Today's teachers can't think about having fun in the classroom. They can't deviate from the script. Their only goal is test prep. I walked past the first school I ever taught in today and remembered the days, once a month, where the entire school went to a nearby gym to play, get to know each other and to learn things you can't learn in a book.
I'm glad I am not a young person going into teaching today. I am sure I would not survive.
(Education today goes so well with the things I saw at Houston Funeral Museum. Above is a photo of an very early hearse.)
6 comments:
I remember actually enjoying teaching those kids who failed the regents -- they were, for the most part, very very eager to get it right the second or third time and very receptive. I actually requested those classes (in addition to the other extreme, the AP and Honors kids). Today, only a fool would want to teach those classes since their scores would determine whether you keep your job or not! I too loved, loved, loved teaching until everything started to fall apart about 6 years ago when the tyrant started closing schools, hiring non- educators as principals, used the network system to rob funds and control from the schools, and established the "gotcha" atmosphere that truly makes education one of the worst fields for a young person to enter today.
You're probably so sick of me saying it, but thank you for reminding me that I made the right decision by getting out!!
Have a great weekend!
Not sick of hearing it at all. Stories like these make me happy Inam gone from the system too.
I've been teaching for 17 years and I certainly agree that it's no fun anymore.
Me three.
Im still in the system 27 years now. I'm hanging in until my last child is finished college. I too remember when teaching was fun (and I worked some tough H.S. in the Bronx!) I feel very sorry for the young teachers today. I survive and thrive today because, like many veteran teachers, I was taught excellant classroom management skils by some wonderful AP's. Many of us 'old-timers' can still teacher all comers even when admin loads our classes with the toughest kids! One newbie teacher recently told me she wants to emulate the Zen-like atmosphere of my classes:)It's kinda nice to still rock the class after all these years even though the system considers us too old and expensive.
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