I was not writing this to you. It was written about anyone who jumped down
her throat for agreeing with the original poster. I am sorry you feel that
way. I do what works for me. When you let the child keep the magazine you
send a clear message to the child...I can get away with stuff with Mr.
Tom. Then, others will follow because it is alright to take out your
magazine, he just makes general statements so he can't be talking about
me...I have tried being that way and got eaten for breakfast. Eventully,
you realize you don't have time to continuously correct. I know in your
world you do. I am happy you have found teaching Nirvana, but today's
students are very complicated and varied in experience and tools they bring
to the table. Like I always say, NO SYSTEM WORKS IN EVERY SITUATION.
On 6/19/09, Tom wrote:
> Dave Z,
>
> I can't believe you wrote this. You and I have had respectful
> interchanges of thousands of words, as I have done with many others as
> well. I would not call that "shunning." As for being "judges," not at
> all; people who disagree with the practices described by others, and who
> suggest both fallacies and other options, are actually trying to support
> the OP's, and help them to find more effective ways to lead!
>
> Vociferous debate is healthy, in my opinion, just as complacency,
> defensiveness, and unquestioning allegiance to ANY system is unhealthy.
> Many teachers around the country could improve their teaching AND
> classroom environment, if they would engage in a healthy open-
> mindedness. (See my "Evolution of Teaching" post for more.)
>
> As far as dignity-based teachers being "pushovers," it's clear that the
> thousands of words I've written (which you've read) have not
> communicated clearly at all. And I STILL haven't successfully described
> dignity-based systems so that you truly get them.
>
> I'll just have to keep trying.
>
> :-)
>
> All my best,
>
> Tom
>
>
> On 6/19/09, Dave Z wrote:
>> On 6/18/09, Teach wrote:
>>>
>>> First of all, I'm not the one who had anything to do with the
>>> incident. I was agreeing with the teacher who did.
>>>
>>> Second, I LOVE my job and love my kids. I cried today as they
>>> left. You have no idea how I teach my class because you are not
>>> there. You have no business judging me.
>>
>>
>> Don't listen to these judges. In their paradigm, their system
>> works. They like to shun those who are different. There is nothing
>> wrong with the way the OP handled the situation. Some silly people
>> are looking at calling parents as needing backup. That is just plain
>> ridiculous. It is informing parents of what their children are
>> doing. If you don't, they will turn around and say I had no idea my
>> daughter was doing so poorly. As far as giving back the
>> magazines...unless it is the last day of school, that is a mistake.
>> Certain children would eat these teachers up. What would they do if
>> everyone had a magazine and brought it every day and read...and how
>> is it respectful to the teacher to read magazines in class. The word
>> pushover comes to mind. Children do not respect pushovers.
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