Great students begin their careers very early!
All of my students have made amazing progress this year, but for some it will never be enough.
Some parents understand their role in education and work so hard to support, encourage, and educate their children. Others never “get it”.
Some children naturally and intentionally seek out danger, trouble, and other troublemakers, even though they can’t tell you why they do it.
Parents and students who “make excuses” generally continue to do so for many years.
Many of the behaviors we say children will “outgrow” are still evident in third, fourth, fifth grade… Perhaps personalities don’t change as much as we hope they will.
Our educational system doesn’t do enough soon enough for children who are gifted in art and music.
Many parents do not realize that “helping” is often undermining and we are getting a generation of children who cannot or will not even attempt to solve problems for themselves.
Some children, and parents, believe the primary goal of learning is to pass a test.
Attitude can make all the difference in the world.
We are slowly but surely moving away from creating an “educated citizen” to producing an “employable citizen”. There has been a subtle but noticeable shift in the purpose of education over the last few decades and I’m not sure it has been for the better. We shall all find out soon.
Sports and coaches and athletes get far too much attention in our country. Just once I want to hear that a school has a great new English or science teacher! I want to watch a student sign their papers for college and announce their intention to be an architect or a nurse!
A hug from a former student is a wonderful reminder that children don’t forget where they started.
Teaching is the best career there is and I will forever be grateful to the teachers who encouraged me to follow after them.
Congratulations for making it through another year!
Posted by: Classof65 | May 11, 2012 at 02:15 PM