05-12-2011, 08:55 PM
Maggot,
Being a retired elementary teacher I'd like to add my two cents to your comments regarding elementary teachers. This may come as a surprise to you, but I agree 100%. During my years of teaching I observed mostly "idiots" who "taught" at the elementary level in my hometown. Pathetic doesn't begin to describe them! There are so many examples of utter stupidity that I hated to be known as an elementary teacher. I could write a book, literally, about them.
Before I became a teacher I always thought they were great. My boys attended the school where I eventually taught with no problems. (Honestly, I'm not bragging but they were exceptionally bright - hence, no problems with learning.) When I got into the profession (after my younger son turned 13) I was amazed at what I saw. Most of them openly expressed their hatred of their job and also of the children. Why then stay in that profession? As you said, because they can't do anything else.
I have to give one example: The teachers who taught the kids the year before I got them were something else. You could walk past their classrooms at any time and the kids were either coloring or watching a Disney movie. The amazing thing is that they were all either first or second honor roll students when they advanced to my room. NOT! Those kids knew nothing but yet received all A's and B's (of course, the parents were thrilled thinking the teachers did such a fantastic job). What a joke! The worst example I can give you is that I had a Mexican boy who was a product of these teachers - First Honor Roll all year. Well, in fact, the child could not read one word of English not mentioning all of the other subjects he definitely had not mastered. I made up a special spelling test for him with two and three letter words. He could not spell "it" .... not exaggerating. Isn't that sad? IT - really a difficult word.
Didn't mean to turn this post into a novel but I'm still infuriated at the majority of elementary teachers at my school. People wonder why the kids of today aren't learning --- I don't wonder any more.
By the way, I have to mention (so as not to be judged as strictly an elementary teacher) that I first received a degree in business administration, a masters, education degree, another masters. I became a teacher because of my love for children and the desire to see them excel.
In my opinion the principal is to blame for letting this continue. In many cases, if you can't teach, you are promoted to a higher position in the school system. Thanks for letting me vent!
Being a retired elementary teacher I'd like to add my two cents to your comments regarding elementary teachers. This may come as a surprise to you, but I agree 100%. During my years of teaching I observed mostly "idiots" who "taught" at the elementary level in my hometown. Pathetic doesn't begin to describe them! There are so many examples of utter stupidity that I hated to be known as an elementary teacher. I could write a book, literally, about them.
Before I became a teacher I always thought they were great. My boys attended the school where I eventually taught with no problems. (Honestly, I'm not bragging but they were exceptionally bright - hence, no problems with learning.) When I got into the profession (after my younger son turned 13) I was amazed at what I saw. Most of them openly expressed their hatred of their job and also of the children. Why then stay in that profession? As you said, because they can't do anything else.
I have to give one example: The teachers who taught the kids the year before I got them were something else. You could walk past their classrooms at any time and the kids were either coloring or watching a Disney movie. The amazing thing is that they were all either first or second honor roll students when they advanced to my room. NOT! Those kids knew nothing but yet received all A's and B's (of course, the parents were thrilled thinking the teachers did such a fantastic job). What a joke! The worst example I can give you is that I had a Mexican boy who was a product of these teachers - First Honor Roll all year. Well, in fact, the child could not read one word of English not mentioning all of the other subjects he definitely had not mastered. I made up a special spelling test for him with two and three letter words. He could not spell "it" .... not exaggerating. Isn't that sad? IT - really a difficult word.
Didn't mean to turn this post into a novel but I'm still infuriated at the majority of elementary teachers at my school. People wonder why the kids of today aren't learning --- I don't wonder any more.
By the way, I have to mention (so as not to be judged as strictly an elementary teacher) that I first received a degree in business administration, a masters, education degree, another masters. I became a teacher because of my love for children and the desire to see them excel.
In my opinion the principal is to blame for letting this continue. In many cases, if you can't teach, you are promoted to a higher position in the school system. Thanks for letting me vent!