Disclaimer: I have read about this idea before and do not claim it as my own, but I have had some experiences recently and so I want to comment.
I have been substitute teaching the last couple of weeks. Most of what a teacher can spend his day doing is simply classroom management, forget about actually doing any teaching. So, classroom management says: Do not talk! Raise your hand if you want to say something! Sit quietly! Be respectful! Do not act out! Do not talk to your neighbor! Some of this can end up being helpful to a student in the long run... but most of these characteristics are not the characteristics of successful individuals later in life. Much of this teaching college professors try to eradicate during later schooling. If they don't, when you go into sales as a profession (almost every job in the private sector is a sales job in one way or another) almost none of these "qualities" are useful. As a salesman, you should be loud, outspoken, you want to be noticed, you want to be able to have a conversation with your neighbor, even when it may seem to be socially inappropriate.
I don't know what the solution is for teachers. They are in a tough position. They are not very well trained, they have too many students, they are underpaid. They spend so much time in classroom management trying to stop students from doing what is really effective in life, not just effective in the Ivory Tower.
To be fair, we do need to be respectful of others, and we do need to learn to read, write, blah, blah, blah, and this traditional school system is how most of us learned to do it, but in the long run, what are we teaching between the lines? What is being communicated to our children in deed that will help shape and determine what will be life goals and successes later in life?
The world does need some people who just go into an office and sit silently all day doing their work without being interrupted by those pesky distractions called humans, they are called accountants. Are we really trying to raise a generation of accountants?
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Teaching
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11 comments:
"Are we really trying to raise a generation of accountants?"
Judas, I hope not.
That sounds frustrating! And it makes me nervous to have my kids in school.
Are you looking for something permanent still? Wanna move to Rexburg and work with Andy? I hear there is an opening....come on, come be miserable with us up here!!
While I agree that the public school system could use a major overhaul, I have to disagree with your thoughts that the structure and classroom management is bad for our kids.
In society we have a basic set of rules and policies that we are goverened by, i.e, Don't commit murder, don't steal, don't cheat on your taxes, when somone takes it upon themselves to not follow these guidelines there are consequences. If society didn't have these rules, or shall we say ways of managing the public what would happen? Chaos.
In the gospel we have very specific and defined principles and commandments as set up by God and Prophets through the ages. Again if someone chooses to not follow these principles there are consequences, and if we didn't have these guidlines to help us navigate our course while on this earth, what would happen? Chaos.
The same can be said in the classroom. Take kindergarten for instance. Here you have a group between 20-30 very eager, and energetic 5 year olds. These youngsters who have never been to school, who don't know what to do or when to do it, so the teacher sets up a set of very basic classroom rules, to help these students navigagte their course. Raise your hand to talk, sit quietly, don't talk to your neighbor if they are working, are some of the common ones. These guidelines follow the children through their education as a foundation, not as a restriction. What would happen if the kindergarten teacher said to these exuberant five year olds, "Hey kids, you can talk whenever you want, you can get out of your seat whenever you want, etc." Again Chaos.
Both adults and children alike need basic guidelines to help steer us on the correct path. I try to follow society and Gods law, and I don't feel like I am being stiffled. I am a free thinking person, with my own unique personality.
Can schools provide more opportunities for open discussion and the sharing of ideas? Absolutely, but a sense of order must be established for the teachers to do their job and for the children to learn.
I have 3 children, elementary age, middle school, and high school and I've observerd each at this level, and I can tell you that the system while flawed does work, children are learning.
Structure and dicipline in the classroom does not mean a generation of mindless automotons are being raised. Instead I would suggest the opposite. It is a sad state when it falls on the teachers to instill in our chilren a sense of self control, and respect for oneself and those around them. Ideas and principles that should be taught at home, but with each passing day are replaced with self indulgence and a whats in it for me attitude.
I for one will continue to applaude those teachers (and they atre out there, I've seen them) who maintain order in the class room and make a difference in a childs life. They are amazing individuals, and they have my continued support and upmost respect.
When I taught fifth grade I felt the same way, like I was in this very tough situation with too-little training, too large class size, not enough support to find a solution. So I started observing in other classrooms to learn more and try to do better; The sad reality was that almost no one was doing much better. There was a small handful of teachers who from my perspective were very good at "managing" while still inspiring learning and the real life skills you spoke of. It did make me very concerned about where I choose to send my kids to school. Education is a tough world.
But when it comes down to it I also must say that I really don't feel very picky about it.
"Don't squash my kids desire to learn in your effort to teach."
It seems such a small thing to ask, but in my experience it's too rare in our schools.
P.S. Right now I'm quite interested in learning about Waldorf schools, Amazon.com: Understanding Waldorf Education: Teaching from the Inside Out: Jack Petrash: Books)
Hmm, I think the accountants in our family will be making more than the teachers in our family. Also, the accountants will certainly be of service to the doctors and future lawyers.
On a happier note, today I spent time with a student while he slept for an hour or so on the classroom floor during the school day. While traditonal ed hasn't been very good to this student, I sure appreciate that his mom hasn't given up trying to wrest a decent education out of the system for her son. She inspires me.
I guess lessons of endurance are important, for the student, parent, and teacher. We learn a lot about ourselves and others.
Keep up the good work subbing!
It is so weird that I read this to day. I was at the school for Valentines parties, and while I was in the hall, it was quiet. All of the students were in class, but there was one little girl, probably a 2nd or 3rd grader, in the bathroom. She was whistling. I thought it was cute that she was so happy. Ya know? "Whistle while you work"? And a teacher or teacher's aid walked by and whithout even seeing the child and knowing anything about the child yelled into the bathroom from the hall and said "NO WHISTLING!" And not in a nice way either. I thought, "are we so consumed with teaching kids rules that they aren't allowed to be happy, or even do things to express that they are happy"? That just may have ruined that little girl's day!
Yeah Substitute teaching is enough to cause anyone doubt in Public Education, but i gotta say, I like it better than setting up the management for my own classroom. I never liked being the big, mean, mommy to Jr. High Kids, Sucks. Wasn't what i thought it would be...hence the JD in the works.
I'm not saying this is the solution, but this is someone thinking of different ways to address the issue:
http://www.offworld.com/2009/02/nyc-game-design-inspired-schoo.html
The reason teachers HAVE to spend so much of their time “managing the classroom” is because we have taken away their little red paddles. During the era of the red paddle, there were considerably fewer rules. Since the demise of the paddle, there are so many more rules now (to compensate for increasing marginal behavior). More rules means more rules are broken which in turn requires more of the teacher’s time to “manage the classroom”.
Consider the benefits of the red paddle as a teaching aid. Most children learned self discipline and respect for others rather quickly by astute observation. The few, who required the actual use of the paddle, learned to respect the paddle and acted as an aid to the teacher in her effort to demonstrate the principles of self discipline and respect for others. This enabled the teacher to spend considerably more time teaching, with a minimum of “classroom management”.
But alas, we have departed from the wisdom of Solomon in favor of the philosophies of men.
Proverbs 13:24
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Proverbs 19:18
Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Proverbs 23:13
Withhold not correction from the child: for if though beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
Proverbs 29:15, 17
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
By the way, Solomon never said “Spare the rod and spoil the child” (neither is it found in the Bible) . . . however this is precisely our current problem – too many spoiled children and not enough rods. Children need to learn this basic principle of cause and effect in the home so that when they go to school, it comes as no surprise to them (or their parents). Will we, as a society, ever able to return to the wisdom of Solomon or will we continue to blindly follow these namby-pamby philosophies of men?
Now, before you call child protective services to haul me away, check this link out so you see this in its proper context.
While the jury in my mind is still out on Dad's little red paddle (maybe the verdict will come in as soon as my kids are old enough to talk), I totally hear you Paul. I hated subbing for this very reason. I don't know how schools continue to function in this country because I don't know how anyone has the courage and patience to be a teacher in them anymore.
Wow guys.. ur blog attempts to tackle some serious issues. I never presume to know how teachers or parents feel..but my mother has taught all grade levels on the Navajo Reservation in Tuba City,AZ for over 35 years. She has serious issues with how parents are failing to teach basic, respectful habits to their children at home. Teachers sure are expected to carry a HUGE load. Maybe if we as parents expect more of teachers..we should expect more of ourselves.
P.S.
Jen.. I SO wanna talk soon. You close? I'm still at the condos..for a little while anyway.. I work M-Sat 9to 4pm. off Sunday. Call me if your up for a visit..I'll bring jello! :)
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