Originally Posted By MPierce >> You also kind of snapped at me! All for a rather cruel joke (I'll admit it) << Yes, but I think you deserved it.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey Thanks everyone. I have orientation and some "speed interviews" with principals tomorrow and Friday at a placement fair the program is sponsoring. It would be wonderful to have a job by this weekend, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much. They said most fellows won't be placed until mid summer.
Originally Posted By DrBro22 Well I'm still in high school. I went on a family vacation to Disney World last week and missed the whole week. Even though I didn't let my teachers know. And I made everything up. I don't think there's a problem with that, my teachers were perfectly alright with it. (Even though I have finals this week)
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey Hi everyone! I had three interviews today at my orientation, and all three were interested in me, with two asking me to come visit their school (the other doesn't currently have any openings for my subject, but said she'd keep me in mind if anything became available). I'm a bit nervous because all three teachers told me they had kids with behavior issues, but I think that's just the nature of the district I'm going to be working in. I'm going to visit one of the schools in the morning, and then I have another set of interviews in the afternoon.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I'm afraid behaviour issues are present at all schools. I will try not to scare you with some of my personal horrow stories, but needless to say after my teacher training I decided not to pursue that career area as there seemed to be a greater need for discipline and peace keeping than actual teaching. I definately advise you go in with both eyes open. There will be kids that find it hard to learn, some who do not want to learn, bad behaviour as well as those that are sponges. The duty of a teacher is to try to mold the potential for all of them.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Good advice Dave. I work at a Catholic school, about 1/3 of the 211 students are not Catholic. That should tell you something about the quality of learning ability at our local public schools. We have less behavioral problems than the public system does, but still problems.
Originally Posted By MPierce I think behavior issues or the main reason we've lost so many good teachers. If you can find a school that has a strong disipinary code, and a strong dress code, preferably a uniform dress code, you will be way ahead of the game. Schools filled with a lot of problem students is the main reason so many people who can afford it are turning to private schools.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Sadly, the left wing in me wants my kids to go to public school, but based on my experiences of working with Children Services, I am trying to find a way to fund private education (and we even occassionally consider home schooling - but then quickly dismiss it due to the importance of the secondary and tertiarry socialisation process).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo FWIW, I have a huge respect for the talented and tenacious people who do persevere with teaching. Hats off to them.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey Oy vay! I visited one of the schools on Friday, and talk about an eye opener. I knew that our inner city schools had discipline problems, but this was out of control. Kids were sitting in the cafeteria in the middle of the day doing absolutely nothing. A kid backtalked the secretary in the office and she said nothing. Kids were wandering the halls and teachers were screaming at the top of their lungs. This school didn't have a behavior problem, it WAS a behavior problem. I knew it was going to be bad, but it's bad because the teachers and administrators don't care to control their kids, or try to control them by screaming at the top of their lungs. I want to teach, I don't want to babysit. I have a visit with a charter school this afternoon, and it seems the charter schools have behavior problems for more controlled than the "regular" schools. We shall see...
Originally Posted By vbdad55 As someone who knows a fair number of teachers and administrators -- ( and my oldest daughter coming out of college seeking her first teaching position) - it is not usually a school that causes the issue. Many of these kids have no concern from home - parent or parents that don't care and look for the schools to do exactly as you called it - babysit. However don't call them when little Johnny does something wrong - or don't try and push them to learn etc..because immediately it is the school and teachers fault. Many schools - not just inner city- are in real crisis. My friends that teach or administer in the Chicago Public Schools know exactly what you are talking about - along with a lot of violence, gang activity, drug usage etc.. and somehow the schools are supposed to fix it. As you have now seen first hand...I am not sure how. Nikki, I hope the next interview is better for you...and I hope you get to fulfill your dream. Sometimes it's not bad to see what one situation is though, as the next may look much better than if you had gone to it first. I wish I had the answers to our public schools, as everyone loses in some cases right now -- the teachers cannot teach and many students do not care to learn. The unfortuate students there that do want to learn get short changed by the situation... but not sure how to break the cycle. I do believe the first step is correcting home situations though - as they spill over into the schools.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Sorry Nikki, but welcome to modern day schools. And it seems to be like this through out the western world (not all, but far too many). That's why I never taught after doing my training.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "I do believe the first step is correcting home situations though - as they spill over into the schools." Very, very true. As we have become a don't say no/spank your child society, the situation is worsening. Those early years are vital. If they are not put into check when kids are kids, by the time they become teenagers, gameover.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I am very fortunate I live in an area with nationally ranked public schools where we are hoping my daughter will get her first opportunity. The schools are one of the reasons why people move to my area - and people who have always lived in this area complain about the smallest of things, not understanding how good they have it. Of course the local property taxes to support the school system here are astronomical...but with multiple kids it is still cheaper than private schools.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo And the cost of the education is probably lower than the cost of policing, environmental clean up etc. expected in an area like yours if the schools and kids were not good.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 likely true - but everyone has got to be willing to foot the bill up front. WE have passed 9 tax increase referedums in 11 years --- in the City of Chicago it has been ages since they have been able to get taxpayers to buy in. these increases are property tax based - so the % applied is the same for everyone, and those who really have pay more based on value of home ownership. No one likes tax increases, but sometimes as you say - the cost up front is less than the cost in the long run
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey <<As someone who knows a fair number of teachers and administrators -- ( and my oldest daughter coming out of college seeking her first teaching position) - it is not usually a school that causes the issue.>> I know, and I totally agree that lack of parental discipline is the root of the problem. But do you just give up or scream and holler, or do you fight and correct these kids and try to undo some of the damage? Two of the other fellows visited another school and said it was bedlam - children sitting in classrooms watching daytime TV without supervision or a teacher in sight, several entire classrooms empty with no signs of teachers or students. The problem here in New Orleans for several years was that many teachers were simply interested in collecting a paycheck and not actually teaching. It seems that some of those problems have spilled over from the old school district and into the new state run district. The charter school I'm going to visit today emphasizes math and science, and students who fail a grade are asked to leave and find another school. I'm hoping that translates into better behaved students.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 < The problem here in New Orleans for several years was that many teachers were simply interested in collecting a paycheck and not actually teaching. It seems that some of those problems have spilled over from the old school district and into the new state run district. < It is one of the reasons many states pushign hard for tougher evaluations of teachers - the NEA may be the strongest union left in the US - they certainly have the best pension and benefits left in a day when most major corporationbs have done away with / frozen or cut back severely ( I know ) I agree - one can't just give up -- but to be one or two teachers in a sea of some of the situations is hard -- again I don't have the entire answer - but I think evaluations and keeping your job based on performance like everyone else a good start.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey I went and checked out the charter school, and I really liked what I saw. Kids were busy in classrooms and I didn't see any just wandering around, seriously misbehaving or causing any major problems. The principal is interested in hiring me, but since I'm not fully certified I may lose the position if a fully certified teacher applies in the next few weeks. Right now I'm just playing a waiting game, I guess. I have another interview tomorrow, which I am going to attend, but I really hope I get the position at the school I visited today. It seems like it would be a good fit for me. Right now I'm just kind of scared: I'm wondering if I'm making the right decision by making such a huge career change in my life. I also don't like that I don't have a solid job lined up yet, especially since I have a mortgage now. I just feel down right now.
