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"All the studies show it doesn't matter what the teacher does." How ridiculous. I would love to read whatever studies or evidence available to substantiate such a claim. All the studies I've read say it is the teacher who is the most important element in a child's education. Isn't that why we fight for higher wages and better working conditions in negotiations? So we can do a better job of teaching kids? Aren't kids the reason we have jobs? Yes it was Whitney, "the crackhead", who said "I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way." It was Harold Melville who said "Wake up all you teachers, time to teach a new way. Maybe then they'll listen to what you have to say. They're the ones who are coming up and the world is in their hand. When you teach the children, teach them the very best you can." All factors in the equation which results in the education of children have to do a better job. That includes parents, teachers, administrators, "The Education Establishment", healthcare, the government. Parents have to become available and accept some responsibility. That includes reading to children, limiting television, having dinner with the family at regular times, participating in the child's school, asking about school and homework. Parents should be ashamed to say that on the 113th day of school they have not seen a report card, but some do say this. Is there anything we can do about student mobility?
Parents are the first teachers and role models in a child's life. They should be held accountable for their child's education too. They should have to take certain classes related to disciplining their child (123 magic or whatever other systems to help them), how to help their child with homework at home, nutrition classes,social skills, etc. If their child is in school these classes should be mandatory. Whatever happened to parents working with teachers and not blaming teachers and agreeing with their child all the time.The majority of teacher's bust their behinds to help their students, but I can not teach a child to learn if they don't want to. The pride and desire comes from within and starts at home. (kind of like you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink.)Wake up parents and do your job correctly.
It befuddles me when we speak of parents not doing their jobs in this Blog and I'll tell you why... In the very act of calling many city residents "parents", we have unwittingly placed them in the same cast as Ward and June, Cliff and Clair, Dagwood and Blondie... Let me ask you a question. Would YOU miss you child's TEAM meeting three times..? Would you send your child to school without breakfast..? Would you have been one of only a handful of parents to show up at a meeting held at the Parker School to illuminate the needs of its children..?
Why on earth are we behaving as though we have been suddenly awakened to a community where the greatest number of Birth announcements in our local newspaper list a single woman's name as the parent? Where multiple children bear multiple surnames..? Where needing a hand up has become an accepted, if not desired lifestyle choice..?
There is an insanity which is coalescing among our most educable civilians. (And you're correct in noting that I won't use the term "Citizens" to reference the legion they are becoming. Citizens they are not.) What they are doing, not to themselves but to their children, is creating the same undesirable community affliction that met those people affected with Leprosy in the Middle Ages. So great was the fear of contracting these diseases that avoidance was the only cultural cure.
Well... avoidance has many forms. And the most obvious one is the avoidance of educated people to associate directly or even indirectly with the families within our borders who do not wish to adopt our basic cultural practices. Namely- educating oneself in order to become a better member of this city. How often have we seen students (who have been cared for by parents who choose to give up their own pleasure in order to provide for them) announce their relocation to a suburb..? Do we really want to author this movement as being a "Go West, Young Man" journey of enlightenment, as though they couldn't wait to stretch their elbows in the great, wide expanses of Dartmouth; Freetown; Rochester or Acushnet? Who's zoomin' who on that one..?
No... until we have the benefit of residents who want to be engaged in their children's lives on every level... failure will always be a possible outcome of this equation.
But let me be clear on this final point... In no way do I condone the practice of "dumbing down" our work, diluting the product to make it more palatable, digestible. I observe colleagues everyday standing before their groups and providing opportunities. Because, isn't that all you really CAN do..? Provide opportunities to learn? I've watched blackboard specialists and whiteboard wizards... I've seen costumes worn, pies taken in the face, balloons launched and fortresses built of sugar cubes. I've also been treated to quiet moments of books read on rugs, long and short division illustrated, deconstructed and reformed, and felt humbled to be in the same space as a Kindergarten teacher explaining the concept of words... our single greatest historical achievement.
There is only just so much you can do... Mind you... you CAN be expected to work miracles... but that is simply people trying to take others "off task". If you have no intention on taking your Doctor's orders to: "Lose weight, get more exercise, stop smoking, eat more fibre..." why on earth show up for the appointment? Two reasons come to mind-
1. You can rest easy in the belief that you have done all you have time (or desire) to do; or
2. You can hope that when you are stricken with a heart attack, stroke or other life-threatening disease, you can tell everyone your Doctor never told you how important it was to take better care of yourself...
But you'll have as difficult a time convincing educated people of your argument,
and then there is the additional issue of parents believing that they are assuring their kid's future and "getting involved" by assaulting the system and the teacher.
5 comments:
"All the studies show it doesn't matter what the teacher does." How ridiculous. I would love to read whatever studies or evidence available to substantiate such a claim. All the studies I've read say it is the teacher who is the most important element in a child's education. Isn't that why we fight for higher wages and better working conditions in negotiations? So we can do a better job of teaching kids? Aren't kids the reason we have jobs? Yes it was Whitney, "the crackhead", who said "I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way." It was Harold Melville who said "Wake up all you teachers, time to teach a new way. Maybe then they'll listen to what you have to say. They're the ones who are coming up and the world is in their hand. When you teach the children, teach them the very best you can." All factors in the equation which results in the education of children have to do a better job. That includes parents, teachers, administrators, "The Education Establishment", healthcare, the government. Parents have to become available and accept some responsibility. That includes reading to children, limiting television, having dinner with the family at regular times, participating in the child's school, asking about school and homework. Parents should be ashamed to say that on the 113th day of school they have not seen a report card, but some do say this. Is there anything we can do about student mobility?
Parents are the first teachers and role models in a child's life. They should be held accountable for their child's education too. They should have to take certain classes related to disciplining their child (123 magic or whatever other systems to help them), how to help their child with homework at home, nutrition classes,social skills, etc. If their child is in school these classes should be mandatory. Whatever happened to parents working with teachers and not blaming teachers and agreeing with their child all the time.The majority of teacher's bust their behinds to help their students, but I can not teach a child to learn if they don't want to. The pride and desire comes from within and starts at home. (kind of like you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink.)Wake up parents and do your job correctly.
God Bless Bill Mahr
It befuddles me when we speak of parents not doing their jobs in this Blog and I'll tell you why... In the very act of calling many city residents "parents", we have unwittingly placed them in the same cast as Ward and June, Cliff and Clair, Dagwood and Blondie... Let me ask you a question. Would YOU miss you child's TEAM meeting three times..? Would you send your child to school without breakfast..? Would you have been one of only a handful of parents to show up at a meeting held at the Parker School to illuminate the needs of its children..?
Why on earth are we behaving as though we have been suddenly awakened to a community where the greatest number of Birth announcements in our local newspaper list a single woman's name as the parent? Where multiple children bear multiple surnames..? Where needing a hand up has become an accepted, if not desired lifestyle choice..?
There is an insanity which is coalescing among our most educable civilians. (And you're correct in noting that I won't use the term "Citizens" to reference the legion they are becoming. Citizens they are not.) What they are doing, not to themselves but to their children, is creating the same undesirable community affliction that met those people affected with Leprosy in the Middle Ages. So great was the fear of contracting these diseases that avoidance was the only cultural cure.
Well... avoidance has many forms. And the most obvious one is the avoidance of educated people to associate directly or even indirectly with the families within our borders who do not wish to adopt our basic cultural practices. Namely- educating oneself in order to become a better member of this city. How often have we seen students (who have been cared for by parents who choose to give up their own pleasure in order to provide for them) announce their relocation to a suburb..? Do we really want to author this movement as being a "Go West, Young Man" journey of enlightenment, as though they couldn't wait to stretch their elbows in the great, wide expanses of Dartmouth; Freetown; Rochester or Acushnet? Who's zoomin' who on that one..?
No... until we have the benefit of residents who want to be engaged in their children's lives on every level... failure will always be a possible outcome of this equation.
But let me be clear on this final point... In no way do I condone the practice of "dumbing down" our work, diluting the product to make it more palatable, digestible. I observe colleagues everyday standing before their groups and providing opportunities. Because, isn't that all you really CAN do..? Provide opportunities to learn? I've watched blackboard specialists and whiteboard wizards... I've seen costumes worn, pies taken in the face, balloons launched and fortresses built of sugar cubes. I've also been treated to quiet moments of books read on rugs, long and short division illustrated, deconstructed and reformed, and felt humbled to be in the same space as a Kindergarten teacher explaining the concept of words... our single greatest historical achievement.
There is only just so much you can do... Mind you... you CAN be expected to work miracles... but that is simply people trying to take others "off task". If you have no intention on taking your Doctor's orders to: "Lose weight, get more exercise, stop smoking, eat more fibre..." why on earth show up for the appointment? Two reasons come to mind-
1. You can rest easy in the belief that you have done all you have time (or desire) to do; or
2. You can hope that when you are stricken with a heart attack, stroke or other life-threatening disease, you can tell everyone your Doctor never told you how important it was to take better care of yourself...
But you'll have as difficult a time convincing educated people of your argument,
as our parents have of making me feel at fault.
Harry L. Dinkle
and then there is the additional issue of parents believing that they are assuring their kid's future and "getting involved" by assaulting the system and the teacher.
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