The Teacher Applicant

email | Received 12/8/07 | Unknown

[null and void]

After being interviewed by the school administration, the teaching prospect said, Let me see if I've got this right:

You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning.

You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.

You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job.

You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the state exams.

You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English and Spanish by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.

You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps.

You want me to do all this and then you tell me........

I CAN'T PRAY????

[null and void]

*ouch*

[Tanniker Smith]

That’s about right.

[Cicero]

I know just who to email this one to.

[Atlas Sneezed]

No, I just want to teach them to be competent in the subject area.

And I expect you teachers to STFU for a change. You aren’t heroes of the fatherland.

[null and void]

I’m an engineer, not a teacher.

[trebb]

Wow - pretty strong words against an article designed to show the inanity of the current system. How do you think you would handle being a teacher if you really wanted to teach them and found yourself handicapped with all the agenda-driven crap?

[Atlas Sneezed]

My comments were not directed at you.

[Atlas Sneezed]

How do you think you would handle being a teacher if you really wanted to teach them and found yourself handicapped with all the agenda-driven crap?

---

The system would not exist without the complacency and encouragement of the teachers. They support all the nannying, and they oppose prayer, as a rule.

[null and void]

OK. Just making sure.

[Mr Rogers]

The system exists because of the politicians, and the people who elect them. Many teachers do NOT approve of the system, which is why teachers have such high turnover.

[seowulf]

The system would not exist without the complacency and encouragement of the teachers. They support all the nannying, and they oppose prayer, as a rule.

The parents are no better. They just want free babysitting and don't much care what their little rug rats are taught just as long as they don't have to put any effort into it.

[Bluestateredman]

Entry-level teachers ‘round here make 45-50K. I don’t think that qualifies for food stamps.

[businessprofessor]

What is your evidence of high teacher turnover? The turnover rates are heavily influenced by the school district and service years. Inner city schools are battle zones so the turnover may be much higher across career stages. In surburban school districts, the turnover is low especially as tenure is gained and service years increase.

The nature of the work and the compensation structure ensure low turnover. For young teachers, preparation is difficult. After teaching the same classes for a number of years, preparation is much easier. Pensions provide a large amount of deferred compensation that is lost if a teach retires before eligibility for full pensions. The pension structure also ensures that many teachers retire young when reaching the pension eligibility age.

[Tanniker Smith]

And I expect you teachers to STFU for a change. You aren’t heroes of the fatherland.

Well, aren't you special.

[Tanniker Smith]

How he thinks he'd handle it is immaterial.

Those who haven't taught haven't a clue what to expect on day one. Particularly, those who have worked in an office environment where your co-workers sometimes seem childish, but you can deal with them and get them on task when you need to.

[P.O.E.]

Bingo with a capital “B”

[Cowgirl]

Oh gosh where to start. What are schools suppose to
accomplish? After reading all the articles on
Freepers, I would say the answer is an idiot child
with STDs or worse. Maybe a third will be able to
wade through the ignorance and come out of the public
school system without their morals, faith, health and
intelligence destroyed. I do wish most teachers would get on food stamps and leave the children alone.

[AZLiberty]

Many teachers do NOT approve of the system, which is why teachers have such high turnover.

Teachers are unhappy with the system, when the system in question is the school system. But, like other government employees, teachers are overwhelmingly leftist in their political leanings. They support the principle of government taking responsibility for people's lives -- they just disapprove of the implementation.

[AZLiberty]

And, I forgot to mention, they blame it all on Bush.

[trebb]

How he thinks he'd handle it is immaterial. Those who haven't taught haven't a clue what to expect on day one. Particularly, those who have worked in an office environment where your co-workers sometimes seem childish, but you can deal with them and get them on task when you need to.

I have taught and been a part of mentor programs for the local schools. What one thinks is only immaterial if one has no conviction behind those thoughts.