Appreciation for Teachers

[Saiwania]

Don't be the sibling of that sister in that story I mentioned. It's really not fair to you. I'm not saying get a degree in basket weaving and spend 100k doing it. I'm saying if you are passionate about something considering getting an AS/AA at the very least or even a certificate. Don't sell yourself short and be a nobody because you think you are one.

That is lousy advice in my view. They should go for the career or job they need, not the one they want. If you do something that your locale values more regardless of whether you actually like that job, you will come out ahead financially more so than you would if you go for a career you want but you fail to launch it because there is a mismatch between jobs or industries actually available where you live, and a career path or job that you have to move somewhere else to actually get but you learned something that proved useless in the long run.

You should not pay for someone else's college if you can't comfortably do so. They can take out a student loan and pay it off overtime, if they're really dedicated and know what they're doing.

[Geneviev]

It is true. It is one of the few accurate generalizations. Oh dear, those sound like unpleasant students.

That’s the culture of the inner city. Especially public schools where discipline is scant. They did learn and do their work. She just said that, for example, instead of answering “George Washington” to a question they’d say “George f***ing Washington.” It was pointless to try and curb it too.

I'm sorry, but that actually made me laugh.

It doesn't belong in a classroom, but it is funny.

[Saint Ryvern]

I answered English in the poll, by the way, because I’m going to be an ELA teacher soon (less than two years). I think that’s a good enough explanation.

[Mike the Progressive]

Don't be the sibling of that sister in that story I mentioned. It's really not fair to you. I'm not saying get a degree in basket weaving and spend 100k doing it. I'm saying if you are passionate about something considering getting an AS/AA at the very least or even a certificate. Don't sell yourself short and be a nobody because you think you are one.

That is lousy advice in my view. They should go for the career or job they need, not the one they want. If you do something that your locale values more regardless of whether you actually like that job, you will come out ahead financially more so than you would if you go for a career you want but you fail to launch it because there is a mismatch between jobs or industries actually available where you live, and a career path or job that you have to move somewhere else to actually get but you learned something that proved useless in the long run.

I said don't get a degree in basketweaving rather facetiously (usually taken as a joke against liberal art degrees in general) and rack up a huge bill doing so.

[Katganistan]

The worst thing for teachers is the whole "but you only work 9 to 3" thing. I teach from 9 to 3, I work from at least 8 to 5, plus whatever work I do at home.

Everytime I hear that a teacher should stop being lazy and work 8 hours like everyone else, I want to grab them and say, " Sure, I'd love to work 8 hours a day, because right now I'm working 9 or more. If you want me to work 8, then your kid can go without marked assessments, interesting activities, or well-planned lessons."

I'm in my school by 6:30am, and sometimes leave as late as 5pm. So yes, those 2 months off in summer, I need just to catch up on all the sleep I miss.

[Luziyca]

I have a love/hate for teachers, professors, etc.

I think many of them are heros. They work and slave and try to educate young minds and inspire them to change. At the same time they [often] perpetuate a stale system that teaches outdated and useless information. Information that only satisfies curiorities of a certain few with no bearing in reality. They do so arrogantly and viciously attack anybody who truly attempts to challenge them.

I personally believe (and this is guessing) that my teachers have no real choice in what they teach. Depending on the teacher, they do let the students challenge what we are taught (with the exception of maths and sciences, where it is either correct or incorrect).

This.

Personally, teachers are nice, and we should appreciate all their contributions to society. Though we should at least spare a thought for educational assistants, and the amount of work that they do.

[Saint Ryvern]

The worst thing for teachers is the whole "but you only work 9 to 3" thing. I teach from 9 to 3, I work from at least 8 to 5, plus whatever work I do at home.

Everytime I hear that a teacher should stop being lazy and work 8 hours like everyone else, I want to grab them and say, " Sure, I'd love to work 8 hours a day, because right now I'm working 9 or more. If you want me to work 8, then your kid can go without marked assessments, interesting activities, or well-planned lessons."

Not to mention the workload for new teachers is often higher than the already ridiculous workload for experienced educators. Mainly because we have to craft entirely new lessons (not having a stockpile from years past), find all our materials, and get our footing in the new school. May I ask what grade level and subject you teach?

[Barunia]

The worst thing for teachers is the whole "but you only work 9 to 3" thing. I teach from 9 to 3, I work from at least 8 to 5, plus whatever work I do at home.

Everytime I hear that a teacher should stop being lazy and work 8 hours like everyone else, I want to grab them and say, " Sure, I'd love to work 8 hours a day, because right now I'm working 9 or more. If you want me to work 8, then your kid can go without marked assessments, interesting activities, or well-planned lessons."

Not to mention the workload for new teachers is often higher than the already ridiculous workload for experienced educators. Mainly because we have to craft entirely new lessons (not having a stockpile from years past), find all our materials, and get our footing in the new school. May I ask what grade level and subject you teach?

First year of teaching in Media. I teach years 7-12, so 12-18 year olds (Australian system, we don't split our secondary schooling like the US)

[Geneviev]

The worst thing for teachers is the whole "but you only work 9 to 3" thing. I teach from 9 to 3, I work from at least 8 to 5, plus whatever work I do at home.

Everytime I hear that a teacher should stop being lazy and work 8 hours like everyone else, I want to grab them and say, " Sure, I'd love to work 8 hours a day, because right now I'm working 9 or more. If you want me to work 8, then your kid can go without marked assessments, interesting activities, or well-planned lessons."

Being the child in question, I could do without marked assessments.

When I was younger, I tried to help my teachers with cleaning and such. I wish I could still do that, but I've had such a good record of not fighting this year.

[Saint Ryvern]

Not to mention the workload for new teachers is often higher than the already ridiculous workload for experienced educators. Mainly because we have to craft entirely new lessons (not having a stockpile from years past), find all our materials, and get our footing in the new school. May I ask what grade level and subject you teach?

First year of teaching in Media. I teach years 7-12, so 12-18 year olds (Australian system, we don't split our secondary schooling like the US)

I like that, the idea of not splitting secondary up. It’s becoming a bit of a grassroots thing for private schools to transition towards K-12, or at least have multiple facilities all united under one curricular umbrella. I think it’ll be more common here in the next decade. At least for private schools.

[Saiwania]

If you want me to work 8, then your kid can go without marked assessments, interesting activities, or well-planned lessons."

Interesting activities are optional. If a student wants interesting, they can view Youtube, do sports, or whatever- in their free time.

Well planned lessons? Well, I'd think that initially a lot of work has to be done with regards to that, but if it is your second year, there should only be minor tweaks involved that take much less time. The only real requirement I see, is to stay abreast of how your state or local school board, wants their curriculum to look like and adjust accordingly.

Teachers should not be getting their students any school supplies (will they get fired for failing to do so?), that is up to the parents of those students and if some of those parents can't afford it, then they should turn to or heavily lobby the government to pick up their tab if providing people with the means to become educated can be seen as a legitimate function of government.

Marked assessments, that is probably mandatory and part of the job. Students have to get their work assessed to track their performance. To objectively figure out if a certain kid is smart and driven or stupid and lazy.

I think there is room to at least cut half the amount of extra time a teacher spends on their job and get away with that without consequence.

[Geneviev]

If you want me to work 8, then your kid can go without marked assessments, interesting activities, or well-planned lessons."

Interesting activities are optional. If a student wants interesting, they can view Youtube, do sports, or whatever- in their free time.

Well planned lessons? Well, I'd think that initially a lot of work has to be done with regards to that, but if it is your second year, there should only be minor tweaks involved that take much less time. The only real requirement I see, is to stay abreast of how your state or local school board, wants their curriculum to look like and adjust accordingly.

Teachers should not be getting their students any school supplies (will they get fired for failing to do so?), that is up to the parents of those students and if some of those parents can't afford it, then they should turn to or heavily lobby the government to pick up their tab if providing people with the means to become educated can be seen as a legitimate function of government.

Marked assessments, that is probably mandatory and part of the job. Students have to get their work assessed to track their performance. To objectively figure out if a certain kid is smart and driven or stupid and lazy.

I think there is room to at least cut half the amount of extra time a teacher spends on their job and get away with that without consequence.

As for the school supplies thing, it actually really helps me. My parents can't pay for a million notebooks every year, and I can't pay for them either. If a teacher buys them for me, I can actually focus on my education rather than not having something everyone else has.

[Lozcwngz]

Not to mention the workload for new teachers is often higher than the already ridiculous workload for experienced educators. Mainly because we have to craft entirely new lessons (not having a stockpile from years past), find all our materials, and get our footing in the new school. May I ask what grade level and subject you teach?

First year of teaching in Media. I teach years 7-12, so 12-18 year olds (Australian system, we don't split our secondary schooling like the US)

Years 7-8 students are the worst. Actually, scratch that, since the School Certificate got scrapped and nobody in Year 10 has anything big to study for anymore, Year 10 students fall under the umbrella of "the worst", though not as bad as the younger years. Year 8 students will be your biggest challenge. I wish you the best of luck, and I mean it. I recall someone I know who used to be a teacher, he was offered to trade places between Year 8's and Year 10's, as the person who was offering was a new teacher who didn't know a thing about the different years. Poor young thing had no idea about how bad the Year 8's were, and almost as soon as he was teaching the Year 8's, he wanted to trade back again. He was only lucky he got to be able to trade back, because the person he traded classes with in the first place was, and still is, chill.

[Saiwania]

As for the school supplies thing, it actually really helps me. My parents can't pay for a million notebooks every year, and I can't pay for them either. If a teacher buys them for me, I can actually focus on my education rather than not having something everyone else has.

Books shouldn't be replaced every year. It should be good for once or twice each decade. But I see that a way to cut costs is to perhaps go all digital. All assignments and lessons, etc. can be done via electronic means. It is more 21st century and radically new but has potential. A ton of jobs have gone paperless. This is only continuing that trend.

[Geneviev]

As for the school supplies thing, it actually really helps me. My parents can't pay for a million notebooks every year, and I can't pay for them either. If a teacher buys them for me, I can actually focus on my education rather than not having something everyone else has.

Books shouldn't be replaced every year. It should be good for once or twice each decade. But I see that a way to cut costs is to perhaps go all digital. All assignments and lessons, etc. can be done via electronic means. It is more 21st century and radically new but has potential. A ton of jobs have gone paperless. This is only continuing that trend.

I have books from the 90s, yeah? In sciences, of all the classes.

That would be easy, yes, but who would do that work?

[Mike the Progressive]

As for the school supplies thing, it actually really helps me. My parents can't pay for a million notebooks every year, and I can't pay for them either. If a teacher buys them for me, I can actually focus on my education rather than not having something everyone else has.

Books shouldn't be replaced every year. It should be good for once or twice each decade. But I see that a way to cut costs is to perhaps go all digital. All assignments and lessons, etc. can be done via electronic means. It is more 21st century and radically new but has potential. A ton of jobs have gone paperless. This is only continuing that trend.

Exactly. And textbooks will be replaced by tablets with ebooks. Let's invest lots of money in this industry, we'll make it back in a few months. Tops.

[Saiwania]

That would be easy, yes, but who would do that work?

If people don't do the work, they'd presumably get 0s and be in bad standing. In online courses that people take, the person teaching it definitely knows who did or didn't submit what work. It is very easy to track electronically. Primary flaw is that people can sometimes miss a deadline if their internet connection goes offline for long enough or doesn't cooperate enough in terms of speed or signal quality.

[Geneviev]

That would be easy, yes, but who would do that work?

If people don't do the work, they'd presumably get 0s and be in bad standing. In online courses that people take, the person teaching it definitely knows who did or didn't do what work. It is very easy to track electronically. Primary flaw is that people can sometimes miss a deadline if their internet connection goes offline for long enough or doesn't cooperate enough in terms of speed or signal quality.

It is easy to track. But my ability to work on the computer is limited at best. I can not focus at all. And the internet can disappear for days at a time.

[Jamilkhuze]

I liked the sciences the most in middle/high school, and majored in STEM with initial hopes of going into medicine. Currently putting my biomedical engineering degree to use by learning computer programming in hopes of working in biotech and/or software development.

Having said that, I think my social studies and humanities teachers had a stronger impact on my worldview and interests. A lot of people in Forum 7 have gotten liberal arts/foreign language major vibes from how I present myself on NationStates.

[Western-Ukraine]

Books shouldn't be replaced every year. It should be good for once or twice each decade. But I see that a way to cut costs is to perhaps go all digital. All assignments and lessons, etc. can be done via electronic means. It is more 21st century and radically new but has potential. A ton of jobs have gone paperless. This is only continuing that trend.

Exactly. And textbooks will be replaced by tablets with ebooks. Let's invest lots of money in this industry, we'll make it back in a few months. Tops.

I've already seen that system fail here in Finland. It was expensive enough back when conventional textbooks were used, because they used to change them far too often than was necessary. Ever since we've moved to tablets, laptops and ebooks a few years after I graduated from high school, the problems have only increased: older teachers lack qualifications or knowledge about the ebooks or technology; students have to buy ebooks which can't be sold on, hence the expenses for high school increase. In summary, the system failed when conventional methods were changed. Profits from the industry to the government are minimal and there are more disadvantages to poor students now.

[Trumptonium1]

What does Finland do exactly?

No standardized tests
No to very little homework

Teachers are paid better

You forgot to mention the part where Finnish students struggle to enter European/American top-end universities because barely anyone recognises their qualifications and the part where Finns are generally unable to get high-skilled jobs outside of Finland.

[Risen Prussia]

I loved my teacher from last year, she was like my second mom lol

[Trumptonium1]

The worst thing for teachers is the whole "but you only work 9 to 3" thing. I teach from 9 to 3, I work from at least 8 to 5, plus whatever work I do at home.

Everytime I hear that a teacher should stop being lazy and work 8 hours like everyone else, I want to grab them and say, " Sure, I'd love to work 8 hours a day, because right now I'm working 9 or more. If you want me to work 8, then your kid can go without marked assessments, interesting activities, or well-planned lessons."

Teachers mark assessments, do interesting activities and plan their lessons?

What minority is this?

[Western-Ukraine]

No standardized tests
No to very little homework

Teachers are paid better

You forgot to mention the part where Finnish students struggle to enter European/American top-end universities because barely anyone recognises their qualifications and the part where Finns are generally unable to get high-skilled jobs outside of Finland.

Your source for this information being? Besides, Finland does have standardized tests which are considered equivalent to most other European tests, including top-end university applications in Europe.

[A m e n r i a]

English is a foreign language for most people in the world, mate.

Jokes aside, I agree that we should appreciate our teachers. Not just on Teacher's Day, but whenever the opportunity arises. One of my favourite teachers is my economy teacher in the second year of my high school. He's funny, cheerful, and kind, and his methods are both interesting and easy to grasp. My grades in his class were great and so were those of my peers. I'm sure our economy grades were best when he taught us.

Now that I'm in college in a faraway nation from my home, I kinda miss him. I talked about him over coffee with a group of friends last night.

That's not to say I got no good teachers in college though. Most of them are okay, but some of them are great. I have this English teacher from Poland who's pretty much a friend to me outside class. We talk often about various things and she understands me and accepts me despite my flaws. She's a wonderful person.