Public and Private School Teachers...
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
February 21, 2011 10:43am CST
At what level of competence and integrity do you hold your colleagues?
When I was a paramedic, we continuously tested each other to maintain skills we didn't often use in our areas. Every service I worked for had training officers whose job is was to maintain the standard set by the service management. They were ALWAYS higher than the minimums set by the Medical Director, State Health Departments and the DOT.
When one EMT or Paramedic was accused of some kind of malpractice, malfeasance or incompetence, the others were asked what we would do in the same situation. If the EMT or paramedic did something that was in common practice, then the practice was reviewed. If they did something that was outside of common practice, they were given the chance to justify their actions.
In your school system, is there the same kind of peer standards? Or is it more about keeping silent to protect each other?
If you knew of a teacher calling in sick when they weren't, taking students on an unauthorized field trip, or yelling at students for their political views.. would you take part in actions against them? Or would you just let it go?
2 people like this
3 responses
@RebeccaScarlett (2532)
• Canada
22 Feb 11
Teaching is my calling, but I will not become a school teacher because there is NO system to distinguish and reward/punish good and bad teachers. I could not take 40 years of watching lazy, useless teachers be paid the same as me.
As a swimming instructor/coach/tutor/babysitter/special needs worker, I have had countless parents be completely astonished at how quickly I can get to know their child, identify WHY they are struggling with a certain concept, and teach them that concept. Kids that I babysit who have been identified with special needs who "won't" do any work for their teachers or one-one-one TAs/workers will sit still and focus for me, and finish days' worth of work in less than an hour.
It frustrates me to no end that people who are qualified teachers ignore children as individuals, and expect them to sit still and absorb information like little robots, and if they don't there must be something wrong with them, so let's cram them with pills! (These teachers, of course, think it's ridiculous that THEY, the adults, might have to modify the way they teach -- the fact that kids act like, well, KIDS, is obviously the problem.)
There are good teachers, and great teachers, but many of them, after years of realizing they get no reward for their hard work, sink down to the common denominator. Wouldn't you, if you were in a system where taking an extra course over the summer (but being a lousy teacher) earned you ten grand more a year than someone who was a truly good teacher and made a difference in the life of every kid she taught?
At least at my pool, we're very strict with the swimming instructors, and those who don't make an effort to get to know kids and teach them the way THEY need to learn don't get any more teaching hours. I get rewarded for being able to teach children quickly and well.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
22 Feb 11
Yes, it is sad that the good teachers often get squeezed out by the bad. It is also pathetic that so many teachers blame the kids for their own incompetence. Almost every other profession has systems of assessing competence and ability.. however, teachers consider themselves above all that.
My son loved math in school. From his youngest days of learning, he would rather solve math problems than color with crayons or play sports. He excelled in math every year, until he got to his freshman year. He had a teacher who would only allow the kids to solve math problems her way. His grades dropped. When we talked to her, she said flat out that she sees no reason to consider him anything more than average in math.
The only thing that little waste of a paycheck taught my son was to hate math. Fortunately we were able to help him rekindle that love for math before the next school year.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
21 Feb 11
If I had kids in school today, particularly in Wisconsin, I would home school or private school them. I wanted to with my kids but my now ex insisted they go to public school. You would not believe how I had to supplement their education at home!! They weren't taught true history and if I'd not paid attention they would have been indoctrinated with things I disagreed with.
It's time to overhaul our education system and get rid the Dept of Ed.
1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
22 Feb 11
Well, you know me, Ted! I'd be jumping into it with both feet, & all up in their faces! 
Maggiepie
“Hope is a great breakfast, but a poor supper.” ~ Sir Frances Beacon
Maggiepie
“Hope is a great breakfast, but a poor supper.” ~ Sir Frances Beacon