Language. But the former?s left now, which was a great shame, because he was probably the nicest guy I?ve ever met, and he was a damn good teacher who you knew cared about his students.