Be a Teacher or Be a Bus Driver?

[rhubarbie]

Teachers in Los Angeles schools are not allowed to punish children in any way. Not only is physical punishment outlawed, but being spoken to in a loud voice, losing prized activities such as recess, experiencing time-outs or any other form of sanction are all expressly forbidden. Teachers are advised that seating a child by himself is not good

Comments

[abbie_normal]

i'm glad that my course took me other places than teaching. i used to think that i wouuld be good at it--and i do very well with my adult students in anesthesia--but. i'm from the generation that feared the playground peer patrols, the teacher's wrath, and horror of horrors--the trip to the principals office. (there was a vented paddle in the corner, and legend had it that he was not afraid to use it) my 6th grade teacher broke a yardstick over the rears of two of the boys in the class in one incident--and then she took them to the principal AND called their parents. for a couple of troublemakers, they were rather subdued for the next couple of days...

i think that the whole self-esteem issue is blown out of proportion. yes, kids have to be given credit where credit is due. yes, they havev to know they are valued. yes, they have to understand that they are unique and worthy. but the other side of things would dictate that for balance, they need to know they can be held accountable for what they do or don't do. they need to know that criticism does not mean that they are not worthy--only in need of improving. and discipline is the only thing that will get you through life. (it takes discipline to get out of bed in the morning, and get to work. it takes all those skills that are disappearing.) *sigh* i am an old curmudgeon...