Debates
31 Aug 06
31 Aug 06
This subject is inspired by a thread going now in the Spirituality forum. That thread is horrendously covered by religious wisecracks and whatnot so I didn't read through the whole thread, but the variety of comments got me thinking that many different people have many different opinions about what a teacher is supposed to do.
So I ask you good people here in the secular forum, what is the job of the teacher? What are the responsibilities of this person who sees our kids for a far greater percentage of the day than we do? What do we expect a teacher to do, what does he actually do, and is either point of view even close to correct?
31 Aug 06
Teachers...
teach the facts without opinion. If you request opinions, opinions are to be used as a guage by which you critique your teaching ability only. All political and personal agenda opinions taught to "young heads full of mush" will not be tolerated. The ACLU and Unions be damned!
31 Aug 06
Originally posted by poboyOnly facts?
teach the facts without opinion.
What about theories, e.g. General Relativity
What are the facts about Art and Literature?
More important is to teach people how to learn, how to experiment, how to find out stuff on their own, how to be self-reliant.
31 Aug 06
1 edit
Originally posted by thesonofsaulkind of a big question answer there but the only true way to answer it correctly is to look at history and understand why we even have teachers and schools in the first place.
This subject is inspired by a thread going now in the Spirituality forum. That thread is horrendously covered by religious wisecracks and whatnot so I didn't read through the whole thread, but the variety of comments got me thinking that many different people have many different opinions about what a teacher is supposed to do.
So I ask you good peop ...[text shortened]... t a teacher to do, what does he actually do, and is either point of view even close to correct?
Briefly, prior to formal school systems, most kids grew up on farms (at least in North America anyway). This meant from time you were old enough to help out with the chores, you started working on the farm to help the family make a living. There was no time to think about an education for the working class.
In Europe, the Aristocracy sent their kids to school since they didn't have to work for a living. These schools weren't what we would define as schools today for the most part. The kids of aristocracy would learn things like the art of rhetoric, etiquette, and study classical literature and study music. In short, they learned the basics for living in the priviledged world that they were born into.
Over time, as Aristocracy and the culture of entitlement became less palatable to the working class, the working class realized the only way to move up in the world was to find a way to better educate themselves. Now the parents of the working class didn't have the time to teach their children, nor did most of them even have the knowledge to do it. Young, Single and Unmarried women of the day found they could make a living by teaching some of the working class kids during the day while their parents were working.
Today, this concept is essentially the same, albeit more advanced. At it's core though, teachers are essentially devices that parents use to free up a parent's time. If the parents were required to look after their own kids during the day, then parents would not be able to work and receive money to provide for their family. At the same time, the kids learn the skills neccessary to find jobs that one day will allow them to find jobs that will allow them to take care of their kids.
This system will continue to succeed as long as each succesive generation sends their kids to a school with teachers who will educate and protect the parent's kids until the parents come home from work.
Now, I think alot of people take for granted, or even misunderstand, the role teachers play in society. They are vital, not neccesarily for the information that is passed on to the kids, but for the function they provide to parents that allows parents to not have to look after their own kids 24/7.
Without teachers, our modern day society could not function. At best, one parent would have to stay home while the other worked. Indeed, this system worked for many years. However, since the 1960's and 70's woman have increasingly viewed their own role in society as more than simply a housewife who cooked dinner and took care of the kids until dad came home. Both parents are usually now working, putting even more pressure on the school system to provide a safe place for mom and dad to stash their kids until mom and dad come home.
Remember, teachers are not mandatory. They are a luxury that we all pay for through our taxes or directly if you send your kid to a private school. As parents, you pay money to the government to take care of and educate your kid so that you can then take those 7-8 hours of the day that they are at school and go find yourself a job to bring home the food and pay for that mortgage.
Just for fun, if you have kids what would you do with your kids if there were no schools to send them to?
31 Aug 06
1 edit
I'm a high school teacher. Quick survival tip.....teach the basic study guide, don't have any opinions, don't allow any discussion of sensitive subjects, don't treat the students as equals and tell them what you think, don't allow yourself to be accused of being politically incorrect.
31 Aug 06
Originally posted by aging blitzerThis is more along the lines of what I teach. I remind my students that as long as they choose not to read, they are stuck with only the information provided to them on a platter. I can tell them the Cubs won the World Series last year and unless they use their brains and widen their horizons, they're stuck believing whatever I say.
More important is to teach people how to learn, how to experiment, how to find out stuff on their own, how to be self-reliant.
While originally teachers freed up parents, now they provide a service to society by helping prepare children to be adults in that society -- adults who are capable of work and adult life. They also try to ensure that knowlege that was passed down through the ages continues to be passed down, no matter how worthless it seems to each generation when it's young. We teach children to function in a group and as an independent individual, as well as to tap into their individual gifts. For many we provide the emotional, nutritional, and safety needs that aren't or can't be met at home.
I tell them that when they're 18, I'll be more than happy to tell them my opinion about anything. In the meantime, they should ask their parents (for example, in political candidate opinions), but when appropriate I show both sides of the issue (for example, with the US immigration issue).
01 Sep 06
Originally posted by reader1107The best teachers in my experience were those who were masters of their subject and able to get their pupils genuinely interested.
This is more along the lines of what I teach. I remind my students that as long as they choose not to read, they are stuck with only the information provided to them on a platter. I can tell them the Cubs won the World Series last year and unless they use their brains and widen their horizons, they're stuck believing whatever I say.
While originall ...[text shortened]... n appropriate I show both sides of the issue (for example, with the US immigration issue).
I was fortunate in having such teachers in English , Mathematics, and Physics. They were not trying to be social workers imbued with potty ideas and as a result commanded respect.
01 Sep 06
While originally teachers freed up parents, now they provide a service to society by helping prepare children to be adults in that society -- adults who are capable of work and adult life. They also try to ensure that knowlege that was passed down through the ages continues to be passed down, no matter how worthless it seems to each generation when it's young. We teach children to function in a ...[text shortened]... many we provide the emotional, nutritional, and safety needs that aren't or can't be met at home.I agree teachers provide that service to society now. Prior to teachers, it was up to the parents to prepare their children to be adults in our society etc.
I suppose, in a way, teachers are one of the first examples of job out-sourcing 😉
01 Sep 06
Originally posted by GinRoseI'm sure you are right. It's sad that we have come to that.
I'm a high school teacher. Quick survival tip.....teach the basic study guide, don't have any opinions, don't allow any discussion of sensitive subjects, don't treat the students as equals and tell them what you think, don't allow yourself to be accused of being politically incorrect.
The teachers who I admired challenged me to think for myself. They didn't tell me what to think, but they did challenge me and others to defend a point of view. They "made you think", in other words.
The other thing about my best teachers was passion -- they were excited about mitosis (imagine!), and just because they were excited about it, you listened -- and remembered.
01 Sep 06
Originally posted by thesonofsaulInstruct and correct.
This subject is inspired by a thread going now in the Spirituality forum. That thread is horrendously covered by religious wisecracks and whatnot so I didn't read through the whole thread, but the variety of comments got me thinking that many different people have many different opinions about what a teacher is supposed to do.
So I ask you good peop ...[text shortened]... t a teacher to do, what does he actually do, and is either point of view even close to correct?
03 Sep 06
Originally posted by GinRoseI had teachers like you in highschool. Hated them. If I wanted to read the textbook I'd read the textbook. Stop telling me the facts and tell me what it means.
I'm a high school teacher. Quick survival tip.....teach the basic study guide, don't have any opinions, don't allow any discussion of sensitive subjects, don't treat the students as equals and tell them what you think, don't allow yourself to be accused of being politically incorrect.
03 Sep 06
Originally posted by XanthosNZI'll bet you hated them, Xanthos.. I'll also bet that if you had a teacher that said something you didn't like you'd be the first to run to the administration and complain about their having an opinion that you considered improper.
I had teachers like you in highschool. Hated them. If I wanted to read the textbook I'd read the textbook. Stop telling me the facts and tell me what it means.