chatboard - Teachers.Net

Join Teachers.Net

Chatboards

Recent Groups

AZ Teachers

MEMBERS

7 Members

+ Join Group

Pinned Posts

ALLAll Teachers

Teachers.Net LIVE CHAT Support group - Tues eve!

Featured Jobs

Full-timeMontessori Teacher

Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

TemporaryTeachers, rural schools

Peace River North School District

Full-timeHead Teacher: 2nd/3rd Grades – Mills College Children’s School

Mills College

Teaching Jobs on Teachers.Net

Featured Job special only $39!

https://teachers.net/jobs

Become a Teachers.Net sponsor!

Arizona Teachers Chatboard

education reform- teachers

by Kenny

Oct 2, 2010

I do not understand all the talk about bad teachers that I hear about on television.

What I want to say is that I don't understand why schools hire first year teachers who look like students when they can get someone older and with more experince in this bad economy.

If they are serious about improving education, then schools need to look for the most qualified teacher and that person is usually not 22 and fresh out of college.

It's all talk as usual and the money is never there!!!

Comment

(6)

report post

view previous comments

dm I heard it straight from an administrator - it's an admin's dream to have a school full of fresh new teachers - no pre misconceptions about things, and admin gets to mold 'em and grow 'em. I'm a 7th year teacher, and my colleague is 2nd year, and she is awesome! I wished I was as good as she is during my 2nd year.

On 10/02/10, Been there ...See MoreI heard it straight from an administrator - it's an admin's dream to have a school full of fresh new teachers - no pre misconceptions about things, and admin gets to mold 'em and grow 'em. I'm a 7th year teacher, and my colleague is 2nd year, and she is awesome! I wished I was as good as she is during my 2nd year.

On 10/02/10, Been there wrote: > On 10/02/10, Kenny wrote: >> I do not understand all the talk about bad teachers that I >> hear about on television. >> >> What I want to say is that I don't understand why schools >> hire first year teachers who look like students when they >> can get someone older and with more experince in this bad >> economy. >> >> If they are serious about improving education, then schools >> need to look for the most qualified teacher and that person >> is usually not 22 and fresh out of college. >> >> It's all talk as usual and the money is never there!!! > > > It's true that many schools will hire a person with a BS in > lieu of someone with a Master's or more experience simply > because it's cheaper. Of course, there are certain positions > (administrative, counseling) that require a Master's, which > can make a qualified candidate more attractive. Also, > technological know-how is a requirement these days, so if you > let on that you're not up-to-date in your skills in the > interview it can be a deal breaker. Most districts expect > teachers to be versant in Excel, Word, Outlook, and Smart > Board use, with minimum training and little tech support. > > I started teaching when I was 23 (I'm 38 now), and my hat's > off to all the people in their early 20's who are new to the > profession. The grind of accountability and lack of respect > for teachers are even worse these days. Honestly, if I were > starting out now at my age, I don't think I'd stick with it. > It's not that I have less energy but I do have less patience > for red tape and the nonsense that new teachers sometimes > have to shoulder. Want me to live my life at school? I used > to put in 10 hour days and come home utterly exhausted, but > sorry, I have a family now. > > One of my co-workers is 23, brand new to teaching, and she's > been run into the ground by all of the duties and sponsoring > a club she was "volunteered" for. It's ridiculous. > > Teaching is a demanding profession any way you slice it. A > high percentage of new teachers leave within the 1st 3 years > of starting, so you may get your shot at a job sooner than > you think.

Oct 2, 2010

report post

Rob Kagel On 10/02/10, Kenny wrote: > I do not understand all the talk about bad teachers that I > hear about on television. > > What I want to say is that I don't understand why schools > hire first year teachers who look like students when they > can get someone older and with more experince in this bad > economy. > > If they are...See MoreOn 10/02/10, Kenny wrote: > I do not understand all the talk about bad teachers that I > hear about on television. > > What I want to say is that I don't understand why schools > hire first year teachers who look like students when they > can get someone older and with more experince in this bad > economy. > > If they are serious about improving education, then schools > need to look for the most qualified teacher and that person > is usually not 22 and fresh out of college. > > It's all talk as usual and the money is never there!!!

Hi Kenny,

The critics of teachers are just playing the blame game! Why, because honestly they know nothing of the current state of affairs in education and teachers are the most obvious and readily available target. I've been teaching for over 40 years, and I can tell you unequivocally that the teachers graduating college today are far better prepared for the classroom than when I graduated. I have been a contract provider to any number of school districts which of course allowed me to see a broad cross category of classrooms, at least across my own state. Now that I have moved back into the public schools, as a Special Education teacher I get to co-teach with numerous teachers every year. These teachers are phenominal. Unfortunately they are being hamstrung by an onslaught of testing and retesting and oppresive micromanagement. If you could have seen what teaching looked like 40 years ago and what it looks like now you would be depressed. There is far more culpability than what I am pinpointing in this brief message. But let me assure you, teachers are not the problem. My guess would be that fewer than 3-5% of all teachers are either poor teachers, have poor classroom management skills, or have poor interpersonal relationships with children. Though I am not fond of education as it stands today, little of my concern has to do with educators themselves. Hopefully, sometime in the near future I'll be able to shed more light on the real truth behind our failing system. Until then suffice it to say that I am truly proud of the teachers in the classrooms today, even in 49th place Arizona. The teachers ain't the problem. Someday I will share with the world what is and and who is.

Oct 3, 2010

report post

Hwh "Someday I will share with the world what is and and who is."

I suggest you spill the beans or find yourself one day without a job.

Oct 5, 2010

report post

Terry My experience is administrators who are the problem. Sadly, they are the ones who usually keep their jobs and get the pay raise. I see this at my school with the V.P. I could tell you stories of what is going on, but it would only be my story.

On 10/05/10, Hwh wrote: > > "Someday I will share with the world what is and and who is." ...See More

Oct 5, 2010

report post

Bottom line.. It's not true that schools are filled with first year teachers now! It's just not. If your school is full of new grads, they are likely breaking the law.

Schools that have openings legally must first take the (many) teachers who were cut from another school first.

On 10/03/10, Rob Kagel wrote: > On 10/02/10, Kenny wrote: >...See MoreIt's not true that schools are filled with first year teachers now! It's just not. If your school is full of new grads, they are likely breaking the law.

Schools that have openings legally must first take the (many) teachers who were cut from another school first.

On 10/03/10, Rob Kagel wrote: > On 10/02/10, Kenny wrote: >> I do not understand all the talk about bad teachers that I >> hear about on television. >> >> What I want to say is that I don't understand why schools >> hire first year teachers who look like students when they >> can get someone older and with more experince in this bad >> economy. >> >> If they are serious about improving education, then schools >> need to look for the most qualified teacher and that person >> is usually not 22 and fresh out of college. >> >> It's all talk as usual and the money is never there!!! > > Hi Kenny, > > The critics of teachers are just playing the blame game! > Why, because honestly they know nothing of the current state > of affairs in education and teachers are the most obvious and > readily available target. I've been teaching for over 40 > years, and I can tell you unequivocally that the teachers > graduating college today are far better prepared for the > classroom than when I graduated. I have been a contract > provider to any number of school districts which of course > allowed me to see a broad cross category of classrooms, at > least across my own state. Now that I have moved back into > the public schools, as a Special Education teacher I get to > co-teach with numerous teachers every year. These teachers > are phenominal. Unfortunately they are being hamstrung by an > onslaught of testing and retesting and oppresive > micromanagement. If you could have seen what teaching looked > like 40 years ago and what it looks like now you would be > depressed. There is far more culpability than what I am > pinpointing in this brief message. But let me assure you, > teachers are not the problem. My guess would be that fewer > than 3-5% of all teachers are either poor teachers, have poor > classroom management skills, or have poor interpersonal > relationships with children. Though I am not fond of > education as it stands today, little of my concern has to do > with educators themselves. Hopefully, sometime in the near > future I'll be able to shed more light on the real truth > behind our failing system. Until then suffice it to say that > I am truly proud of the teachers in the classrooms today, > even in 49th place Arizona. The teachers ain't the problem. > Someday I will share with the world what is and and who is.

Nov 5, 2010

report post