Providince Rhode Island just fired all 2,000 of it's public school teachers

[Chieppa1]

Stand in front of the room and say: "Indians and pilgrims liked each other and Lincoln freed the slaves because he loved everyone." If you do, your lying to kids, helping the State keep control, and IMO are no longer a "teacher".

 

[TrueFreedom]

Considering that I'm likely to become a public school teacher myself as I pursue a history degree, I understand what you are saying. I'm not blaming the teachers, but rather I'm blaming the system.

The system lacks any kind of profit motive that gives the incentive to improve and deliver a strong product(education) to the customers(parents). The fact that when schools fail, they only receive more money, goes against the most simplest models of running a successful business.

Going into the actual material that is taught, a lot of it is utterly useless. Little critical thinking skills are taught, in favor of teaching basic memorization and retention of facts so that the students can take standardized fill-in-the-bubble tests. I can only really speak on the subject of history, but the garbage that is shoveled into those text books they give kids is riddled with inconsistencies, glossing over, and outright lies.

I have no real complaint with what you are saying. I do deviate outside of the standard requirements for my course but I do understand how you can be disheartened by what is glossed over, especially in history. The way the system works is terrible and gives no motivation for the students to learn or for the teachers to improve. Most teachers burn out quick because they get so pissed off about what is going on. I take my anger out by working with a debate team after school and helping them see through most of the bullshit they are taught daily.

 

[Chieppa1]

I have no real complaint with what you are saying. I do deviate outside of the standard requirements for my course but I do understand how you can be disheartened by what is glossed over, especially in history. The way the system works is terrible and gives no motivation for the students to learn or for the teachers to improve. Most teachers burn out quick because they get so pissed off about what is going on. I take my anger out by working with a debate team after school and helping them see through most of the bullshit they are taught daily.

One of the good ones. I got my history knowledge from my home, family, READING. So I always hated my history "teachers" in HS. I'll always be bitter that they can do it with a smile and send you to the principal's office for questioning lies.

 

[Vessol]

I have no real complaint with what you are saying. I do deviate outside of the standard requirements for my course but I do understand how you can be disheartened by what is glossed over, especially in history. The way the system works is terrible and gives no motivation for the students to learn or for the teachers to improve. Most teachers burn out quick because they get so pissed off about what is going on. I take my anger out by working with a debate team after school and helping them see through most of the bullshit they are taught daily.

I've met many teachers like this, they were the ones who truly taught me real skills. Sadly, they are in the minority. I don't think that all teachers are bad and are part of the system. I hope that if I do become a public school teacher that I can try to reverse the system as much as possible with my own students.

 

[TrueFreedom]

One of the good ones. I got my history knowledge from my home, family, READING. So I always hated my history "teachers" in HS. I'll always be bitter that they can do it with a smile and send you to the principal's office for questioning lies.

I'd be willing to guess that 95% of your history teachers do not realize what they are doing wrong. People can become sheep very easy and even teachers are still lazy creatures. Sometimes it takes an extraordinary event to change someone's views, without that event they keep their heads buried in the sand. For me it was learning about Ron Paul. Don't get angry at your history teachers, most likely the vast majority don't know any better. That's what we educate people for when it comes to things like non intervention, sound money, etc.

 

[moostraks]

I have no real complaint with what you are saying. I do deviate outside of the standard requirements for my course but I do understand how you can be disheartened by what is glossed over, especially in history. The way the system works is terrible and gives no motivation for the students to learn or for the teachers to improve. Most teachers burn out quick because they get so pissed off about what is going on. I take my anger out by working with a debate team after school and helping them see through most of the bullshit they are taught daily.

You still are using the school's textbook for the material that has to be covered? How many children are on the debate team who might be learning the difference vs. the rest who don't have benefit of the extra curricular remediation???

 

[Chieppa1]

I'd be willing to guess that 95% of your history teachers do not realize what they are doing wrong. People can become sheep very easy and even teachers are still lazy creatures. Sometimes it takes an extraordinary event to change someone's views, without that event they keep their heads buried in the sand. For me it was learning about Ron Paul. Don't get angry at your history teachers, most likely the vast majority don't know any better. That's what we educate people for when it comes to things like non intervention, sound money, etc.

When your 17, and have to sit and watch your peers (the ones that care anyway) get bullshitted by someone they trust, it pisses you off. I understand what you're saying. But I've confronted many professors, even through 4 years of college to at least LOOK at what I was pointing out. They didn't do it. I don't have patience for adults who get an elitist feeling because they are the GOD of a classroom of teenagers. I still remember watching my history teacher CRY while watching Amistad (understandable), then tell us all to remember to thank Lincoln for saving our country from its sad history of slavery. I remember calling him out. And I remember getting suspended. Because of my comments about Lincoln? Not really. Mostly because I sparked debate.

Now, I've had college and high school professors that KNEW I was pointing out fact. Still sided with the paycheck. I see them as lazy cowards, only because they decided to something as important as educate, and they botch it for whatever reason.

Then you have the few good ones. And I've seen them fired more often then lifeless ones. Nothing more repulsive to me then someone who takes a job that is 100% about helping others, and then craps on everything its about. No patience. Do I blame the system? To a degree. Personal responsibility comes into it.

 

[moostraks]

I'd be willing to guess that 95% of your history teachers do not realize what they are doing wrong. People can become sheep very easy and even teachers are still lazy creatures. Sometimes it takes an extraordinary event to change someone's views, without that event they keep their heads buried in the sand. For me it was learning about Ron Paul. Don't get angry at your history teachers, most likely the vast majority don't know any better. That's what we educate people for when it comes to things like non intervention, sound money, etc.

I'd be pissed with the teachers. It is their moral responsibility not to shovel lies. History is one of the hardest subjects to teach because of the subjective nature of so many issues dependent upon what source you utilized. In order to faithfully teach the text so students can pass the tests the textbook manufacturers produce, one is obligated to their viewpoint. Children rarely retain the remember this for the test but use your reasoning to decide if you agree or not method. They will retain that you taught them x,y,z facts...

 

[moostraks]

When your 17, and have to sit and watch your peers (the ones that care anyway) get bullshitted by someone they trust, it pisses you off. I understand what you're saying. But I've confronted many professors, even through 4 years of college to at least LOOK at what I was pointing out. They didn't do it. I don't have patience for adults who get an elitist feeling because they are the GOD of a classroom of teenagers. I still remember watching my history teacher CRY while watching Amistad (understandable), then tell us all to remember to thank Lincoln for saving our country from its sad history of slavery. I remember calling him out. And I remember getting suspended. Because of my comments about Lincoln? Not really. Mostly because I sparked debate.

Now, I've had college and high school professors that KNEW I was pointing out fact. Still sided with the paycheck. I see them as lazy cowards, only because they decided to something as important as educate, and they botch it for whatever reason.

Then you have the few good ones. And I've seen them fired more often then lifeless ones. Nothing more repulsive to me then someone who takes a job that is 100% about helping others, and then craps on everything its about. No patience. Do I blame the system? To a degree. Personal responsibility comes into it.

Excellent post. I can totally relate to your feelings on this.