Thanks to everyone who has participated on this thread!!!! My hat's off to all of you. So many valid points, I don't know how to respond.
As some of you may know, I'm attending a two-year college, working on my first degree majoring in pre-teaching elementary. I enrolled with the intention of becoming a sixth-grade science teacher. Not being in any big hurry to graduate, I currently have 67 credit hrs. towards an Associate Arts Degree and have been attending the same institution since January, 2003. During this time, the requirements to obtain this degree and declared major, have changed. Same for working educators who now spend far more time on classroom management, first, then making sure they comply with the new state and federal requirements, as per No Child Left Behind, second. [and then if there's still time left at the end of the day-a little teaching]
Yes, J.B. we are pretty much on the same page. But let me ask you, in your professional capacity, have you found any parents who do not feel they've done their absolute best to provide for their child's basic need of Love, Understanding, Patience, and Forgiveness? Regardless of their socio-economic status, chemical dependencies, or dysfunctional qualities? I am of the opinion that most if not all parents believe they've done their best for their kids no matter how dysfunctional they appear.
Yes, fatboy2, I also value paper 72 of the UB as well as material from other faith movements which unfortunately cannot be discussed on TruthBook.
Yes, Arie, your point is well taken. But then the government, through NCLB, dictates to educators what they should or shouldn't teach in the classroom. Failure to comply with NCLB results in loss of funding. Teachers are far more accountable in the classroom [now] than parents are in the home. Or for that matter, the politicians who make the laws.
Yes, Bro Dave, the inmates are running the asylum, but they don't believe themselves to be insane. Toss them out and take control? Sounds great if it can be done peacefully and legally, but first we may have to prove they're insane...
buckaroo, you make some great points which are of couse reflected in the UB, but where does personal sovereignty fit in? Increasing moral awareness is part of why I started the thread. Examination of personal sovereignty, still another part.
Yes, again Bro Dave, school has turned into a high cost baby sitting instution. There are teachers who are unfit to teach. There are also doctors who are unfit to practice medicine. Politicians unfit to govern. Lawyers unfit to practice law. Mechanics unfit to work on cars. Parents unfit to raise children. [et. cetera]
No matter what Other People we may believe are unfit in this discussion
I seriously doubt they would believe it of themselves. Therefore, in my opinion, it does no good to place blame. Indeed, one wrong step and parents are far more likely to blame the teacher if their child has problems at school. Statistically, 40% of all new teachers quit within the first five years of teaching. Its far easier for teachers to be sued or lose their jobs, than to take a problem child out of class due to unfit parenting or social incompatiblity.
But believe it or not, some teachers make a huge difference in their communities, even with one hand tied behind their back. With all due respect, have any of you perhaps had a chance to go to class with your child or grandchild, recently, to see what actually goes on in the classrooms of today firsthand? I suspect if your child [or grandchild] is 3rd grade or younger, you may be pleasantly surprized at how much they learn nowadays and how much fun they have doing it. But unfortunately, this isn't the case for older students.
buckaroo, voluntary licensing of parents does seem like a good start, but it would probably be a case of preaching to the choir. Education is attempting to keep up with the changing needs of society. Educators, for the most part, understand the huge responsibility they have towards society. But the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 is all about taking tests. Therefore the most academically challenged student sets the learning pace for the whole class. Have you ever attempted to push a chain? This analogy describes what educators of today must do in class. [or else no money from the state or fed.] Does parenting attempt to keep up with the changing needs of society? I think not.
tootsie, if I understand your post, charter schools are growing in popularity, but public schools are not a corporation run for profit. But if it keeps Uncle Sam out of the classroom, it does sound like a win-win situation.
Indeed yes, J.B. all manner of professionals are licensed or certified in some manner. Even
drivers are licensed [but that is topic for another thread]. Only parents [or politicians] need no license.
Karlus, very well said!! But I can't help but wonder, the people you've mentioned, do they believe they're abusing or taking advantage of the system? Contributing to society or being a burden upon it. You're right there are many things that could be done, but they probably won't be done unless corporate profit could be made. Meanwhile those who receive a monthly check have probably convinced themselves they deserve it without picking up trash or doing any work whatever. Far easier to drink or do drugs.
Would society benefit from parental licensing? My answer is no. Not until everyone takes full responsibilty for their choices as free-will beings of full personal sovereignty should. This includes the decision to bring a child into the world. As we all know, it takes both a woman
and a man to bring a child into the world. And yet society demands little accountability or training from parents.
Me and resposibility have never been best friends. The more I learn about the system, from classes I've taken, teachers' websites, and actual classroom observation & experience, as well as all points brought up on this thread; the less I like the idea of becoming a teacher or a parent.
I'm beginning to have serious doubts about becoming a teacher, especially since I'm not a parent. To accept the level of responsibility which society demands that educators take for children they did not choose to bring into the world, seems to be a greater burden than I'm willing to bear at this time. Since I've had serious problems taking responsibility for myself and my own choices throughout my life, maybe I better set my goals a little bit lower. Yes, fear of responsibility is most definately part of this doubt. But then it would be foolish to bite off more than I can chew.
It would seem that prospective parents should also consider the responsibility of their actions beyond the pleasure of the moment, that is.
Randy
Last edited by
rhermen on Sat Nov 01, 2008 8:50 am +0000, edited 1 time in total.