Having just begun my new career, I was surprised at the simple inability of most of my students to communicate even the most rudimentary idea or thought without being rude or inappropriate. Taking a few steps back to think, I began to realize - IT IS A DIFFERENT WORLD. It seems I spend as much time teaching "Human Being 101" as I do anything else. That is okay by me. Personally, I really feel a connection to the teachers who were "old school". You were going to learn, you were going to behave, and you !@#$ well better like it. As I don't have children of my own, I feel like I have 100 at school. My students may behave like wild animals outside my door, but when they enter my door ...THEY ARE MINE AND THEY KNOW IT! Helping turn out a decent person is more important than turning out a good construction worker.
joec
Hi Joe,
ReplyDeleteI liked your post. Yes, we have to teach them how to be decent human beings. Somewhere along the line, parents have dropped the ball. We live in a hurry-hurry, rush-rush world. There seems to be no time for parents to teach their kids the basics.
We need more teachers just like you!
I agree to a point. Although I think it would be great if we could change the world. But I think our jobs as teachers are to produce productive citizens that can make a living instead of just living off the system. Working for one dealership for 14 years and being shop foreman for the last seven of those years, I had the opportunity to work with several kids fresh out of high school and a few just out of technical college. I remember thinking to myself, what in the world are these kids being taught in the 2 to 4 years they were in their automotive programs at these schools. It appeared that someone had wasted their time. I don't want people looking at my graduates and thinking the same thing. I strive everyday to produce the most knowledgeable automotive student that I can. Just my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThat last statement was very well put!
ReplyDelete