Comments on: Shut Up And Teach! http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/shut-up-and-teach/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:59:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: might be your coworkerhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-6064 might be your coworker Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:40:57 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/19/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-6064 Hey ya'll. Don't shut up. Just teach in private school, where you get results for your efforts 100 times what you get in a public. Sure it's less money, but if you are on this website, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Hey ya’ll. Don’t shut up. Just teach in private school, where you get results for your efforts 100 times what you get in a public.

Sure it’s less money, but if you are on this website, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

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]]> By: Lisahttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-5803 Lisa Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:26:51 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/19/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-5803 I'm tired of hearing teachers complain about salaries. I've had about 3 good teachers in my lifetime. I have had a couple teachers that should have been sued for child abuse. Recently I heard teachers complaining about the gifts they receive from students "Not what they wanted" , how about a gift card instead? What jerks. What other job do people have that they are thought of enough to get gifts? I am sick of it. Take your gift graciously and stop complaining, You chose this profession, you know about the salary. Give us all a break. I’m tired of hearing teachers complain about salaries. I’ve had about 3 good teachers in my lifetime. I have had a couple teachers that should have been sued for child abuse. Recently I heard teachers complaining about the gifts they receive from students “Not what they wanted” , how about a gift card instead? What jerks. What other job do people have that they are thought of enough to get gifts? I am sick of it. Take your gift graciously and stop complaining, You chose this profession, you know about the salary. Give us all a break.

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]]> By: Rebecca Wannerhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-2849 Rebecca Wanner Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:24:16 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/19/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-2849 The more time I spend in the schools as a sub and parent, the more I am impressed by any teacher who is able to engage a child to learn. I also understand why so many are tired and bitter. Some would tell you administration. Nope - they're overstressed too. It is the trickle down affect. The schools of today are expected to feed kids healthy lunches - not their job; be part-time psychologists - not their job; look for abuse and cater to absentee parents schedules - not their job; teach, without assistance 30 kids all at different levels, efficeintly, to state and federal standards - unrealistic. Teachers are set up to fail. They need more help, more money and until they get it, more comprehensive mental health benefits. To all those who are dedicated and do it anyways - I thank you. The more time I spend in the schools as a sub and parent, the more I am impressed by any teacher who is able to engage a child to learn. I also understand why so many are tired and bitter. Some would tell you administration. Nope – they’re overstressed too. It is the trickle down affect. The schools of today are expected to feed kids healthy lunches – not their job; be part-time psychologists – not their job; look for abuse and cater to absentee parents schedules – not their job; teach, without assistance 30 kids all at different levels, efficeintly, to state and federal standards – unrealistic. Teachers are set up to fail. They need more help, more money and until they get it, more comprehensive mental health benefits. To all those who are dedicated and do it anyways – I thank you.

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]]> By: ragshttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-796 rags Sat, 10 Nov 2007 11:46:30 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/19/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-796 Yes, we are a talk generation. We don't act enough. I like what you said here and let's be action oriented and TEACH. Yes, we are a talk generation. We don’t act enough. I like what you said here and let’s be action oriented and TEACH.

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]]> By: Michellehttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-97 Michelle Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:55:58 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/19/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-97 I hear so much complaining, but see so little changing. Your remarks are on target -- shut up and teach. I would add one more thought here: lock the administrators in their respective offices first! The politics that come with teaching and leaving children behind make it difficult to "shut up and teach" because we have to make sure we keep every plate spinning. I "quit" teaching a few weeks ago (we go year-round at my school) and have found it to be the most productive educational experience ever. We actually hit quite a few of your points under the "non-teaching teaching" approach. Great blog -- keep it up! I hear so much complaining, but see so little changing. Your remarks are on target — shut up and teach. I would add one more thought here: lock the administrators in their respective offices first! The politics that come with teaching and leaving children behind make it difficult to “shut up and teach” because we have to make sure we keep every plate spinning. I “quit” teaching a few weeks ago (we go year-round at my school) and have found it to be the most productive educational experience ever. We actually hit quite a few of your points under the “non-teaching teaching” approach. Great blog — keep it up!

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]]> By: Erichttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-93 Eric Sat, 21 Jul 2007 01:49:36 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/19/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-93 Joel, I can't resist so forgive me now: "One time - at band camp..." Joel, I can’t resist so forgive me now:

“One time – at band camp…”

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-90 Joel Thu, 19 Jul 2007 23:13:04 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/19/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-90 <p>Over at TeacherLingo.com, I have gotten a few more comments on this article. These are valid arguments that I had not addressed and I thought I might share on this end of the world and see what others might have to say.</p> <p>First of all, <a href="http://teacherlingo.com/utility/Redirect.aspx?U=http%3a%2f%2fthebestteacher.teacherlingo.com" rel="nofollow">Mr. Heffner</a> writes:</p> <blockquote><p>I'm a little puzzled. :(</p> <p>No Child Left Behind has nothing to do with the suggestions that you are making! Actually, No Child Left Behind, in many ways, prevents the suggestions that you are making because many school systems feel that statistics (i.e. percentage of students passing tests) are all that is important. In New York City, for example, teachers have been told where their desks are to be placed, how much time must be spent on specific tasks, and on and on. If these tasks weren't mandated they could do a much better job. Your music classroom is not affected by No Child Left Behind nearly as much, if at all, as other classrooms in the United States.</p> <p>Perhaps it would be a better idea to listen and not tell folks to shut up. :)</p> </blockquote> <p>I responded with:</p> <p>While I don't agree with the concept of telling teachers how they are specifically to run their classes, I also don't agree with the concepts of teachers complaining loudly about these things. I have not had a faculty meeting in the last three years that didn't include people complaining about NCLB's standards and telling us how bad things are about to become.</p> <p>I get sick of that. The districts want to have a certain percentage meet the standard. I think that's a wonderful goal. Why not waste less of our time complaining and start playing the game to win? The district says have 62% (or whatever) of the kids pass is the goal. So exceed that goal.</p> <p>On days when I leave early, I get out of the parking lot around 5. The parking lot is virtually empty. And those who remain are amazingly not those teachers who are most vocal about their disagreements with the laws. My contention is that they just don't want to work very hard to achieve a goal.</p> <p>Next, <a href="http://teacherlingo.com/user/Profile.aspx?UserID=2345" rel="nofollow">jtspencer</a> said:</p> <p> <blockquote>I think that's what we are asking for when we complain: the chance to teach! NCLB violates that right by an intrusive, top-down, beauractic formula that prevents me from using best practices. Telling teachers to shut up and teach is like telling Martin Luther King to shut up and preach. It is the job of those within the system to fight to reform it. No Child Left Behind is an injustice and I make no apologies for railing against it.</p> </blockquote> <p>Ideas?</p> Over at TeacherLingo.com, I have gotten a few more comments on this article. These are valid arguments that I had not addressed and I thought I might share on this end of the world and see what others might have to say.

First of all, Mr. Heffner writes:

I’m a little puzzled. :(

No Child Left Behind has nothing to do with the suggestions that you are making! Actually, No Child Left Behind, in many ways, prevents the suggestions that you are making because many school systems feel that statistics (i.e. percentage of students passing tests) are all that is important. In New York City, for example, teachers have been told where their desks are to be placed, how much time must be spent on specific tasks, and on and on. If these tasks weren’t mandated they could do a much better job. Your music classroom is not affected by No Child Left Behind nearly as much, if at all, as other classrooms in the United States.

Perhaps it would be a better idea to listen and not tell folks to shut up. :)

I responded with:

While I don’t agree with the concept of telling teachers how they are specifically to run their classes, I also don’t agree with the concepts of teachers complaining loudly about these things. I have not had a faculty meeting in the last three years that didn’t include people complaining about NCLB’s standards and telling us how bad things are about to become.

I get sick of that. The districts want to have a certain percentage meet the standard. I think that’s a wonderful goal. Why not waste less of our time complaining and start playing the game to win? The district says have 62% (or whatever) of the kids pass is the goal. So exceed that goal.

On days when I leave early, I get out of the parking lot around 5. The parking lot is virtually empty. And those who remain are amazingly not those teachers who are most vocal about their disagreements with the laws. My contention is that they just don’t want to work very hard to achieve a goal.

Next, jtspencer said:

I think that’s what we are asking for when we complain: the chance to teach! NCLB violates that right by an intrusive, top-down, beauractic formula that prevents me from using best practices. Telling teachers to shut up and teach is like telling Martin Luther King to shut up and preach. It is the job of those within the system to fight to reform it. No Child Left Behind is an injustice and I make no apologies for railing against it.

Ideas?


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]]> By: Kymberlynhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-89 Kymberlyn Thu, 19 Jul 2007 21:21:06 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/19/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-89 Joel, Just wanted to let you know that while I don't teach, your blog certainly inspires me to do so. You've got some really good articles- thank you. Joel,

Just wanted to let you know that while I don’t teach, your blog certainly inspires me to do so. You’ve got some really good articles- thank you.

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]]> By: Miss Profehttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-88 Miss Profe Thu, 19 Jul 2007 19:21:40 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/19/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-88 Joel, these are *excellent* points, for new and veteran teachers alike. As a language teacher, virtually every one of your points resonated with me. BTW: Have a *great* time at the convention, and a safe trip. San Antonio is one of my favorite U.S. cities.:) Joel, these are *excellent* points, for new and veteran teachers alike. As a language teacher, virtually every one of your points resonated with me.

BTW: Have a *great* time at the convention, and a safe trip. San Antonio is one of my favorite U.S. cities.:)

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]]> By: CaliforniaTeacherGuyhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-87 CaliforniaTeacherGuy Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:47:08 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/2007/07/19/shut-up-and-teach/#comment-87 I'm so impressed with your list that I'm going to post it in my classroom as a reminder of how to proceed from first bell to last. Thank you! I’m so impressed with your list that I’m going to post it in my classroom as a reminder of how to proceed from first bell to last. Thank you!

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