tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240437.post4551384437189399061..comments2023-05-25T06:57:51.100-04:00Comments on Of Masks and Men: BurnoutJim McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946062676236255805noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240437.post-45025546370648588132008-03-19T20:01:00.000-04:002008-03-19T20:01:00.000-04:00Unfortunately, I imagine that kind of attitude hap...Unfortunately, I imagine that kind of attitude happens all of the time. I would ground my child for eternity (and possibly strangle them) if they spoke to one of their teachers like that - but I care about my children - lots of parents these days don't.<BR/><BR/>Keep your chin up, keep teaching, and know that, to some student (even if it's only one every year or two) you are inspiring and they will always remember you.Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16351727306828688571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240437.post-13069255231698372152008-02-03T02:27:00.000-05:002008-02-03T02:27:00.000-05:00Yeah. Lack of discipline is it. And that's at ho...Yeah. Lack of discipline is it. And that's at home. No child, raised right at home, is going to go to school and do/say things like that. Nothing you can do about it when the problem is out of your hands. I can't imagine how frustrating that must be.<BR/><BR/>If you ever get a chance to see the movie "Idiocracy"... Well, I'm not sure if you'll enjoy or not. It is a pretty dumb movie. But it makes a lot of really good points beneath all the goofiness. I just keep seeing America getting dumber. I'm seeing really really dumb people become parents. And a kid raised by morons has got a whole lot of strikes against him from the get-go. Some can overcome it. Some never do. They acquire something called "learned dumbness" and continue the legacy. Very sad.<BR/><BR/>Sounds to me, hard as it must be to see sometimes, that you're doing all you can. And if my vote counts, I think you're doing a damned good job. And for the sake of a lot of kids out there? I say keep doing it. Hopefully you won't have to wait until your "Mr. Holland's moment" to be able to see the results. <BR/><BR/>Thank you for reminding me, by the way, that I really need to get back in touch with some old teachers of mine. Ones who made a huge difference in my life and never knew it (and even I didn't realize it at the time). I think they'd still like to hear about that. Something to add to my to-do list...Michael O'Connellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08025339925056909540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240437.post-17292346191681933182008-02-03T00:06:00.000-05:002008-02-03T00:06:00.000-05:00First thing - I refuse to believe that you are sud...First thing - I refuse to believe that you are suddenly a bad teacher. No, you don't say that with your words, but you hint at it. I understand the burn out and frustration, though.<BR/><BR/>My girlfriend's girls show symptoms of what you're talking about, here. That gives me a slight point to relate.<BR/><BR/>I wonder if your example means little to them, because "everyone" is doing it. Two generations ago in my family, no one went to college or a university. My grandfather, a first generation-born American, lied and joined the Army a year early to fight the Nazis. He came home and went righ to work. He instilled in my mother and her brother that college was important. He gave them that goal. Many of their peers went to college or university and became very successful individuals. My uncle went to 'Nam, came home, and eventually screwed up his life real bad. My mother was pregnant with me when she graduated. <BR/><BR/>My father, however, when to university (and taught Frank Miller while my father was student teaching!). His mother had taught him that college was very important and that he needed to be there. He never used his degree (to the best of my knowledge he alwasy worked retail sales). I have no doubt that many of the New Englanders he went to high school with, also went on to higher education.<BR/><BR/>Both my grandfather and mother, and my father and grandmother, made sure my little brother and I knew the importance of a higher education. I went for a year and then dropped out to chase a skirt. Not my brightest moment in life and something I wish I had never done, but that's another story. My brother went to Ball State for 5 years and is now a successful architect working for a small firm over in Elkhart. <BR/><BR/>And most of our friends went to college or university. In fact, many of them went on to study for Master's and Ph.D.s. <BR/><BR/>Now, if everyone's doing it, what's the point? What makes it so special? Up until now, you were probably teaching kids whose parents were barely older than we are, and were being taught that university is good. Great, even. Now, you're onto a new generation and going to college is just the next step in life to them. A step that doesn't make them any more special. <BR/><BR/>To our 'rents and grand'rents, it did make them special. More of my peers went on to a higher education level than any of my ancestors. I'm sure the same is true for you.<BR/><BR/>Now, kids want the instant millionaire status (a left over from the '90s tech/stock boom?), instant gratification via tv and the Intranet, and they want something more than "just" college. <BR/><BR/>So, if your example of yourself as a successful teach via a bad life turned great isn't working, I'd say the target the kids are looking for has changed, not the kids.<BR/><BR/>As for bad manners and bad language in the classroom, it's been coming towards us for years. Language on the street and on tv has become more and more casual. I hear kids say the word "suck" all the time. I would have been beaten for saying such a vulgar word in front of my mother. Heck, topics on the tv during Prime Time hours has even become more risque over time. Sure, most of the shows I like cross the line directly into adulthood and are not for kids. But, when Jannine says, "Not when they're around," I say, "Ok." I don't always think about what I'm watching, as I am not use to having the girls around.<BR/><BR/>No Child Left Behind leaves everyone behind. I'm not going there, outside to say, "It sucks."<BR/><BR/>I don't have an answer for you, dude. I wish I did, because then I'd have one for Jannine when her girls act out (and they've been acting way-out there lately). As far as I'm concerned, society has crippled you, the soon to be ex-President kicked you while you were down, and there ain't a single blessed person who's reaching out to help teachers in a good way.<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure I made a point with all of this, so I'll make one now and shut up. ;)<BR/><BR/>Keep teaching! We need people like yourself, who are passionate, strong, and care about their work doing what you do!Undeadhosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09131084242228738203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240437.post-90878101798361882242008-02-02T07:37:00.000-05:002008-02-02T07:37:00.000-05:00Jim, wow - just wow. I can't imagine any student,...Jim, wow - just wow. I can't imagine any student, especially a 14 year old, telling a teacher or any other adult something like that. That's horrible. Kids behave like that because of poor parenting. If I ever found out my son said something like to a teacher, or any one for that matter, he'd be grounded and have his games, TV, etc. taken away for months. That's just ridiculous.<BR/><BR/>Don't let this turn out a bad reflection on you. It isn't your fault at all.Martin Maenzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08640466353011569116noreply@blogger.com