tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10132773.post115095010989105383..comments2024-03-08T00:17:09.224-08:00Comments on The Daily Grind: LostMr. McNamarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062641578010808106noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10132773.post-1152548717484101302006-07-10T09:25:00.000-07:002006-07-10T09:25:00.000-07:00I agree with Dennis that usually, the longer a tea...I agree with Dennis that usually, the longer a teacher is around, the less ththe PTB can pressure him or her to do something which is truly wrong.<BR/><BR/>But being in a private school might make it a bit harder.<BR/><BR/>Mr. McNamar hit the nail on the head. Teaching can really suck it out of you. And every year we are required to do more. A true education requires some engagement on the part of EVERYONE involved-- not just the teacher pumping his guts out. Students, parents, and even administrators too often have a "consumer" mindset: "Give me my grade." The philosophy has got to be shifted from education as a static entitlement to something that has to be crafted, ultimately, by yourself, with plenty of assistance from those around you. Until this is understood, we will continue to wallow in mediocrity at best and abject failure at worst."Ms. Cornelius"https://www.blogger.com/profile/16970201479637588558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10132773.post-1151010193195176142006-06-22T14:03:00.000-07:002006-06-22T14:03:00.000-07:00It's easy for me to say, but I wish Mrs. W. had hu...It's easy for me to say, but I wish Mrs. W. had hung in there. I say that because it gets easier for teachers to stick to their standards as time goes on. I was at my first school for 15 years. When I moved here, I came as a very confident teacher, but after two months that confidence was destroyed. My biggest problems were that my standards were higher than many people in this community wanted, and I was, in effect, a first year teacher again. I had to back off some things then in order to survive, but I don't anymore, and I haven't had to for quite a while. I hope there's a chance that Mrs. W. can still change her mind, because I think she might find the same thing will be true for her.Dennis Fermoylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16066942564308377074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10132773.post-1150958538894139192006-06-21T23:42:00.000-07:002006-06-21T23:42:00.000-07:00I just wanted to add that I was asked to pass a st...I just wanted to add that I was asked to pass a student once. He had an average in the 40's. He was in three English classes that year because of repeated failures in English. Two of them were mine. I refused to pass him. I told the AP that I couldn't in good conscience do what she was asking. She tried to tell me he'd wind up in prison if he didn't graduate. I told her I was leaving after the school year and whatever they did was on their conscience, but I wasn't changing any grades.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10132773.post-1150958331540911312006-06-21T23:38:00.000-07:002006-06-21T23:38:00.000-07:00I gotta chime in because we're friends. Ms. W. wo...I gotta chime in because we're friends. Ms. W. worked at a private school. She was way over-extended (private schools do tend to throw a bunch of preps at you), spent most of the year without a place to work (no classroom of her own, and apparently, no teachers' workroom), and was not supported through mentorship. She worried about the standards at the school, too, I think.<BR/><BR/>I think it is very sad that we're losing her. I think she was a good teacher. I encouraged her to tough it out another year. The first one is always the toughest. She feels very at peace with her decision to quit, however, and intends to devote herself to writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com