As you may know, my daughter is an intervention specialist. At the present time, she is still looking for her first full time teaching job. She does plenty of substituting.
The reason that I'm writing this post is Sandy Carlson posted yesterday about blogging your blessings. Sandy is a middle school English teacher and she blogged about the bad kids. You know the ones she was referring to. Those who take away valuable teaching time from the rest of the class. Those who may crave attention, but don't know a way to get the positive kind.
Sort of takes me back 35 years to my senior year of high school. I took a course called living math. I had to take the class to graduate, as math would be my second minor. The teacher was fresh out of college, sort of a nerdy type. His name was Mr. McCormick, and we called him Cy, after Cyrus McCormick, the inventor of the reaper. We also gave him the hardest time possible. Although I am good at math, I just barely passed the course. I spent most of the second semester in the hall. I wasn't the worse one by far. One of the others kicked in the rear fender of his car. Some reduced him to tears.
One day during the spring after I graduated, I come home from work. My brother met me at my car with that day's Medina County Gazette. The headline told me that Mr. McCormick jumped off a bridge in Akron. I knew there were other problems, but I asked myself(and still do at times) "did I help push him off that bridge?"
Another reason I think teachers are underpaid.
The reason that I'm writing this post is Sandy Carlson posted yesterday about blogging your blessings. Sandy is a middle school English teacher and she blogged about the bad kids. You know the ones she was referring to. Those who take away valuable teaching time from the rest of the class. Those who may crave attention, but don't know a way to get the positive kind.
Sort of takes me back 35 years to my senior year of high school. I took a course called living math. I had to take the class to graduate, as math would be my second minor. The teacher was fresh out of college, sort of a nerdy type. His name was Mr. McCormick, and we called him Cy, after Cyrus McCormick, the inventor of the reaper. We also gave him the hardest time possible. Although I am good at math, I just barely passed the course. I spent most of the second semester in the hall. I wasn't the worse one by far. One of the others kicked in the rear fender of his car. Some reduced him to tears.
One day during the spring after I graduated, I come home from work. My brother met me at my car with that day's Medina County Gazette. The headline told me that Mr. McCormick jumped off a bridge in Akron. I knew there were other problems, but I asked myself(and still do at times) "did I help push him off that bridge?"
Another reason I think teachers are underpaid.
Comments
Wow. That's a powerful story. So damned sad. I think the misbehaving kids do their damage. I also know I am not living "Mr. Holland's Opus"--that the transformation inside of kids is not a movie-length event. I wish it were!
I am richly blessed with family, friends, fellow bloggers, and teachers who keep the goon squad in perspective. I know a few too many veterans to take this junior jerks too seriously all the time.
I think I am most frustrated with a system that favors the bad guys. I think we spend a little too much time trying to understand them--see it their way--instead of challenging them to the freedom that comes with seeing it our way by working hard.
Your post is an apt reminder that bits of petty cruelty, like drops of water to the forehead--can drive a person mad.
I type this and consider all you have said with Suzanne in mind. She is our best teacher these days, eh?
I thought about Suzanne as I was considering this post. I also hope the other two educators who follow this blog will weigh in. I know Struke has some stories to share and I emailed him a link to your blog.
((hugs)) about you teacher. He did NEED help and something was going to set him OFF.
But as grownups we all should remember that "our words can harm or make some shine".
I try to give true compliments all day; and since they are TRUE; I see people LIGHT up.
A deli cutter with deep blues and auburn hair in her 60s that is looking tired from her work.. I notice her eyes and told her what beautiful eyes she has and her face lit up (as she handed me my cold cuts).
It was a true compliment.. and so that is why she responded.
I do this even when I'm having a bad day..
I know two teachers when I was at school who had nervous breakdowns. Both were young women, (one was a nun) who were timid and in way over their heads. Sadly, as a kid you don't think you're doing harm. If kids see a weak person they don't respect it's all out war.
Hi!
I remember in senior school the hard time we gave one of our English teachers and feel ashamed. I work in a school and cringe when I see the students doing exactly the same thing. I can understand your dismay when you heard about that teacher jumping off the bridge. :(
I had some of the worst teachers in my life, they judged by skin color, and taught you the same way. A teacher once told me, after writing her a poem, that I would do better to learn to wash and iron -- and not waste my time in school. Now this was just the tip of the iceberg...
I respect teachers, but everyone that stands in front of a class is not a teacher -- they are just picking up a pay check.
By the way, no one thing or person pushes another to commit suicide -- it begins at birth, and all their life entails, which cause them to fall. But young folks, as well as old folks, and everyone in between can be so very cruel.
She told me there were times when she first started teaching she felt threatened by students who towered over her in height and some would argue with her in a violent manner...even tho the grades which they received were the result of their own lack study or understanding their lessons.
She loves teaching in the class rooms but said she is so disappointed by so many who attend school just because it is the law for them to do so.
Her biggest joy in a classroom was to have students who had a desire to learn.
I do not feel all who call themselves teachers have the best interest of the child and can break many a spirit...I had such a fourth grade teacher.
I learned more from the school of hard knocks when I started thinking and learning for myself.
Bless the good teachers and may the rest go to pasture.
years. Parents!!!
Its sad but kids dont value how much the US educational system does.They dont realise that its not free in any other country and its something they need to take to heart.
On the other hand there are parents driving kids too hard(mainly asians and Indians) and a high rate of suicide becuase they did not get good grades rules there
PS:On the food comment:You wont be able to keep up with my eating!!!
Not sure if you saw FB but I had mentioned that you look very artistic in the new pic!