B.C. by Mastroianni and Hart for January 14, 2021

Kids today don’t know what they are missing. Half us adults wish we where back in school rather then at work. Or home trying to teach our kids stuff we don’t remember.

Could I just say negative things about the evil Miss Graham who used to mock and humiliate her students?

Darn RIGHT!

Teachers do YOUR dirty work! ;)

Having several teachers in the family from 1st grade to college professor, I can sympathize.

Better remote than spreading covid…

Why not follow a proven successful method? Make TV programs that everyone can watch and re-watch. The greatest teaching (not to say indoctrinating) tool ever devised.

Home schooling is not for everyone. Mostly, it isn’t for the schooled. This is why we “go to” school and why the really rich send their children “away” to school. …sorta sad, that.

Somewhere in the fog of isolation there may be a bright light. Parents are learning what teachers face every day in trying to pass on knowledge to a wide variety of intellects with totally unique personalities. It isn’t only the differences between parents’ school days and modern education that are a shock. It is the need to develop a different mind set and new frames of reference. Perhaps the outcome of isolation is that each group will finally begin to respect and support the other.

For me the frame of reference comes from the changes in crossword puzzle clues. Until I retired 2 decades ago, most puzzle clues were relatively familiar or based in events which I witnessed or about which I had read. In the last 10 years, puzzle clues dealt with issues, personalities, and events about to I have only minimum exposure and so take much longer to winkle out. I eventually get them, but it takes more effort and thinking to do it without looking at the answer pages. Parents who have become teachers of their own are learning that same lesson. It can be successful, but it takes some adjustment.

And on behalf of my fellow instructors, thank you.

“My teacher taught me everything I no!” O<|];o)

Antomologists—ie entomologists who study ants—have long debated about how the little critters educate their young ’uns. According to the latest theory, they build tiny teaching colonies in the dung of antelopes.

Thank you!

Yep!

My mother was a public school teacher. My wife and I homeschooled our kids when they were young, and about middle school through high school they have been in some combination of private and public school options. Right now our son-in-law is a middle and high school teacher and one of our youngest son’s teachers. So I’m quite grateful for the work professional educators do, especially when they demonstrate the care they do for their pupils.

“Remote learning is a failed endeavor.” ??? Apparently so is quite a bit of in-person learning.

What can be done??

Let’s see …. Fire, retire or run off all the lazy and bad teachers (you’d be surprised how many there are!) Get rid of tenue and abolish the teacher’s unions that encourage teacher bad behavior. It appears that, for the most part, these unions want more money, less work and excuses justifying poor teacher performance.

Set realistic but high standards for performance and correct, re-educate and then dismiss the failures. (There is some truth in the saying “Those who can, do and those who can’t, teach.”) Guess who prays for snow days the most then guess who gripes the most when those snow days either shorten spring break or extend the school year -- HINT - It ain’t the kids.

Communities, school boards and education administrators need to grow a pair and do their jobs – - give these leaders the tools to allow them to lead instead of cowering to mouthy low performers. Another problem to be solve is how to elect or hire truly effective education advocates at all levels.

Get the curriculum back to basics – too many students can’t adequately read, write or do simple arithmetic. Schools need to quit the feel good junk and also take a neutral stance instead of brainwashing the students.

Set higher standards of achievement and behavior for students. Hold parents responsible for the bad actions of their children.

With the savings just for weeding out the dead wood that is leeching off the education system, the good and, in many cases, excellent remaining teachers could be justly compensated.

Finally raise your pay scales and your requirements for newly hired teachers and staff.

In my old age I’ve been tutoring students mainly at math for the past six years (plan to retire at the end of this school term.). I don’t see any difference between meeting the student face to face or on line as far as the learning dynamic goes. The silver lining here is I’ve saved quite a bit of money on gas, time navigating rush hour city traffic (LA), and wear and tear on the car AND my nerves.

As a reluctantly retired teacher… This warms my heart!

Humants one of the odder creatures created before humanity fell.

Parents should be checking with their kids on schoolwork anyway, especially when they’re younger. See what they’re learning; make sure no PC indoctrination crap is part of it.