Critical of Teachers.

[rossyl]

He casually explained that this was his last teaching year as he's got problems with both his heart and lungs and that the next steps were transplants.

How easy would it have been for him to put his own problems first, particularly as he's leaving the teaching profession next year?

It's definitely above and beyond and makes me feel we should be thanking him in some manner, officially or otherwise.

Just an idea for you, feel free to ignore. I think it would be an incredibly nice gesture if his students (rather than you/other parents) did something to thank him. In particular if there is a particular charity that is meaningful to the teacher, the students could arrange a sponsorship event to raise money for it.

He sounds an incredibly nice person, and I personally think it would be great if the students showed that they appreciated his hard efforts at what is a very difficult time for the teacher.

 

[NW_Merc]

Where learning is required, I test him. If his homework is not of an appropriate standard, I make him go back and do it again. If he doesn't get 100% when I test his vocabulary homework, he does it again.

If I had to single out the one skill that today's educational system fails to imbue into pupils its exactly that. Many of today's youngsters leave school without possessing the knowledge of what actually constitutes "successful completion" of any task set. The system has failed to get across that "going through the motions" doesn't mean you have done something successfully. This is not their fault they are simply unaware of the intellectual concept of completion because they have never been taught it-- inherent in this process is the acknowledgement and acceptance of failure. Without knowing what it is to fail- how do you really know when you have succeeded.

The whole system falls down in certain schools because of headteachers who are obsessed with figures and have absolutely no clue as to the absolute basics which produce the foundation to build knowledge. A small number of headteachers and senior managers genuinely care about staff, students and have a spine, enough to back up members of staff to 'problem parents' who dont support schools and commend staff who perform above their call of duty. Teaching is an extremely difficult and challenging profession, however, after being a practicing teacher for 5 years, I decided that my sanity was worth a lot more than the holidays and so gave it all up last year.

When certain schools perform very well, some headteachers take the credit rather than commending their workforce. When the veritable sh1t hits the fan, headteachers are very quick to find a blame and scapegoat. Hence why there is a high turnover of staff in some schools.

Alas the system will not change, and therefore good teachers dont and wont last very long in the grand scheme of things. If you've lasted beyond the 5 years, you're doing well.

 

[developer]

Just an idea for you, feel free to ignore. I think it would be an incredibly nice gesture if his students (rather than you/other parents) did something to thank him. In particular if there is a particular charity that is meaningful to the teacher, the students could arrange a sponsorship event to raise money for it.

He sounds an incredibly nice person, and I personally think it would be great if the students showed that they appreciated his hard efforts at what is a very difficult time for the teacher.

Thanks for that - I've approached his Head of Department and asked for her to think about what might be done - I don't think he gave his time to all, just a couple who were finding it tough, my son included.

 

[bluevenetian]

Having constant testing in schools skewers the whole educational system. But, if you incentivise the educational establishment to "teach to the test" (by publishing league tables) then that is what teachers will do.

 

[LESTAYLOR]

Our daughter is a teacher with 7 years exoperinece since graduating. She resigned just before Christmas because she could not cope with the stress of dealing with OFSTED, incapable management and some pretty crazy parents.

Very sad because she loved the kids and they clearly loved her. School is failing badly - no surprise there!

When I was teaching construction at West Thames College, I to was often frustrated by Ofsted officers who were to self important to listen to the teachers who knew their students. I was told I should have disciplined immediately a young lad in front of his peers because he was late to my lesson. I gave the lad his work sheet with a post it on, saying 'would you explain to me after the lesson why you are late.' I felt this gave the lad a chance to integrate into his day with the minimum of distraction to the lesson and to get him settled. The officer did not agree with me and marked me down. I was really put out and felt totally undermined by his attitude. Teaching in my opinion is 75% paperwork and 25% student contact. It should be the other way around.

 

[grober]

The whole system falls down in certain schools because of headteachers who are obsessed with figures and have absolutely no clue as to the absolute basics which produce the foundation to build knowledge. A small number of headteachers and senior managers genuinely care about staff, students and have a spine, enough to back up members of staff to 'problem parents' who dont support schools and commend staff who perform above their call of duty. Teaching is an extremely difficult and challenging profession, however, after being a practicing teacher for 5 years, I decided that my sanity was worth a lot more than the holidays and so gave it all up last year.

When certain schools perform very well, some headteachers take the credit rather than commending their workforce. When the veritable sh1t hits the fan, headteachers are very quick to find a blame and scapegoat. Hence why there is a high turnover of staff in some schools.

Alas the system will not change, and therefore good teachers dont and wont last very long in the grand scheme of things. If you've lasted beyond the 5 years, you're doing well.

My comment wasn't directed at teachers per se who can have a tough job, but the system in general. The deficiencies in the present education system were brought home to me several years back when I had to edit[ = rewrite ] a scientific report produced by a young research project leader. [ complete with PhD from a well known academic institution] .--- Bright chap, hard worker, modest,very pleasant to work with --- but incapable of constructing a completely grammatically correct sentence in English [ verb? - whot's that then?] This was not an uncommon experience and certainly not restricted to one individual.

 

[PXW]

Of course it doesn't help the our 14 year old is in full Kevin the teenager mode and we get little more than grunts rather than constructive conversation.

14 year old girls! Aaaarrrgghhhh

Ah, yes, the lesser spotted 14 year old girl. A strange species, that is virtually silent in most modes, but when with others of her kind will make noise continuously. Highly social (though again, only with her own kind), any breach of the perceived herd hierarchy can lead to extreme if entertaining behaviour.

The 14 year old girl has a number of calls, from a repetitive frog-like 'innit' through to a screech somewhat similar to the seagull. Like a budgerigar, she can be kept endlessly amused with something as simple as a mirror. They are notoriously difficult to handle and are therefore not recommended as pets.

However, the most remarkable thing about the 14 year old girl, and unique amongst mammals, is that after anything between 3 and 7 years they go through a complete metamorphosis, and become a different animal altogether; articulate, capable, elegant and beautiful, and ready to take on the world...