What's Your View on Teachers
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Eh heh... teachers specialize. Elementary teachers don't, because they need to be able to teach the basics of a wide range of subjects, right. But middle and high school teachers need to take specific courses.Bara_no_Hime said:
Me, I'm majoring in Secondary Social Studies with minors in math and science so I can be good and marketable.
I'm not going to be able to be hired to teach an english class.
I've been through grade school, high school, university, various training classes and was a trainer myself briefly.
My brothers wife is a grade school teacher as well.
That being said I think teachers themselves are often great.
They play babysitter while trying to make content tolerable within the extremely scripted confines of the greater business.
Teaching/Training isn't easy. It's fun, but it's exhausting work and frustrating because you can seldom do what you want.
I've had my share of bad teachers though and I can definitely see why people might hate them.
Several of my grade school teachers would yell at our class constantly. One even got fired eventually for throwing their chair across the room, lol.
The worst teachers are typically professors in university in my experience.
With a handful of exceptions most of them just didn't have any passion or flare.
Their styles offered nothing to help you learn beyond the knowledge to answer your questions.
My brothers wife is a grade school teacher as well.
That being said I think teachers themselves are often great.
They play babysitter while trying to make content tolerable within the extremely scripted confines of the greater business.
Teaching/Training isn't easy. It's fun, but it's exhausting work and frustrating because you can seldom do what you want.
I've had my share of bad teachers though and I can definitely see why people might hate them.
Several of my grade school teachers would yell at our class constantly. One even got fired eventually for throwing their chair across the room, lol.
The worst teachers are typically professors in university in my experience.
With a handful of exceptions most of them just didn't have any passion or flare.
Their styles offered nothing to help you learn beyond the knowledge to answer your questions.
I've been through grade school, high school, university, various training classes and was a trainer myself briefly.
My brothers wife is a grade school teacher as well.
That being said I think teachers themselves are often great.
They play babysitter while trying to make content tolerable within the extremely scripted confines of the greater business.
Teaching/Training isn't easy. It's fun, but it's exhausting work and frustrating because you can seldom do what you want.
I've had my share of bad teachers though and I can definitely see why people might hate them.
Several of my grade school teachers would yell at our class constantly. One even got fired eventually for throwing their chair across the room, lol.
The worst teachers are typically professors in university in my experience.
With a handful of exceptions most of them just didn't have any passion or flare.
Their styles offered nothing to help you learn beyond the knowledge to answer your questions.
My brothers wife is a grade school teacher as well.
That being said I think teachers themselves are often great.
They play babysitter while trying to make content tolerable within the extremely scripted confines of the greater business.
Teaching/Training isn't easy. It's fun, but it's exhausting work and frustrating because you can seldom do what you want.
I've had my share of bad teachers though and I can definitely see why people might hate them.
Several of my grade school teachers would yell at our class constantly. One even got fired eventually for throwing their chair across the room, lol.
The worst teachers are typically professors in university in my experience.
With a handful of exceptions most of them just didn't have any passion or flare.
Their styles offered nothing to help you learn beyond the knowledge to answer your questions.
It really depends on what kind of teachers you're talking about. I've seen good teachers and bad teachers. And I think teachers are a necessary part of education.
Speaking as a teacher's assistant, I've been with 50 or so students per Tuesday and Thursday. There's a trade off that has to be present in order for there to be a successful student. The teacher has to present the material, explain the material, or state the importance of the material enough so that the student outside of that discipline and that education level can understand. For some teachers it can come naturally, for others it can be very difficult, as I've learned from classes on how to teach (creating a lecture for students is extremely hard). The other part of the deal has to come from the student. The teachers I know, as well as myself, offer office hours, help room hours, and recitations to help with material and homework. And while the teacher is responsible for stating that those lifeboats and resources are available for students that are having a hard time, it's up to the student to decide whether or not he or she wants to accept and use those resources. There's a point at which the teacher cannot care more about the student, because then it definitely becomes babysitting.
Do I care about the grades of my students? Absolutely. Do I reach out my hand in offering help? Hell yes. Do the students come to me for help? That depends on them.
The good qualities that I've seen in past teachers are from my Intro to Quantum Mechanics, and Electromagnetism I and II classes:
-A well laid out plan that doesn't extend into overtime.
-Clarity such that the student at that level of education will understand the new material.
-Offers good office hours so that the student can see them.
-A friendly nature and commanding knowledge of the material.
-HW that is on a weekly basis.
The bad qualities I've seen in past teachers come from my History of Jazz class and possibly Intro to Archaeology (although that teacher wasn't so bad.)
-Not enough HW or graded assignments to keep the student invested in the material or learning the material.(HoJ)
-Lectures that seem to ramble on. (HoJ)
-Too much reading, and especially... (ItA)
-Too much reading outside of the textbook (Cosmology and ItA).
-Too fast or too slow on lectures (Cosmology Class).
-Little clarity on the material (Cosmology Class)
Some people have said that teachers are overpaid. To those of you who have said that, here's some food for thought. One of my high school physics teachers left his job to become a plumber because being a plumber had a bigger salary. Elementary through High School teachers don't get a lot of money per year. It's more than enough to keep them in the middle class, but it's definitely not a deal of being overpayed.
Speaking as a teacher's assistant, I've been with 50 or so students per Tuesday and Thursday. There's a trade off that has to be present in order for there to be a successful student. The teacher has to present the material, explain the material, or state the importance of the material enough so that the student outside of that discipline and that education level can understand. For some teachers it can come naturally, for others it can be very difficult, as I've learned from classes on how to teach (creating a lecture for students is extremely hard). The other part of the deal has to come from the student. The teachers I know, as well as myself, offer office hours, help room hours, and recitations to help with material and homework. And while the teacher is responsible for stating that those lifeboats and resources are available for students that are having a hard time, it's up to the student to decide whether or not he or she wants to accept and use those resources. There's a point at which the teacher cannot care more about the student, because then it definitely becomes babysitting.
Do I care about the grades of my students? Absolutely. Do I reach out my hand in offering help? Hell yes. Do the students come to me for help? That depends on them.
The good qualities that I've seen in past teachers are from my Intro to Quantum Mechanics, and Electromagnetism I and II classes:
-A well laid out plan that doesn't extend into overtime.
-Clarity such that the student at that level of education will understand the new material.
-Offers good office hours so that the student can see them.
-A friendly nature and commanding knowledge of the material.
-HW that is on a weekly basis.
The bad qualities I've seen in past teachers come from my History of Jazz class and possibly Intro to Archaeology (although that teacher wasn't so bad.)
-Not enough HW or graded assignments to keep the student invested in the material or learning the material.(HoJ)
-Lectures that seem to ramble on. (HoJ)
-Too much reading, and especially... (ItA)
-Too much reading outside of the textbook (Cosmology and ItA).
-Too fast or too slow on lectures (Cosmology Class).
-Little clarity on the material (Cosmology Class)
Some people have said that teachers are overpaid. To those of you who have said that, here's some food for thought. One of my high school physics teachers left his job to become a plumber because being a plumber had a bigger salary. Elementary through High School teachers don't get a lot of money per year. It's more than enough to keep them in the middle class, but it's definitely not a deal of being overpayed.
So there are teachers at shcool and there are lecturers at University. As far as school teachers go, there are very few who don't at some level care about how successful their class is. But there are some teachers who are really good, and some who are just incompetent. I don't think everyone necessarily realises how much teachers have to be able to do to run a class effectively, so not being suited for the job isn't exactly a slight. It's also partly the curriculum's fault for being so focussed on rote learning and exam nuances rather than just understanding the subject. But I had a Chemistry teacher who practically thought rote learning was all it was possible to do and taught as such, which didn't help me much, but there was another problem - my classmates were so effective at shutting her down by constantly asking for clarification like they're stupid (they actually weren't) that we hardly ever got through the lesson. Another problem was that she just didn't know the content very well. There was one particularly tricky concept that she made very certain to define because it can be confusing otherwise, and the textbook disagreed, and I still don't know which is correct at the end of that.
I also had a Maths teacher, who, while strict, had a sense of humour and was very good at explaining things conceptually. Unfortunately for her I was just shitty at Maths, but she was a good teacher because she promoted understanding rather than rote learning, and COULD. Rote learning is an easier way to teach and is really the metric I use for seperating good and bad teachers.
Lecturers on the other hand, I had mixed experiences with. Most recently Electronics - the guy was apathetic along with all of the tutors, to the point of being condescending, had an Indian accent and a lisp and was softly spoken. I learnt hardly anything beyond which topics to look up later at home. Programming Fundamentals - the guy had a slight Indian accent but was very animated, good at explaining and thorough with the material. He is pretty much the only lecturer I've had all year that could have made his 6-8pm Friday time slot work. Mechanical Engineering - such a severe Asian accent that even Asian students I've talked to can't understand half the things he says. Not his fault at all, and the notes he provided were quite voluminous in examples, but still learnt practically nothing from what he said.
You may notice a theme with accents and point out I'm being racist. I'm not, it's a communication issue, and in Asutralia we have a lot of foreign lecturers whose accent actually interferes with education, and in 1/4 cases this semester, the lecturer doesn't care how well he is getting across information.
tl;dr - there are good and bad teachers across the board.
I also had a Maths teacher, who, while strict, had a sense of humour and was very good at explaining things conceptually. Unfortunately for her I was just shitty at Maths, but she was a good teacher because she promoted understanding rather than rote learning, and COULD. Rote learning is an easier way to teach and is really the metric I use for seperating good and bad teachers.
Lecturers on the other hand, I had mixed experiences with. Most recently Electronics - the guy was apathetic along with all of the tutors, to the point of being condescending, had an Indian accent and a lisp and was softly spoken. I learnt hardly anything beyond which topics to look up later at home. Programming Fundamentals - the guy had a slight Indian accent but was very animated, good at explaining and thorough with the material. He is pretty much the only lecturer I've had all year that could have made his 6-8pm Friday time slot work. Mechanical Engineering - such a severe Asian accent that even Asian students I've talked to can't understand half the things he says. Not his fault at all, and the notes he provided were quite voluminous in examples, but still learnt practically nothing from what he said.
You may notice a theme with accents and point out I'm being racist. I'm not, it's a communication issue, and in Asutralia we have a lot of foreign lecturers whose accent actually interferes with education, and in 1/4 cases this semester, the lecturer doesn't care how well he is getting across information.
tl;dr - there are good and bad teachers across the board.
Ah, thanks. I wasn't sure - I have a friend who got an Education Major specializing in elementary school, and I've taught several Ed Majors in their freshman year before choosing, so I'd never heard of them getting class type specialization, but I wasn't positive that they didn't for higher levels. Thanks for confirming that for me.Easton Dark said:
I mean, I probably could have just asked my friend, but then I'd have had to call her up and ask her about her major - which, since after one year of teaching elementary school, she quit, and now works at a Panera Bread, is a rather sensitive subject.
I've heard that teaching gets harder the lower the age of your students, for very obvious reasons. Attention span, etc. So anyone that's going elementary (around my school I'm pretty sure it's 100% women) better have the capability to maintain under constant annoyances.Bara_no_Hime said:
I'm going for high school because I think it'll make teaching a lot easier if I'm teaching students I can have an informed conversation with.
**is about to laugh, then realizes that you are serious, and is instead is mildly stunned**Easton Dark said:
I did a little substitute teaching in a high school. Informed conversations were not what we had.
It was awful. So... very, very awful. **shudders**
If you think you can handle high school students, then you amaze me and have my complete respect. Good luck to you in all your endeavors. You are certainly braver than I. Again, good luck.
Maybe it's because I still feel like a high school student. I'm in college, but I'm doing the exact same work I was doing in high school, only easier.Bara_no_Hime said:
I've been told I'm intimidating if you don't know me, so hopefully I can squash any resistance before the class really starts, eh?
My mother is a teacher for a charter school that does home visits/ instead of classroom study. Her biggest frustration is that even though their school system is that she only visits once every two weeks to check and help with work (the parents are supposed to be the main teachers), the school blames any poor grades or complaints on the teacher.
I think this goes for a public schools too. Programs like the no child left behind put the blame on the teachers, when really its because of a crappy family situation.
She also hates the teacher's union, as she is required to pay membership fees, but they generally do not create/campaign for any policies which benefit charter schools.
I think this goes for a public schools too. Programs like the no child left behind put the blame on the teachers, when really its because of a crappy family situation.
She also hates the teacher's union, as she is required to pay membership fees, but they generally do not create/campaign for any policies which benefit charter schools.
I respect what they do and what role they play in society.
What I DON'T respect is the bloated blood-sucking leech known as the Teachers Union.
Seriously, can't we just have the President or Congress forcibly disband that thing? It's good for almost NOTHING except making it impossible to fire bad teachers once they have tenure and inhaling money that should be going directly to the schools.
What I DON'T respect is the bloated blood-sucking leech known as the Teachers Union.
Seriously, can't we just have the President or Congress forcibly disband that thing? It's good for almost NOTHING except making it impossible to fire bad teachers once they have tenure and inhaling money that should be going directly to the schools.
Wow... I really hope you are just trolling and aren't actually that ignorant.Angie7F said:
OT: As a student currently taking courses to become a teacher (just finished my first semester of ed with great success) I obviously have a great deal of respect for the people in this profession. Most people don't seem to realize just how much work teacher's put into their job. A lot of people think that the teacher goes to work, babysits some kids and then goes home. Wrong. They spend usually an extra 2-3 hours a school prepping the next day's lessons or marking. A lot of people think that teacher's get weekends off. This is also incorrect. Many teachers come in to the school at least one of the days to do prepping and planning.
Then there's the actual teaching part. There is way more to this than meets the eye. Teachers develop skills in classroom management, planning, assessment, communication, questioning, and various subjects they might be teaching over their entire career. Teachers spend usually at least 4 years in university but the learning does not stop there. Teachers here in Alberta are usually required to submit a professional growth plan every year. This means that they always are focusing on getting better.
Teaching is a very real job and is often unappreciated. For the amount of work they do and the amount of skills that they need to be successful, they really deserve a higher pay. However, this does not bother most teachers because they like me, are not in it for the money (although Alberta teachers do get paid quite decently) they are in it because it is a challenging and rewarding career that never gets old.
As far as why teachers are important.... do I really even need to go into this. Without out teachers, a large amount of knowledge does not get passed on and society would crumble very quickly. I've barely scratched the surface on why teachers are important and just how much skill they need to be successful but hopefully this has helped change some people's rather negative views.
I realize that not every teacher is good and that some of you may have had some bad experiences with them (who hasn't?) but I think it's important to realize how important teachers are and how their job is not a fall back. If you have teaching as a fall back option, please reconsider. You will not help the profession. You should WANT to teach. I knew that I wanted to teach when I was 14 years old. Hopefully I will be successful and live up to the description I have just given!
I think this depends on where you go to school. I'm currently part way through my Ed degree and I just finished my first major practicum. It was general and in grade 1. Every Ed student has to take their first semester like this (general and somewhere from grade 1 to 6). It gives you a foundation on which you can specialize on top of. My next semester will be much more specialized into my major. On top of this, we can choose to take extra specialization courses such as child psychology or working with students who have disabilities. My third semester will essentially be me teaching for the entire day, ever day, for a full semester. This will be in my area of specialization and is basically a test run. You are the teacher for the whole time. There is a person to observe you but you do all the work of a normal teacher. Just without getting paidBara_no_Hime said:
How does "unreasonably high expectations" sound? I have nothing against teachers but a large part of the ones I have come into contact with were so far removed from the people they were trying to connect with that they no longer had a clue what they were doing. There are some great ones though. The ones that really like what they teach and put their heart into it are the best. I had an awesome american government teacher who was involved with different things in the state government, and he was one of the best teachers I've ever had.
The one cliche I hate is "I already did this, and passed with straight A's" (says a white female teacher that came from a better off family and private school). Just because your better than us at something, it doesn't mean you have the right to be a ****, and in fact, it's why you're teaching us.
The one cliche I hate is "I already did this, and passed with straight A's" (says a white female teacher that came from a better off family and private school). Just because your better than us at something, it doesn't mean you have the right to be a ****, and in fact, it's why you're teaching us.
We get treated like shite. The profession is hemorrhaging members, year on year out. You see, the point is, you don't go into teaching to get rich. No-one does, no-one can do. Those in teaching can make far more money elsewhere with the relative skill sets they possess. So why do they do it? My answer would be that we see a life beyond mere money etc. That there is a greater thing out there called society and common community.
Alas, in the last 30-40 years. the notion of selfless endevour has been gradually eroded. What now is important is money and what you can buy with it. The latest car, the biggest house, the sharpest suit. All these things mean zip to your average teacher. Well that's one part of the equation, two more revolve around the attitudes towards teachers by parents, students, and administrators.
Students attitudes generally reflect those of their parents. If their parents genuinely care about their child getting a good education, then there is a good chance that they will get one. Obviously, in the poorer income brackets and in poorer areas, this is easier said than done. A firm dynamic mother/father that wants to see his/her child do well really can make all the difference.
As for the attitudes of those that run and administrate education. Some things are best left unsaid. I do not wish to get banned for flaming/trolling etc. Let me just say that those in charge, like so many politicians, feel that they have to be seen to be doing something. That this is a topic that most of them don't know the first thing about is nothing short of a recipe for disaster. I could go on about how excessive testing and teaching to the test should be outlawed under the Geneva Convention under 'cruel and unusual punishment', but that is neither here nor there.
Rant over.
Alas, in the last 30-40 years. the notion of selfless endevour has been gradually eroded. What now is important is money and what you can buy with it. The latest car, the biggest house, the sharpest suit. All these things mean zip to your average teacher. Well that's one part of the equation, two more revolve around the attitudes towards teachers by parents, students, and administrators.
Students attitudes generally reflect those of their parents. If their parents genuinely care about their child getting a good education, then there is a good chance that they will get one. Obviously, in the poorer income brackets and in poorer areas, this is easier said than done. A firm dynamic mother/father that wants to see his/her child do well really can make all the difference.
As for the attitudes of those that run and administrate education. Some things are best left unsaid. I do not wish to get banned for flaming/trolling etc. Let me just say that those in charge, like so many politicians, feel that they have to be seen to be doing something. That this is a topic that most of them don't know the first thing about is nothing short of a recipe for disaster. I could go on about how excessive testing and teaching to the test should be outlawed under the Geneva Convention under 'cruel and unusual punishment', but that is neither here nor there.
Rant over.
That is a very good question. My best guess is that he is trying to privatise Britain's Education system. Whilst, at the same time have it run along ideals and methods that the Victorians would have deemed antediluvian. The man is deranged in a manner that boggles the mind. It is always worth remembering that he is one of Murdoch's little minions.SextusMaximus said: