07-07-2009, 03:23 PM
Can't say much about the last post because I have met teachers I believe are burnt out and should leave the profession.
Luckily, most of us are not. Most of us want to help students to be successful, caring, and useful members of society. I certainly do. I do not fail more students now than I did when I started teaching many years ago. But the students reacted different to my style of teaching years ago. When I told them I cared about their success, and would do everything in my power to help them, they listened and responded. It was not uncommon for a student who failed me one year to personally ask to be placed in my class again. The second time around was a success. But in the last three years, I've had little success with motivating my students without getting their parents involved. And when I try to get the parents involved, I'm either ignored, or the parents tell me the teachers are ganging up on them, or that they can't tell their child what to do because they are old enough to make their own choices. But I remind you that the students that I have problems with are the ones who are repeating the class for the second, third, or fourth time. What I want is for the administration to stop making us feel like we're failing all the kids. What I want is for the administration to start targeting these kids who are failing most if not all their classes and work more closely with them and their families. I'm sick of being told that "I" have to fix the problem. I am one person. I can start the process, but we need to work as a community to help these kids. When we do that, and stop focusing on what teachers are failing more than 20% of their students, we will begin to fix the problem.
Luckily, most of us are not. Most of us want to help students to be successful, caring, and useful members of society. I certainly do. I do not fail more students now than I did when I started teaching many years ago. But the students reacted different to my style of teaching years ago. When I told them I cared about their success, and would do everything in my power to help them, they listened and responded. It was not uncommon for a student who failed me one year to personally ask to be placed in my class again. The second time around was a success. But in the last three years, I've had little success with motivating my students without getting their parents involved. And when I try to get the parents involved, I'm either ignored, or the parents tell me the teachers are ganging up on them, or that they can't tell their child what to do because they are old enough to make their own choices. But I remind you that the students that I have problems with are the ones who are repeating the class for the second, third, or fourth time. What I want is for the administration to stop making us feel like we're failing all the kids. What I want is for the administration to start targeting these kids who are failing most if not all their classes and work more closely with them and their families. I'm sick of being told that "I" have to fix the problem. I am one person. I can start the process, but we need to work as a community to help these kids. When we do that, and stop focusing on what teachers are failing more than 20% of their students, we will begin to fix the problem.