Education & Learning

Padraic wrote: My older son is in a pre-school, but it's hardly "ramming education down his throat" - they learn in a way appropriate for their age, it's almost all play, and they mostly learn how to get along with other children, follow directions, etc.  Children that young are sponges, anyway, you don't need any sort of rigid educational structure with them, they absorb everything they come in contact with.

My point was that different children are ready to learn things at different speeds. I was reading by age 3, my sister took much longer. Standardizing these things and saying "all children must be able to read by age 6" can be very harmful to a child's development.

I once harbored a notion of trying to teach math somewhere but I want to teach, not babysit a bunch of jerks.

Plus engineering pays better. 

Equality 7-2521 wrote: Epignosis wrote: Pat, you are in Philadelphia. Perhaps you know of CEP (Community Education Partners).  That is for whom I worked. I was actually recruited by them. They're a good program from what I understand.

Amazing program for what they do, and I've seen a few.  Not like some sh*tholes.

The most recent sh*thole I worked with had no discipline.  I witnessed boys assault girls, and nothing happen at an administrative level.  One student talked sex during my lesson...I sent him out of the room to where they were supposed to go according to procedure...he came back eating candy five minutes later and resumed his explicit discussion.  He should have been in jail, but that's how he repaid the leniency of the state.

That'll teach 'em. 


Edited by Epignosis - July 15 2010 at 22:11

My older son is in a pre-school, but it's hardly "ramming education down his throat" - they learn in a way appropriate for their age, it's almost all play, and they mostly learn how to get along with other children, follow directions, etc.  Children that young are sponges, anyway, you don't need any sort of rigid educational structure with them, they absorb everything they come in contact with.

Epignosis wrote: Pat, you are in Philadelphia. Perhaps you know of CEP (Community Education Partners).  That is for whom I worked.

I don't want to get into a whole big thing here, but I teach music and I was homeschooled my entire life until college. It seems to have worked for me. I'd like to take this opportunity to clear up some misconceptions about homeschooling. We did not have a designated class time. My parents did not teach me. I was never forced to study any subject. If I expressed an interest in something, my parents would get me a book and say "let me know if you need help or have any questions." When SAT time rolled around, they said "You need to do the following things if you want to go to college. Your call." So I did and scored quite well. Straight A's in a top ranked school..

I sincerely believe that children are built to learn and that if you don't stifle them by cramming education down their throats before they're ready (pre-school? Really?) they will do just fine.

Pat, you are in Philadelphia.

Perhaps you know of CEP (Community Education Partners).  That is for whom I worked.

Equality 7-2521 wrote: What classes did you teach? What grades? What kind of institution? Do you still teach?  I wasn't aware you were a teacher.

I taught English for two years in a charter school for those who had been kicked out of public school here in Central Florida.  I taught High School boys (9-12 grade).  Their choice was essentially to graduate from our program or go to jail.

I do not teach anymore because in 2008, the school was up for contract renewal, and it didn't happen.  This was due to major budget cuts across the state.

Ironically, and unfortunately, other programs similar (and inferior) to ours are still open.  I know because I applied and worked for two of them.  They are absolutely horrendous.  Zero discipline.

What classes did you teach? What grades? What kind of institution? Do you still teach? 

DisgruntledPorcupine wrote: Epignosis wrote: DisgruntledPorcupine wrote: Epignosis wrote: DisgruntledPorcupine wrote: Epignosis wrote: 3. Zero tolerance for bullsh*t in high school.  I mean this.  You go to school and dick around?  You are wasting taxpayers' money.  You are robbing other students of a valuable eduction.  You are not cute.  No detention, no suspensions, no writing sentences 100 times.  You get two warnings, and after that, you are out.  See you at McDonald's. You'd hate having me as your student. You don't know my history as a teacher, do you?  I'll give you a hint. I wrestled in high school. The techniques I learned then helped me deal with situations that may or may not have come to pass in the school where I taught.  I took a few bruises, but my students didn't mess with me. The only one who really tried didn't make it past my podium.  Mr. Nelson got him first.  Lucky him, I say. Yeah, you could probably make me behave in that case.

The thing was man...most of the students in my class liked my class.  Trust me- teachers can get bored just as much as students.  We want to keep it interesting. 

Here are some things I did:

1. Jeopardy every Friday.  We had our test, and after everyone was done, it was game show time with LIVE BUZZERS.  Winners got full size candy bars.  Fridays rocked.

2. Open book tests.  Yep.  Every one of them.  No excuses.  The book is there.  You didn't read it because you weren't here that day?  Get to reading now.  I'll wait.

3. I dressed up as James f**king Joyce.  No kidding.  I wore the cap, eye-patch, beard, cane, and suit all day long and spoke in an Irish accent.  My students had no idea what to think.  Neither did my co-workers, because I acted the part in the breakroom too. 

4. Study rock and rap lyrics.  The kids loved this.  Who says poetry was only written by dead white guys?  Pink Floyd, Rush, Seven Nations, T-Pain, Tupac and so on.

5. Biggest thing- I wasn't out to get them, and made this clear.  They just needed to put forth effort.  They needed to learn they could succeed in something other than selling drugs or surviving in a gang (1/3 of my students were active members in gangs).  I recall one student went to jail for months on a sexual assault charge.  He came back to me asking for me to tell him about Jesus.  He said he was tired of that life and wanted to be a preacher.  That's when I say "f**k the separation of church and state," here's a kid who wants to move away from terribleness.  I won't deny him that.  And he didn't even know I was a Christian, because I never told my students that!  I sure hope Johnny is doing all right. 

God I miss them.