Small Town News

Good teachers are the first line in education

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Budget cuts to schools, especially eliminating teaching positions, has really caught my eye. Here is a BIG secret for everyone. Students learn first from good, solid, teachers who take their jobs seriously, eating, living, and carrying it with them in the backs of their minds as they go about other assignments in life. If eliminating those who report for duty to get paid gets done, great, but letting go of the "goodies" or "Oldies but Goodies" is horrible. The basic requirement for education comes from teachers, the core, the basis. Palaces, better and newer books or machines don't do the job; special lighting or proper air control might enhance learning but teachers in a paneled room with enthusiasm, intelligence, gusto, control, fearless to the line that cannot be stepped over, and students "first" as a motto get children to learn.

Second is having the student who wants to tune in to all this teacher's hard work and research, plus what he knows about his subject; in other words "want to learn."

Third, entice, hire, do something (money talks) to get more men to teach basic subjects. Then you would see sensible tactics used in teaching, not games, not more A's, but possibly more respect with men as role models will put this nation's schools on the map. Hire the teacher first, coach second. And I. think sports are important. I know the students going or staying in school for the sports only. But balance better coaches and teachers percentagewise. Really make academics first with the students liking it.

Where do parents come in? They support the schools, don't run to complain at the first whine from the child but check it out quietly first, and they try to quit reliving their own teen years. It's been said we never really get away from our high school years; we must try harder.

Of course, I rue much of my past as a student and a teacher. But good college grades don't make the teacher better than another; stylish clothes matter but not that much; professionalism is the key to the door that will send students into that huge room alone knowing more than he did.

My husband and I retired early. His age was a factor, and he wanted to try other worlds. My health and stamina were slipping.

For a short while (maybe a year in total) we team taught. For a particular area of student, he might say, "Wouldn't that movie "Name" really bring this to life?" I agreed, but imagine his surprise to know he had to find the movie and rent it.

Every year 1 taught he fussed at my own money I spent for genuine English tea food, or prizes, or bulletin material, etc. Those "Johnny Carson" tapes weren't free, but I cut parts where he mocked "Hamlet" and other plays as he did commercials.

With energy long ago, I took chances by going to a cemetery to read a famous poem about death by Thomas Gray. When my room stunk, 1 bought the potpourri and poured it under tables. I thought if I were nice, students would be nice back. Probably I never learned, but that part 1 never regretted. And I still wish my pay had come close to my efforts - daytime and nighttime duties like sponsoring dances and cleaning up. Those Medieval Times trips went well, but I lost a year in life every time we went.

Good changes with help have come to be, but the crux of the problem will never be reached with cutting good teachers. That's the reasoning that was behind using fewer soldiers to tight more obstacles.



Copyright 2011 The Malakoff News, Malakoff, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 The Malakoff News Malakoff, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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