Ted Talks Positivity?
I watched a Ted Talk by a former teacher about the lack of autonomy in the classroom. She spoke of how administration simply wants teachers to follow a curriculum that leads to students being taught via testing.
One teacher responded that she needed a Ted Talk that said, "Shut up so I can teach," directed at her students. The Ted Talk speaker chided her by saying, "now that's not nice." I jumped out of my seat to defend the other teacher. I put the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=Qk2ByhzD0HNhzpmW&u=/watch%3Fv%3DGBRwcNL5LDg%26lc%3DUgzdXS35F1Wu26cmkBN4AaABAg.95R6-FnwYne99GdzUv-yKy%26feature%3Dem-comments
It is true that many schools do not allow teachers to create their own assignments based on curriculum that they feel will work. Here's the thing though: teachers are blamed for everything. We are blamed if the child is not learning, not engaged, failing tests, not able to read and if the classroom is not being managed properly. I get that some teachers are just not very good. But what about when you have an excellent teacher but the students refuse to learn? They refuse to read aloud. They are not on grade level when they come to you. They resent the attempt to give them foundational skills. They are on their phones and will not put them up. What they have to say or do to each other during instruction is far more important.
Human Resource interviewers always say that they are trying to weed out those interviewees that just don't have the right fit. They check and review referrals and letters of recommendation. Then, the interviewee meets with the one(s) that will be his/her future supervisor, i.e., principal. Funny how principals can lie just like prospective teachers can. For instance, one teacher told me that he was told that the administration for this school was "super supportive" and that there was a specific "behavioral team" that ensured teachers would be protected from abusive students. Once he was hired, within days, students were belligerent towards the teacher. They refused to comply with any direction he gave in spite of his ice breakers and getting to know you type assignments. When he requested help from the administration, they basically ignored him. When he attempted to write conduct referrals for the students, they went into the stratosphere. No discipline was ever administered that cured the problems. He eventually gave up and began looking for another job.
Students are petty just like adults. They could dislike a teacher for how they look or sound. They are superficial and shallow. If a teacher wears designer clothes or speaks in the same phrases that the students do, the students are more willing to comply with directions. No one should have to bargain with children because that's what they are, children. Little militant children with power. The power of parents who support them no matter what they say or do or inept administration who believe the students over the teachers.
It is depressing how hard being in education has become in this time period. More and more good teachers are going to run screaming from the profession. One great thing coming from this pandemic is the new acknowledgement by many parents: "my kids are horrible." You know they are. Now, you can home school them during the shelter in place orders and see what your child's teachers have been going through daily.
One teacher responded that she needed a Ted Talk that said, "Shut up so I can teach," directed at her students. The Ted Talk speaker chided her by saying, "now that's not nice." I jumped out of my seat to defend the other teacher. I put the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=Qk2ByhzD0HNhzpmW&u=/watch%3Fv%3DGBRwcNL5LDg%26lc%3DUgzdXS35F1Wu26cmkBN4AaABAg.95R6-FnwYne99GdzUv-yKy%26feature%3Dem-comments
It is true that many schools do not allow teachers to create their own assignments based on curriculum that they feel will work. Here's the thing though: teachers are blamed for everything. We are blamed if the child is not learning, not engaged, failing tests, not able to read and if the classroom is not being managed properly. I get that some teachers are just not very good. But what about when you have an excellent teacher but the students refuse to learn? They refuse to read aloud. They are not on grade level when they come to you. They resent the attempt to give them foundational skills. They are on their phones and will not put them up. What they have to say or do to each other during instruction is far more important.
Human Resource interviewers always say that they are trying to weed out those interviewees that just don't have the right fit. They check and review referrals and letters of recommendation. Then, the interviewee meets with the one(s) that will be his/her future supervisor, i.e., principal. Funny how principals can lie just like prospective teachers can. For instance, one teacher told me that he was told that the administration for this school was "super supportive" and that there was a specific "behavioral team" that ensured teachers would be protected from abusive students. Once he was hired, within days, students were belligerent towards the teacher. They refused to comply with any direction he gave in spite of his ice breakers and getting to know you type assignments. When he requested help from the administration, they basically ignored him. When he attempted to write conduct referrals for the students, they went into the stratosphere. No discipline was ever administered that cured the problems. He eventually gave up and began looking for another job.
Students are petty just like adults. They could dislike a teacher for how they look or sound. They are superficial and shallow. If a teacher wears designer clothes or speaks in the same phrases that the students do, the students are more willing to comply with directions. No one should have to bargain with children because that's what they are, children. Little militant children with power. The power of parents who support them no matter what they say or do or inept administration who believe the students over the teachers.
It is depressing how hard being in education has become in this time period. More and more good teachers are going to run screaming from the profession. One great thing coming from this pandemic is the new acknowledgement by many parents: "my kids are horrible." You know they are. Now, you can home school them during the shelter in place orders and see what your child's teachers have been going through daily.
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