Have you heard the news on Natalie Munroe, a teacher from Philadelphia? She wrote some harsh things (I think more than harsh) for some students who are lazy on her blog. And it hits the news!
Without doubt, our job is not easy. And often it is more difficult by the demands of troubled students. But why did we become teachers? Just to enjoy the lessons we teach to well-behaved, hard-working students?
If someone is dissatisfied with this job, it is up to him/her to get out of this career and find a new one without trouble if he/she can. But no job in the world is without trouble I believe.
Even if I disapprove the behavior of a student, I respect and listen to his/her feelings. I try to understand the feelings contained in what the child is experiencing, not just facts or observable actions.
We need to find ways to relate learning to student's lives, whether that is showing how new knowledge and skills are useful to them or by connecting it to their own lives. Involving students in work for an audience beyond the teacher and other students, giving them real world work to complete, or using metaphors while presenting new information are strategies that help students make meaning of what they are learning.
Actually what we all try to do here is also a way to learn better to teach better. I benefit from lots of posts here to motivate my students with different ideas and activities.
Do you think such insulting teachers maltreat the image of our job?
- crystalheart's blog
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Comments
I have heard the news and got disappointed but unfortunately we have many unqualified teachers in our country as well. They discourage not the only the students but also the teachers. Because of such teachers, teachers do not have a good image in our country. But it is only one aspect of the problem. Not every teacher thinks of improving themselves as they think they are 'done' once they are working. I believe the situation is getting better and new teachers are more and more conscious about their behaviors, teachings, and interactions.
Thanks for the post! Made me think of some general points once again..
Interesting post. I think some teachers forget that it should be handling behaviour and not criticising the child.
There are also many reasons for the way that children behave. They could simply be bored as the lesson is too easy, hard or presented in a dull way.
I also remember a friend of mine at school who started being naughty after her father died. Adults have enough problems expressing themselves openly so we can only imagine what it must be like for the children as they don't start using the frontal lobe of the brain until they are in their late teens. This means that they are more driven by their emotions than adults.
Hi crystalheart,
I think insulting is a sign of weakness. I didn't know about the teacher you mentioned. I don't know what she wrote. But, I guess there are bad and good samples in all sectors. Teachers aren't sacred and there may be some teachers who set bad samples. People shouldn't generalise the exceptions.
Thanks,
Bülent
Hi,
I agree with you. It is easy to deal with a child who is ready to learn, who has no disruptive behaviour. If we ignore the trouble-makers, then who will see them.
Each child is unique with their own problems at home. Each child has a different history with a different teacher, a teacher who kept ignoring him, a teacher who kept ctiticising him, a teacher...
Well, I'm sure if there is a will there certainly will be a way.
cheers,
Eva
Hi!
I've googled an article about this. There’s a quote in it that summarizes what I think precisely.
"I have a student right now that I could react that way about, but instead I'm working with that student to get him interested in the class rather than going on the Internet and venting."