Today is Teacher Appreciation Day, and since my wife’s a teacher I figured I’d tell you how she’s schooled me over the years. Here’s what I know about teachers:
***
-
Recent Posts
- When I Speak Against a Woman’s Critics, It Causes Them to Double Their Criticism
- Sightseeing in Florence for $0 per Day? Believe It, Because I Did It
- Bocce, Brindisi, and Breaking Beer Bottles: Just Passing Time Waiting for an Italian Train
- I Couldn’t Pay for the Good Stuff, but I Took It Anyway and Didn’t Get Busted
- My Personality Can Grate on People if I’m Not Careful
Looking for Something?
I like these blogs!
Sweet Tweets
- RT @tim_fall: .@KellyLaddBishop on why nothing ever makes Jesus roll over in his grave: https://t.co/0VvoEJZQhn 4 hours ago
- RT @tim_fall: I speak against critics who rely on false doctrine and employ ungodly tactics. Some people don’t like that. 4 hours ago
- RT @tim_fall: When I Speak Against a Woman’s Critics, It Causes Them to Double Their Criticism (h/t @aimeebyrdhwt) https://t.co/prkRuAeiXO 6 hours ago
- @AndexLion @aimeebyrdhwt Super duper. Just making me didn’t need to add anything since you’re the one who brought m… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 7 hours ago
- @gcnewsman Me: https://t.co/uHs43JNJMP 9 hours ago
Archives
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
Meta
All of these are terrific, Tim. I wish the educational “experts” realized that number 5 is really important. I’ve seen more than one fabulous teacher driven from the profession by the over-emphasis of teaching toward the standardized testing standards. Sad and frustrating for all involved.
It really is frustrating how it’s carried out in some places.
As a parent, I’m frustrated on this subject and related ones right now!
As the parent of two public school teachers, I’m also frustrated by the talk I hear in our churches about how “evil” our public schools are. A pastor told me you would be a “fool” to send your kids to public schools; I was gob-smacked by that remark.
My wife has worked in public schools her entire career and our kids went to public school from kindergarten on, eventually graduating from public universities (as did me and my wife both, k through grad school). Anyone who tells me they think public schools are evil or foolish gets from me an earful. Politely, of course. And I don’t stop talking until they’ve heard enough and want to change the subject.
Good on you, Tim! As an elder in our denomination, I have to be a little more . . . tactful. But, I have to say the accusation, based on ignorance, hurts. And it is widespread in the Christian community.
The number one reason that there is a huge war between the church and public schools and why public schools are demonized is because people fear the teaching of evolutionary science.
Possibly. I’ve heard tons of reasons people say they mistrust schools (some people include private Christian schools, insisting home schooling is the only responsible way to raise a child).
We have had ‘National Standards’ in NZ nationwide for about 6 years now and there is still so much debate about it. One of our papers is running week long articles on our schooling system, again… It all seems to, as your post says detract from the actual teaching and planning of great enjoyable lessons. The other sad thing seems to be the reporting to parents where children are levelled ‘below’ ‘at’ or ‘above’ the national standards (is that the same for you?) It is heartbreaking when a child is told they are constantly failing even if they have progressed well through the year. I like homeschooling for the reason it can allow a child to learn at their own pace and pursue interests that they are passionate about, but homeschooling is not the ‘ideal’ necessarily either as some would have us believe it is God’s only way to educate. I like that we have a variety of options (and charter schools are just starting up here too, more debate…..) as we are all different and learn differently.
Leanne
I don’t mind tests. I just don’t think teachers should teach to the tests, whether the individual type for the course or the standardized type.
Yes, and let them encourage their students to love learning for a whole lifetime. A great gift that teachers want to pass on to the next generation.
Before I got sick, I was. 7-12 grade math teacher. Everything on your list is true!
I have worked in both public school systems and a private Christian school. Public schools are not “evil”, and private Chrisrian schools are far from perfect. There are problem teachers, problem students, and problem parents everywhere. There is also good everywhere.
My pet peeve as a teacher: being pressured to stick to core curriculum standards. If the students are behind in math, you can’t expect them to do well by teaching above their ability level. On the other hand, if the students are ahead, take them to the next level and run with it!
Wow. Teaching is a lot of work, but I miss it so!
Tailoring the curriculum to the students is always my preferred mode, Nancy.
Thirty some years without pay teaching, guiding, shaping lives.
Would not trade that for anything.
You must be very proud of your wife. I have a good deal of respect for teachers.
We have SATs week coming up. I think it’s ridiculous the way the UK government keeps changing the way children are tested, and the pressure falls onto the teachers. My daughter sits her Year 6 SATs and, fortunately, goes to a school where the teachers, although they are forced to teach to the test, make the week as fun and relaxing as possible.
There doesn’t seem to be the same anti-school idea among Christians in the UK. In fact, many people who are Christians are teachers. It’s possibly the most popular career for Christians.
Also, I wonder if there is a connection between ‘a woman’s place is in the home’ and homeschooling? I would imagine that those people who ascribe to the idea that all schools are bad also assume that it will be the mothers who do the homeschooling? I have nothing against homeschooling. I have homeschooled in the past (it did not work well for us) and have enormous admiration for those who take it on, but the idea that you’re somehow a bad parent for *not* homeschooling is worrying. What about parents who did not have an adequate education themselves? What happens when they feel obliged to homeschool? And, no offence, but there seem to be quite a number of Americans who are ill-educated, easily led and, dare I say it, painfully ignorant. Just look at the rise of a certain politician recently.
NB There are plenty of ignorant people in my own country – I’m not being anti-American when I write this.
I hadn’t heard about Christians being attracted to the teaching profession in the UK before. I think a lot are drawn to teaching here as well.
My mother was a public school teacher for a decade before retiring to raise and then teach her own children. She homeschooled us simply because she didn’t like the changes that were then being made to teaching in schools (not using phonics for teaching reading, not teaching spelling, etc.). She always says, “A good teacher wants her students to learn more than she knows.”
Your mom sounds like a good teacher.