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Originally Posted by
mrspunkysmom
So anyone who offers you advice is 'pontificating?' So what do you call it when you are maligning other people professions?
You werent offering advice, you where lecturing.
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blue, I was referring to subjects in general not to Australian history. Sorry for the confusion.
Thank you.
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We could devote and entire thread to this topic of "scratching the surface". could it be taught in a better way? Yes, but most of that has to do with expectations by teacher and parents of students.
In Anchorage its more about the expectations of the school administration and their funding. If the students arent learning the administration doesnt care as long as they pass the tests and graduate so they can get their funding. So if the teachers dont get the kids to pass the test, the administration gets angry.
More and more teachers and the school system are being used as babysitters and scapegoats for bad parenting, and that pisses me off as much as bad/lazy/unionized teachers.
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I so totally agree. It depends upon the question. If it's an off subject question, I re-direct, usually telling them to ask a teacher of that subject. If it's my subject of math, it depends upon how advance or 'esoteric' their question is. And also if it their question is related to fields that I like to study. I usually say, "give me a few minutes to prepare an explanation" rather than "I do not know" because the latter can spark derisive comments. American students these days are rude and crude, something you seem to be familiar with. The goal is to NOT give them ammunition with which to disrupt class.
I apologize, what you do is not stalling and you should smack the person who told you to stall in the face for telling you to do so. If a student is disrupting class remove them, let the administration deal with them its what they are paid to do.
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Since as a teacher I have an enormous amount of activity on my part and the students part to direct each class period, stalling for time is a management skill, not just BSing. While I love a good academic debate with my students, most principles are arrogant a$$es, who love to reprimand you for being off topic. So I re-direct and keep to the topic of the day.
Stalling is BSing. Part of what I do is paid to stall, so I know Im BSing when I do it. The difference between myself and my coworkers is I explain why i am stalling/BSing.
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I'm assuming you are not talking to me, since no where did I say I wanted to entertain. I have been fighting that since I started teaching. However I do think education does need to be interesting. We bore the children out of wanting to learn. This still goes back to parenting. Parents need to be involved in their child's education. They do not need to be in CONTROL of every aspect of the education system, if only because too many of them are thinking of the short term and not long long term.
Bored. I guess that proves you are a math teacher, so you get a pass.
I had a physics teacher who recognized I had a grasp off the subject, he also wound up being my university mountaineering professor at the same time. He rode my a$$ in both classes. I didnt score well in my HS physics class but he told me after graduation I did better then the A+ students at grasping the fundamentals. Im beginning to think you should jump to private education the first chance you get.
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Really ????? I didn't know. So that's why my boss makes me read them and produce pacing guides, unit plans, and lesson plans based upon the curriculum.
You still have to stick to the curriculum. Ild be really danged impressed if you took your students onto a job site and watch and learn math the way a lot of us tradesmen did, with a tape measure and pencil.
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I dislike having my worth proved by a student test taken by a student that doesn't give a d@mn about their education. And I agree with your statement about teaching to the test. For years I fought teaching to the test. I lost.
Jump to a Private School as fast as possible! You may not like me but we agree far more then we disagree. Your talents will waste in a public school environment, do not become a stereotypical public school teacher.
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So why did you complain about arrogant people? I know I can be arrogant, but I suspect that you think anyone that displays self-confidence is arrogant and that is YOUR problem.
Ill stand up to arrogance wherever I see it.
I know the difference between self-confidence and arrogance. Your arrogance led you to believe I "feel dumb". I generalized teachers when I have teachers, professors, and a Dean in my family.
I dont have a problem with self confidence, I have a problem with teachers calling me dumb when I can run circles around them in general.
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No that is specialized knowledge, just like my specialized knowledge of math. I routinely calculate "fresh" problems in the classroom accurately in my head. This freaks them out and then I show them how to do it. I point out that this is my specialty. All the way up to The Calculus. I am required to be an expert in several fields, just not a few.
But you do math! Building a computer or wiring a house is based on math. How is that specialized? It would be giving your students a practical usage of the subject.
When I was an electrician, I taught math, geometry, and algebra to my apprentices.
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I didn't disparage your knowledge base of any field. I just told you to stop complaining about people that are arrogant. I didn't call you dumb but you are acting as if you feel like we are calling you dumb.
You did when you felt the need to lecture me.
I learned more math on my own as an electrician then I did from a public school teacher
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You and most people. It's not ability; it's a matter of priorities for most people. Mot just don't think it's important.
Yeah mot of us dont think its important.
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1. Then why were you complaining. AGAIN. If you don't feel maligned, let the arrogant person be. Ignore them. If they are half-way smart, they'll get the message.
Ignoring the arrogant only emboldens them, the arrogant are like democrats. Dont forget you Maligned me by thinking I am dumb.
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2. Good for you. Why don't you use that positive feeling on this board and make some positive contributions to our discussion without sounding like a misanthrope.
Ive tried.
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Seems like you could learn this lesson, too.
I have.