[Rhodes22-list] A word to the unwise...JB, maybe even Rummy

[Brad Haslett]

Jim,

Exactly what is Historical Geology?  I asked my geophysics major wife and
she couldn't provide the answer.  But anyway, have you read "Annals of the
Former World" by John McPhee?  Every book by McPhee is good but that is one
of my favorites.  I learned enough geology from reading "Annals" to pretend
I actually know something while listening to sales pitches on oil and gas
wells.  After losing my arse on a South Texas gas well a few years ago, I
decided all I really need to know on the subject is the location of the
nearest Exxon station.

Brad

On 8/28/07, Jim White <lemenagerie22 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> My mother was a teacher, my wife is a (former) teacher, and I even tried
> my hand at it once....but found that I lacked the aptitude, talent or
> patience to do so....
>
>   As this list has covered and discussed ad infinitum in the past, the
> state of the public education system leaves a lot to be desired. There are
> true jewels out there, teachers who inspire and aspire to excel, rooted
> among the mediocre. God bless them
>
>   My dim view of public education in general is based on the power and
> control exercised by unionized educators organizations such as the Texas
> Educators Association (TEA),which parlays strongarm control over the local
> administrative powers that would otherwise regulate the weeding out process
> of the inferior.
>
>   Additionally, organizations such as this (and I assume other states have
> similar unions) lobby and support the state governments in the enactment of
> testing criteria such as the infamous Texas TAKS test....whereby education
> is relegated to teaching students a test, rather than a basic, sound and
> well rounded education  necessary to survive in a complex and ever evolving
> world.....skills such as math, science and literature are instead relegated
> to rote answers on a standard test, and classrooms and teachers are
> evaluated for success on the percentile of students who score well on "the
> test"......
>
>   Don't get me started.
>
>   Years ago, I taught a Historical Geology class at my alma mater
> University, and had among a summer session, a number of students who were
> education majors. I was appaled that among this group (although I should
> say, not exclusively), many COULD NOT locate themselves on a world map.
> Honestly. And that gave me the chills.
>
>   I have encountered teachers within my own childrens education who did
> not understand that one does not "get down off of the car", but rather one
> "gets OUT of the car", but because of their ability to cajole, reward and
> manipulate, consequently have a high success ratio teaching the TAKS test,
> and therefore are held in high esteem by their respective campuses.
>
>   It may be that these problems are confined to my own unique part of this
> country, and that my own tainted view and opinions are resultant of
> this....I certainly hope so.
>
>   It seems like the really well qualified teachers often jump ship (at
> least here) leaving behind those with less than desirable skills....They
> become fed up with "the system"...sad but true. And it isn't generally a
> salary issue....teachers salaries are quite good.
>
>   However, a few of the good ones stay on. Again, God bless them for doing
> so.
>
>   My own wife quit teaching (although she has returned as a grant
> administrator for college bound students) because of the frustrations I have
> detailed....however, she too still has the rewards of former students of
> whom she affected in a positive manner as they matured and successfully
> navigated the public school system here.
>
>   So my thanks, gratitude and respect to all of you true teachers out
> there, all of the teachers who inspired me to learn a thousand valuable
> skills that will keep me in a low income bracket for the rest of my life
> (just kidding here), and all of the would be or has been teachers who have
> moved on.....
>
>   IMHO it's one of the damned hardest job there is.
>
>
>   jw
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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