Just culled this comment from a teacher on a blog: "Teachers have plenty on their plate without the added responsibility of showing kids why math (or any subject) is important."
Which really begs the question: Why do we let ignorant people teach? Help me out here...Am I the only one? To be so pompous as to think you can make most of the 8th grade boys in a public school class of 28 students embrace math for the shear joy of math is exactly the paradigm that must be changed. OK, who agrees - showing kids why they're learning what they are learning is just an important a process step as the steps used to solve a quadratic equation? Do you engage in learning more effectively when you understand why you're learning?
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2 comments:
I am a teacher because I love education. Learning for the sake of learning is a joy I discovered in my early twenties, far later then I should have. Now that I am a teacher, who has incidentally worked in an a fore mentioned middle school (6-8th grades), I have a new appreciation of the general struggles of adolescence and the struggles of educating students of these ages as well. That being said, I knew before I ever stepped into a teaching position that no student would ever learn something he or she did not care about. I know because I personally don't learn unless I care to do so. There are dynamic ways to teach, to get students involved, and to spread a joy of learning. Every one is over worked and under paid, which causes a lack of reverence for one's occupation. When this Apathy Monster, however, rears its head in an educational environment, well, then it's time for someone to get a new job. What is important, however, is that parents work with teachers. You will meet teachers who are great and you will meet teachers who shouldn't be legally allowed near students, but on first meeting them, give the educator a chance because you can't be sure which one you're going to get. The important thing is that excuses not be made for students by either party, parent or teacher. Speak openly and not defensively, and work with the Principal as a moderator if need be. Understand that you can never know exactly what goes on in a classroom, and while some need-to-retire teachers can be stubborn jerks, your own child knows how to manipulate you. Keep in mind how frequently you-yourself have to ask your child to do a simple chore before they get around to doing it; if they're giving you the run-around how much worse is it for the educator they do not know and so do not have respect for? Here's what I'm saying: Education is beautiful. Any teacher that can't tell a student why they are learning what they are learning needs to be put out to pasture regardless of age or experience. Teaching is NOT easy. Teachers and parents must work together for the sake of students; by doing so piss-poor teachers will be exposed and dynamic educators will be strengthened. It may be naive to say, but I, at 26, am excited to think that perhaps the next generation of Americans will be something to be truly proud of and if we don't teach them well now, then the future is very bleak indeed. My name is Katie. I am proud to be Anna's daughter.
Well put Kate: Especially the “out to pasture part". You hit the nail on the head with the dynamic and engaging elements and the apathy issue. My children have some great teachers. One of whom is a close friend of the family. They are awesome innovators and teachers and they are deeply passionate.
ADD kids are too often a huge pain, but when the light bulb goes off it's almost spiritual. They can achieve great things, but a single jaded or unmotivated educator can kill a student's educational drive. Stay passionate and you will see more reach the plateau where they embrace learning.
FYI - use the fact that you're 26 to your advantage. There's tons of room for improvement in the system! And Gen Y educators will have to take the lead on changing the way the rest of their generation learns!
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