Watch this:
What does everyone think of this?
She's probably alone in her feelings right?
This is just an isolated incident right?
She's just made it past the average amount of time for teachers who quit (5 years)........she's only been teaching for 6!
What about her retiring colleague's comments? Yikes....
"Don't worry, kid's sort all that stuff out by the time they get to high school right? So we'll be okay....besides I'll never teach in a school like that"......ya' right!
Maybe I'm a bleeding heart, weak-knee'd, softy - a "lefty-socialist" maybe even.....but that interview kinda' got me in the belly - the way that teacher was trying so hard to smile...just to hold back the tears....
In light of the current teachers job action it's probably just propaganda stunt ....so we can all go back to sleep again.....right?
Ok.....352, 787, 432, and 406 (exam) assignments all due this week....and I have to go wash Joe's face and help him brush his teeth before daycare...so I'll have to cut it off here.....
Seee you ion class
hmmmmmmm?
Hey Blair,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for posting this clip. My husband and I are from the Cowichan Valley and both come from families filled with teachers. Thus, we know many people who are teaching in that district right now and are experiencing the same things. I spoke with two of my cousins last month (both teachers with contracts in the Cowichan Valley school district) who basically laid out the same issues and complaints as Nilsson in the CBC interview. One explained that her class has 30 kids, and that about 10 should be classified as having special needs. However, because of problems with assessment, the system, and parental resistance, only 3 of these kids are actually formally assessed. So, her class appears to fall within the standard limits for kids with special needs and she doesn’t receive any extra help to accommodate the learning issues of the other 7. Another cousin, who works in a secondary school in the district, explained that there were similar constraints in his classroom. Both cousins have been teachers for over 10 years, and are extremely admirable individuals who effectively balance teaching, extra-curricular involvement (such as coaching), and young families. However, even they said that there is only so much a teacher is able to do in the current system, and that it is almost impossible to meet the needs of each student.
As a teacher, I know that I will be stretched, challenged, and even disappointed in myself. I will want to help each student and especially make a difference in the lives of those students who I see are falling through the cracks. However, I realize that what I desire for my students and what I am actually able to give them will often be very different. My stance is that any support given to a teacher or a school is beneficial because of the difference it may make for one student. When our goal is to see the success of our students, why would anyone not support us? Unfortunately, I have too often heard the answer to this question as well, and I do not look forward to facing the people who will oppose me as I strive to teach their children. Yet, despite all of this doom and gloom, I am still excited to be a teacher. Go figure.