The Teacher

The Teacher

I thought long and hard about this page because I didn't want it to seem patronizing. I didn't want to throw it together. I wanted it to be sincere. After reading the rest of my pages, one might think I hate all teachers! Well, nothing could be further from the truth. I think teachers have the toughest job in America today. It shouldn't be that way. Kids shouldn't be all thrown together like they are today. It's ridiculous. An average classroom has upwards of 25 students in it. There are children who are below average and there are those above. Most are in the middle, comfortable range and usually the easiest to teach. The classroom curriculum is geared toward this group. What does the teacher do with those children who are far below and those who are far above? If there were 6 different levels of mental and/or academic ability in that classroom, how does one teacher teach to all 6? Well, I don't see how it's possible. At least I don't see how it could happen in today's classroom. So the kids who are above level usually get pushed aside. It's assumed they'll be ok. They won't.

Then selfish parents who won't even take the time to make sure their kids get breakfast in the morning can hinder teacher's jobs. I know that a lot of kids find it hard to eat a meal first thing in the morning, but come on! A piece of toast is impossible? It can even be eaten on the way to school. A child who is hungry cannot learn. That's been proven. And then some parents couldn't be bothered to make sure that their child does homework at night. These things can make a teacher look bad when it's report card time even if it's not their fault at all.

I think there are some wonderful teachers out there who go in every day and give 150 percent of themselves. These teachers are worth their weight in gold. They somehow have a knack of teaching to every level in the class and do it with seemingly no effort at all. These teachers remember that every student in the classroom is an individual. And to "my" personal favorite, Mrs. McKenna, I have to say; "I'll never forget you."

Then there is that group of teachers who try and try. But, they just can't seem to cut it. They're not strong enough to gain the respect of their students and therefore their performance leaves a lot to be desired. I feel very sorry for this crew because I think that they really wanted to be teachers and they really do care about their kids.

Then there are the egos. This is the group I believe should be ousted from the profession. They make the good ones look bad. They have themselves convinced that they are the greatest things that ever hit the classroom. They don't cooperate with parents. They continue to act as it they know everything about the child and the parent knows nothing. They absolutely hate gifted children and many of them are only there to collect a paycheck. These are the "contract" teachers. They're the rotten ones.

When the good teachers of America get tired of this and rise up to weed the bad ones out, then, and only then, America will start to be whole again.

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