Yesterday, I read an article out of Time Magazine. It was about the middle school years and how kids should be grouped in the school system. It really rekindled some love that has been tucked away in my heart. The article was a debate over whether kids should be in a K-8 elementary school or 6th , 7th, and 8th middleschool. I was talking to my friend Michelle about it yesterday. She asked me, "What do you think makes the difference in a school?"
It did not take me long to jump on that question. I told her after having two kids in school that I am finding out that each year is different. I told her that most of it depends on the teacher. For me, I tend to think that much money is miss used in the school system. I mean why is central office getting paid so much. I think more evaluation of teachers and accountability is the way to go . Also, I think that college training is not enough. I think that equipping teachers yearly with seminars on location is a definite. Seminars need to be about relevant topics like communication. This year I feel like one of our teachers lacks in communicating with us. My kid is doing great, but I have no idea what is going on. Her newsletter is unfriendly and uninformative.
If you have signed up for teaching these precious little ones, I believe that 100 percent is required. I mean how many people do we know in the world that is just going to their job for a pay check! I know that in the middleschool system that a lot of teachers don't have time to get involved with their students. They are only there for 3 years. It seems that K-8 schools could really shape kids and take a long term interest in them. I think the middleschool years are the hardest. I know during these years a lot of changes occur, and I am not sure if placing kids in a segregated population with there peers is a good idea.
I do become frighten when I think of sending my girls off to middleschool. I think that my only answer to change any of this is to pray, pray, and pray some more. I have a year and half and then I will be going back to work (that is if the Lord wants it). Maybe, somehow, I can make a difference. My little contribution will consist of a single classroom where learning and caring are the most important objectives. I want to be an advocate of change with in the school system. I don't want to just get a paycheck. I believe that once teachers begin to build true relationships with their students, then the learning process can work and work well.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Wendy, I read your post and was really struck with your insightfullness. You should start writing articles for teachers publications and put together a seminar to help them with some of those skill college doesn't give them that would also include a bunch of encouragement and thanks. I bet you could write some great material to be used in 1 day or weekend retreats for teachers. Or maybe design a mentoring program where people who have been teachers, like you, but who are not currently teaching could come along side and adopt a teacher. The mentors could watch them and give them feedback. They could help them and be there to listen to them and encourage and support them.
For that matter you could make a blog ( doing the same thing Murph just said) and advertise it for teachers.
ps: Luke has a excellent teacher this year and it has made a world of difference. I know it is a really hard job and the pay is no real reward. I just wish people who didn't enjoy teaching would stop teaching, especially around here where there is such an abundance of teachers who want to teach but can't find a job.
Keep Wendy in prayer--her Texas licensing exams are coming up (Feb 3 is the first). Her TN license doesn't transfer automatically. She's hoping to start teaching again in 2007, when Mackenzie starts school. She rocks.
Penny,
I agree with you! I feel troubled that Jordyn was not properly introduced to 1st grade. 100 problems for homework is crazy for 1st graders too! Megan is in 2nd and she has never brought anything like that home, but keep your chin up! Maybe next year she will have a better experience.I know that is not much encouragement.
This is a subject that you probably don't want to get me started on... I am EXTREMELY bitter with the public school system, especially in Texas. I agree with everything you're saying, there needs to be more accountability, more training, all of that stuff. However, I think even more importantly, pay needs to increase. The biggest problem that I have seen (especially being at a college with a huge education program) is that teaching salaries are so low, that all the smart people don't even consider it. Unless someone really has a passion for teaching (which some do) most people that end up taking the job are the bottom-rung. The people who just can't succeed anywhere else. Thats sad to me. Of course this is a genrality and there are some great teachers out there, but so many people who could be great teachers never consider it because there is no financial incentive to teach.
The solution to this escapes me--its hard to make schools more expensive (although in the case of colleges, I could do without the multi-million dollar salaries for Deans) because that means taxes increase, and as you said, money is already being misappropriated. Privitizing all schools would seem to work, but I think most people would not be able to afford that (including me). I'm not sure what to do. Of course the money thing is only one problem among many.
Nice post though, I'm glad more people are thinking about this.
Post a Comment