So today is National Teacher Day. (I know because Google
told me so.) Since this blog includes rants against the terrible
damage done to children and families by an inhuman and inhumane
government-sponsored school system, and such private schools as seek
(or are required) to emulate it, it is meet and right to make space
today to recognize teaching as an honorable profession, and good
teachers as incomparable treasures. The monstrosity that is
school destroys teachers as well as students. In particular,
today I honor:
- All the teachers among our family and friends
- Teachers who struggle year after year in increasingly difficult situations for the sake of making a schoolchild's day less bleak
- Teachers who quit the system for the sake of conscience
- Teachers who brave dismissal and lawsuits, daring to hug their students
- Teachers who still believe that rigorous study and high achievement are important goals for everyone
- Teachers who work with parents and not against them, respecting their values, insights, and goals
- Students who succeed in making their education their own business, in spite of school
- Students who take back the joy of learning and refuse to submit to school's stultifiying regimen
- Parents who embrace their responsibilities as their children's primary teachers, exercising extreme caution when delegating any of the work to others
- Parents who not only love but respect their children
- All babies and very young children, who know that learning is the most fun game of all, and who excel at it, until we crush their spirits
Comments
Then I picked quite the day to volunteer at school! I spent four hours this morning showing some 80 third graders how to play oboe and bassoon (yes, I know I don't know anything about bassoon, but I didn't have time to show them much so they were none the worse for it). It was some of the most tiring work I've ever done! I got 5min with each group of two or three kids and didn't get a break. I don't know how teachers do it! Apparently I didn't do so badly, though. The kids put down their top three instrument choices before they had the chance to try them all, then after. Only a few had oboe on their lists before, and some 70% included it afterwards!
Posted by
Janet
on Tuesday, May 03, 2005 at 2:58 pm
Great work! Now there are several dozen more third graders who know what an oboe is, making them better informed than many adults.
Posted by
SursumCorda
on Tuesday, May 03, 2005 at 3:22 pm
After reading the National teacher day article, I just have to make a few comments Alex's second grade teacher is so great, I couldn't be happier. She is kind, caring, smart and she loves the kids and her job. Alex's self confidance has grown tremedously over this school year, and I credit her with a lot of that. Also, he loves school this year and I give her the credit for that as well. I am in his classroom at least once a week, oftentimes more. So, I often see her in action. I could go on and on about he way that I feel about her, but I think you can get the picture! As for his school, I am happy with that as well. He has so many opportunities that I never had (and I did go to a private school). They start learning Spanish in first grade, they have a good music and art program. Also, they do fun science experiments and Alex's favorite subject, math, is challenging and fun for him. I could go on and on about this as well, but again, I think you get the point.
Posted by
Pat
on Sunday, May 22, 2005 at 12:52 pm
Thank you for writing! Discussion is what I most had in mind when I started this blog.
All my writing about the negative aspects of school is not designed to denigrate anyone else's educational choices, for themselves or for their children, but to raise people's awareness. and -- I hope -- encourage others to write of their experiences.
Our children also had some wonderful teachers, both in and out of school. It was their positive experiences that delayed our decision to homeschool, and we left school much more for the benefits of homeschooling than because of problems with school. Nonetheless, the problems were there, many more than we were aware of at the time. The fact remains, despite some excellent teachers (and a few truly phenomenal ones): I fervently wish we had homeschooled from the beginning.
I'm beginning to believe that my chief quarrel with school is its compulsory nature. If schools were run more like public libraries, open to all for as much or as little as anyone wanted to use them, and more responsive to the needs and desires of individuals, I would be much happier with them.
This in no way diminishes my respect for great teachers, nor my admiration of even mediocre ones, who do a job I couldn't handle in a dozen lifetimes. Fortunately, as a homeschool teacher my chief responsibilities were to provide resources, to inspire, and to get out of the way. :)
All my writing about the negative aspects of school is not designed to denigrate anyone else's educational choices, for themselves or for their children, but to raise people's awareness. and -- I hope -- encourage others to write of their experiences.
Our children also had some wonderful teachers, both in and out of school. It was their positive experiences that delayed our decision to homeschool, and we left school much more for the benefits of homeschooling than because of problems with school. Nonetheless, the problems were there, many more than we were aware of at the time. The fact remains, despite some excellent teachers (and a few truly phenomenal ones): I fervently wish we had homeschooled from the beginning.
I'm beginning to believe that my chief quarrel with school is its compulsory nature. If schools were run more like public libraries, open to all for as much or as little as anyone wanted to use them, and more responsive to the needs and desires of individuals, I would be much happier with them.
This in no way diminishes my respect for great teachers, nor my admiration of even mediocre ones, who do a job I couldn't handle in a dozen lifetimes. Fortunately, as a homeschool teacher my chief responsibilities were to provide resources, to inspire, and to get out of the way. :)
Posted by
SursumCorda
on Sunday, May 22, 2005 at 8:18 pm
essay
Posted by
kannika
on Sunday, June 05, 2005 at 5:12 am
It's wonderful to see someone new here! How about elaborating a bit on your comment?
Posted by
SursumCorda
on Sunday, June 05, 2005 at 7:05 am
Add comment
