Teachers are Dumb
I attended a meeting requested by parents that intended to determine their student's academic needs. They believe the student should be served in special education; there is no data to suggest this is necessary.
At one point during this lengthy meeting, a lawyer for the parents mentioned that the student wanted to become a teacher. And in his account, he made the statement that the student should pursue this career path because, unlike the medical profession, a prospective teacher need only attain a C average to get into college and then prove capable as a teacher.
Now, I cannot boast a superior G.P.A., grades have never been important to me, but the audacity to suggest that teachers lack comparable intelligence to other professions enraged me.
posted by Mr. McNamar @ 6:16 PM
4 Comments
4 Comments:
I don't know if you're familiar with this poem, but you might want to share it with that lawyer.
Joe
What Teachers Make, or
Objection Overruled, or
If things don't work out, you can always go to law school
By Taylor Mali
www.taylormali.com
He says the problem with teachers is, "What's a kid going to learn
from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about
teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.
I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the other dinner guests
that it's also true what they say about lawyers.
Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite company.
"I mean, you¹re a teacher, Taylor," he says.
"Be honest. What do you make?"
And I wish he hadn't done that
(asked me to be honest)
because, you see, I have a policy
about honesty and ass-kicking:
if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.
You want to know what I make?
I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
No, you may not ask a question.
Why won't I let you get a drink of water?
Because you're not thirsty, you're bored, that's why.
I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
I hope I haven't called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today.
Billy said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?"
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.
I make parents see their children for who they are
and what they can be.
You want to know what I make?
I make kids wonder,
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write, write, write.
And then I make them read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely
beautiful
over and over and over again until they will never misspell
either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math.
And hide it on their final drafts in English.
I make them understand that if you got this (brains)
then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you
by what you make, you give them this (the finger).
Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
I make a goddamn difference! What about you?
This lack of respect is why contracts are not passed, parents are rude and kids could care less. It's a good thing we enjoy what we do.
Expect such comments until teachers are respected. But then again, from what I see, too many young people have no respect for anyone, teachers, administrators, ministers or even their own parents. Money seems to garner respect in this country. Get the bread, get the respect. Sad, but true.
And, I really do wonder just how some "teachers" I've met made it through a college or university. Getting through a school of ed for a credential is nothing, but to be as ignorant as a few I've met.......
Sadly, you can pass the state-mandated tests for the teaching profession in California with a 60-something percent (that's a D!) and still get a credential.
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