Having teachers that don't know how to teach

[BDiesel324]

Is one of the most ****ing irritating things about going to a School.

Seriously, It amazes me how some teachers get jobs when they don't know what the hell they are doing. Makes me appreciate teachers that do know how to teach a lot more. No teacher should be able to have that much power in their hands when they don't even know what the hell they are doing.

I've had teachers that didn't know how to teach that well, but it was an easy good grade in the class as long as you did homework and participated and shit. I had no problem with it. I mean basically that means the teacher realizes he/she can't teach that well but wants to reward the students for being responsible and active in class.

Having a teacher that doesn't know how to teach at all, gives you minimum points for homework and having it completely centered around tests and quizzes is ****ing bullshit.

[BankShot]

Having a teacher that doesn't know how to teach at all, gives you minimum points for homework and having it completely centered around tests and quizzes is ****ing bullshit.

Yeah, why would a teacher want you to be able to synthesize information and skills on the spot instead of just being able to do it from a book possibly with a group of people??

:rolleyes:

[Scott Baker]

Yeah, why would a teacher want you to be able to synthesize information and skills on the spot instead of just being able to do it from a book possibly with a group of people??

:rolleyes:

True. Plus that's a classic BankShot post :oldlol:

[sunsfan1357]

What frustrated me most was in high school when there were teachers that didn't even have a background in the subject, but just read a book and created an outline. If you attempted to ask a question that maybe needed more background information they wouldn't know what to say basically taking away the actual learning process.

[BankShot]

True. Plus that's a classic BankShot post :oldlol:

It was dry and slightly condescending, but put into terms that not only make my point but totally discount his.

Agreed and repped. :roll:

[chrisxuk]

I know what you mean. At my school there is one teacher in particular. Without a doubt he's an extremely intelligent man, MENSA level, he just can't teach.

He can't control classes, certain pupils take advantage of this and disrupt everyone else, I and others don't learn anything all year.

Very annoying.

[Rose]

Interesting story about what happened to me today. We were supposed to write an essay about a poem and mine was "Loneliness" by Laura Cortes. My professor told us basically told us and this is a quote from our instructions "refrain from using the word you it makes the paper less formal, but if you use it I won't count off points this time" and she said not to use contractions. And since she decided to count off 5 points for my usage of the word "you"
I decided to bring up to her the fact that she broke her own rules in the instructions in fact in the same direction, and I pointed this out to her. (and she also used a contraction later on) And she said well everyone makes mistakes,but i'm counting off 5 points, and said you're giving me FIVE points off when you said you wouldn't give any off for that word? how can i possibly write an essay and pass this class, when my professor can't even obey the rules of the language. and she replied with"well everyone makes mistakes" and I pointed out she made two already in the semester and said I guess it's nice to get them out of the way early right? She told me she was going to only count off one point and to watch my mouth. And I almost said watch your grammar, but I bit my tongue.

[BDiesel324]

What frustrated me most was in high school when there were teachers that didn't even have a background in the subject, but just read a book and created an outline. If you attempted to ask a question that maybe needed more background information they wouldn't know what to say basically taking away the actual learning process.
My problem currently is my current Math teacher at the moment. I'm definitely going to switch out of this this guy's class ASAP or at the very ****ing least next semester. He basically teaches in styles and ways that no teacher has ****ing taught before, doesn't ****ing make sense, and it makes it more complicated than the original ways. Because currently we are reviewing about shit we learned from our past math class.

Basically, in order for me to successful in my current math class. I'm going to have to NOT listen to him.

[BankShot]

Basically, in order for me to successful in my current math class. I'm going to have to NOT listen to him.

Good call because usually in an academic setting, you don't want to listen to the person who will be assessing your progress. Instead of maybe trying harder to understand, or seek extra help from him, just ignore him I'm sure the problem will go away.

[BDiesel324]

Good call because usually in an academic setting, you don't want to listen to the person who will be assessing your progress. Instead of maybe trying harder to understand, or seek extra help from him, just ignore him I'm sure the problem will go away.
I have no clue why you continue to respond to me.

[flipogb]

teaching should also be based on performance, but it isn't which is unfortunate

[RoseCity07]

Like a lot of doctors, they are only in it for the money. But when you get one with a true passion to teach, and a passion for the subject, that's special.

[BankShot]

I have no clue why you continue to respond to me.

Because this is a public forum, and its pertaining to a topic where i have an opinion. :confusedshrug:

I take it this is your first time on the internet??

:rolleyes:

[joyner82]

I hope you're in high school because if you're in college you're an idiot for not using KYP or RYP

[BankShot]

Like a lot of doctors, they are only in it for the money. But when you get one with a true passion to teach, and a passion for the subject, that's special.

Depending on the academic level of the material and experience of the teacher, they often don't make enough to be compared to doctors or lawyers.

Sure its a good living, but someone doesn't go through 8-12 years of post-secondary education to teach English for the money.... and especially not if you're a highschool teacher.

[BankShot]

teaching should also be based on performance, but it isn't which is unfortunate

In short, yes compensation should be based on performance, but in education there are too many dynamic conditions and factors that go into evaluating progress and performance for it to be worthwhile.

[PowerGlove]

My calc teacher would show up, say hi, run through the chapter and whenever we had a question, she would ask another student to explain it since that she couldn't. I was basicallly teaching myself.

[Styles p]

i had a teacher tell us that boats float because their lighter then the water. this same teacher told us they used to make soda by blowing bubbles into the syrup with straws.

[BankShot]

i had a teacher tell us that boats float because their lighter then the water. this same teacher told us they used to make soda by blowing bubbles into the syrup with straws.

The first statement was on the right track, but just with a confusion of terminology.

Replace "their lighter" with "they are less dense" and you've got something there.

[Jasper]

I have two teachers that are my neighbors.
One is retired and is on the union bandwagon :facepalm

The other one (no joke) became a teacher to help his kids thru school and 'oh yea make the swim team - -- -> you guessed it =he's the coach.
After all three graduated - he quite and got into real estate :facepalm

redefining : "using the system"

[BDiesel324]

Like a lot of doctors, they are only in it for the money. But when you get one with a true passion to teach, and a passion for the subject, that's special.
Indeed. I don't have a problem with a teacher that doesn't know how to explain shit so they make you work on a packet or on some exercise at the book. I do on the other hand, have a problem with a teacher that lecture throughout the entire class and they have no ****ing clue what they are talking about and then they expect you to dominate quizzes and tests.

[PowerGlove]

I have two teachers that are my neighbors.
One is retired and is on the union bandwagon :facepalm

The other one (no joke) became a teacher to help his kids thru school and 'oh yea make the swim team - -- -> you guessed it =he's the coach.
After all three graduated - he quite and got into real estate :facepalm

redefining : "using the system"

Teachers helping their kids through school is nothing new. I knew a kid(and his mom was my 8th grade teacher(MILF)), who got into the gifted program and made the basketball team just because his mom was a teacher. Bullshit. He was a total fraud. Sucks at basketball and had at most average intelligence.

[pete's montreux]

Teachers helping their kids through school is nothing new. I knew a kid(and his mom was my 8th grade teacher(MILF)), who got into the gifted program and made the basketball team just because his mom was a teacher. Bullshit. He was a total fraud. Sucks at basketball and had at most average intelligence.

And you got cut from the freshman squad, right? It's like MJ all over again. When are you gonna dominate @ UNC and be a lottery pick?

[Fatal9]

textbooks > teachers

[ekzistenz]

Those who can't do, teach.

[dwight20-20]

my physics teacher is like this. i'm screwed.

[YouGotServed]

BDiesel324, you sound a little upset because your teacher is making you do work instead of slacking and giving you an easy A.

Speaking of bad teachers, my physics teacher was a complete dumbass, he was also an assistant basketball coach. It was clear that he didn't know what he was doing, we had to correct him multiple times throughout the course of the school year. He did not teach, because he didn't know how to. One time we did this group assignment which consisted of cranking up the Soulja Boy's Crank that. :facepalm

On another occasion, a class mate of mine asked him a question and basically corrected him...the teacher went on a rant about how is not necessary to know everything and how it could become an obsessive compulsive disorder. I'm serious :oldlol: He mentioned how teenagers during the 60's killed themselves because they were desperate to find out what the after life whats like. Easily the 2nd worst teacher I ever had in high school.

[DRoseOwnsACamry]

I don't have one teacher like that this year, but last year, Junior year, I had a TERRIBLE one in Adv. Algebra..

She would always come to class looking like she rolled out of bed, wearing sweats and having shitty hair unless it was a late arrival day. She couldn't spell key vocabulary terms, and always corrected herself AT LEAST 3 times when she's writing things on the chalkboard. Sometimes, she didn't know what some stuff meant, so she tried playing it off and asking students. She thought that no one noticed, but it was obvious...
I, and the rest of the class taught ourselves the lessons the entire year.I squeaked by in that class with a B-(80.02%). God bless my grandpa for all that help he gave me, otherwise I would've most definitely have gotten a D or lower...

She was really bad. Really bad. One of those teachers that you don't know how bad they are until you experience them.

[BDiesel324]

BDiesel324, you sound a little upset because your teacher is making you do work instead of slacking and giving you an easy A.

Speaking of bad teachers, my physics teacher was a complete dumbass, he was also an assistant basketball coach. It was clear that he didn't know what he was doing, we had to correct him multiple times throughout the course of the school year. He did not teach, because he didn't know how to. One time we did this group assignment which consisted of cranking up the Soulja Boy's Crank that. :facepalm

On another occasion, a class mate of mine asked him a question and basically corrected him...the teacher went on a rant about how is not necessary to know everything and how it could become an obsessive compulsive disorder. I'm serious :oldlol: He mentioned how teenagers during the 60's killed themselves because they were desperate to find out what the after life whats like. Easily the 2nd worst teacher I ever had in high school.
Not really. He just doesn't know how to teach. Like I said, I feel like I could perform better in quizzes and tests in his class if I basically just don't listen to him. If I just read what the text book says or ask another Math teacher about what to ****ing do. I have no problems with teachers making me do work, It's the fact that they don't help us do the work better and shit. This is Math, not English, not science, and not History.

I'm frustrated with his teaching style. He basically taught in ways I've never learned before and they are a lot more complicated. Trust me, I am not the only one who feels this way. People who have had this teacher but in different courses and in different levels will tell you the same thing.

He just needs to be demoted or sent back to where ever the hell he came from.

[YouGotServed]

....


If you have any questions about your HW I could probably help. It's high school math, it shouldn't be that hard.

[BDiesel324]

If you have any questions about your HW I could probably help. It's high school math, it shouldn't be that hard.
It isn't the homework, he's just a dumbass. He is a teacher that just checks for completion for homework. He doesn't check the homework grades, if he did, he would be an uber-douche and everyone would get a D or F in his class.

[LA_Showtime]

Wow; you definitely shouldn't go to college. Most if not all of my classes are based off of how well you do on 4 or 5 tests. No homework, no extra credit.

[LA_Showtime]

Just so you know, it's not like high school grades mean anything. There are plenty of kids who show up, get good grades, and then get ***** slapped once they hit college. High school is politics. College is politics mixed with the real world.

[YouGotServed]

Wow; you definitely shouldn't go to college. Most if not all of my classes are based off of how well you do on 4 or 5 tests. No homework, no extra credit.


I forgot to mention this, you're right. I've had a class where it was just mid term and final, that's it. 2 grades.

[BDiesel324]

Wow; you definitely shouldn't go to college. Most if not all of my classes are based off of how well you do on 4 or 5 tests. No homework, no extra credit.
Hopefully they will know how to ****ing teach. Like said and done, I'm not complaining about how Quizzes and Tests are a worth a lot, because they should be worth a lot. I'm complaining about how my teacher doesn't know how to teach but at the same time makes tests and quizzes worth a lot. The past teachers I've had that didn't know how to teach made homework a lot of points, so it basically made up the fact that they couldn't teach.

I'm basically getting ****ed over at the moment.

[GatorKid117]

Those who can't do, teach.

This saying is complete bullshit.

[BDiesel324]

This saying is complete bullshit.
Are you a teacher by any chance? If you are, I hope you know how to ****ing teach.

[GatorKid117]

Are you a teacher by any chance? If you are, I hope you know how to ****ing teach.

No I am not. I just find the idea that those who can't do anything, teach to be a complete lie. Some of the smartest and most inspiring people I have met in my life have been teachers and I respect what they do. Now is every teacher able to his job effectively? No, but to generalize them all like that with a stupid phrase annoys me.

[shlver]

Hopefully they will know how to ****ing teach. Like said and done, I'm not complaining about how Quizzes and Tests are a worth a lot, because they should be worth a lot. I'm complaining about how my teacher doesn't know how to teach but at the same time makes tests and quizzes worth a lot. The past teachers I've had that didn't know how to teach made homework a lot of points, so it basically made up the fact that they couldn't teach.

I'm basically getting ****ed over at the moment.
Oh you're in for a surprise when you get into college.:oldlol:

[mrRager]

What frustrated me most was in high school when there were teachers that didn't even have a background in the subject, but just read a book and created an outline. If you attempted to ask a question that maybe needed more background information they wouldn't know what to say basically taking away the actual learning process.
and this is why education should be prioritized and given more attention to when distributing funds to the educational system. i can relate to your situation.

[mattevans11]

Are you a teacher by any chance? If you are, I hope you know how to ****ing teach.


I am a teacher and I hate that saying as well. here is the scoop.

most kids love teachers that are an "easy A"

these are usually the worst teachers around. We have all had the teachers that do this and sure it was nice, but i be dammed if you learned much from him/her

there are also teachers that struglle with teaching mechanics, but know their subject very well. This type of teacher usually connects with the higher achiving kids in the class, while completely missing the rest of the students.

there are some teachers that HAVE NO idea how to teach and should not be teaching. im not gonna lie about this. In every school i have been in, there are some teachers that I WOULD NEVER put my own daughter in their classses/

I am a special ed teacher. I deal deal with middles schoolers who are generally a few grade levels behind. I also deal with many strange behaviors and such..... Part of my teaching philosphy is just to make my kids seccessful pieces of society, while the other part of my philoisophy is to get the doing things that they never think they can do.

I would classify myself as a DOER, and a TEACHER!!!!!!! take it for what it is.

p.s - i dont care about my typos... im typing in the dark and hate the laptop keyboard so do not bring on that crap...

[mattevans11]

and this is why education should be prioritized and given more attention to when distributing funds to the educational system. i can relate to your situation.


that is part of the problem for sure.....

and as a teacher, tenure is part of the problem as well.

a teacher can trick the adminstrators for a few years, then when they get tenure, they go on cruise control. Having tenure makes it difficult to get rid of certain teachers.

[mlh1981]

Back when I subbed, I could tell by the way students acted when the teacher was gone the level of respect they had for him/her.

[rufuspaul]

I absolutely hate it when teachers and administrators cry about not having enough funding. Every time a school bond issue is on the ballot here in Charlotte it passes. Taxpayers here pay the highest rates in the state and our public education system is an absolute joke. I found out the other day that it costs over $9,000/yr/student at one of our worst performing high schools. What a waste. Sometimes just throwing money at the problem isn't the solution.

As to the OP, I had several teachers in high school who were known as "coach". That is their primary job for the school was to coach one of the teams but they also had to teach a subject. I remember my algebra teacher taking the class out to the baseball diamond and having us rake the infield and chalk the lines. When I got to college and took calculus I was completely lost.

[Legend of Josh]

I can understand and actually appreciate it when teachers complain about not having adequate funding to help them in their roles; it's the administrators and managerial decision makers that ineffectively allot the funds that superlatively piss me off.

It's pretty bad here in NC. It's pretty bad all over actually.

[rufuspaul]

I can understand and actually appreciate it when teachers complain about not having adequate funding to help them in their roles; it's the administrators and managerial decision makers that ineffectively allot the funds that superlatively piss me off.

It's pretty bad here in NC. It's pretty bad all over actually.

You know the voucher system was one of the few things I agreed with pres. Bush. If you have a student in a shitty high school like the one I mentioned, then you should be able to get a voucher and use that $9,000 to go to a better school.

[Hawker]

I absolutely hate it when teachers and administrators cry about not having enough funding. Every time a school bond issue is on the ballot here in Charlotte it passes. Taxpayers here pay the highest rates in the state and our public education system is an absolute joke. I found out the other day that it costs over $9,000/yr/student at one of our worst performing high schools. What a waste. Sometimes just throwing money at the problem isn't the solution.

As to the OP, I had several teachers in high school who were known as "coach". That is their primary job for the school was to coach one of the teams but they also had to teach a subject. I remember my algebra teacher taking the class out to the baseball diamond and having us rake the infield and chalk the lines. When I got to college and took calculus I was completely lost.

Wtf? That's bogus.

My soccer coach taught world history. Man, what a joke that class was. I went to honors the next year.

[Poodle]

You know the voucher system was one of the few things I agreed with pres. Bush. If you have a student in a shitty high school like the one I mentioned, then you should be able to get a voucher and use that $9,000 to go to a better school.


people blame teachers too much. anyone that wants to learn can learn without a good teacher. i went to public school and it was the norm from elementary to high school, even in college, to have bad/mediocre teachers. the good ones that got you into it were very rare if anything. the biggest downside of a overall bad school is teachers/curriculum has to be slowed down if there is a big difference in grasping stuff between most of the class vs some smart students. but thats why they separate into zoo classes, regular, and honors.

all of that stuff can pretty easily be learned from textbooks with/without a teacher to guide you. really depends on the students initiative and will to learn...imo the teacher is way too often used as a scapegoat for poor students. and you can't make people learn that don't want to learn...

[BDiesel324]

there are some teachers that HAVE NO idea how to teach and should not be teaching. im not gonna lie about this. In every school i have been in, there are some teachers that I WOULD NEVER put my own daughter in their classses/
..
That is basically the way my math teacher is. I am a Senior in High School. I'm not going to **** up now, and get deferred by my Colleges because they think I'm blowing shit up just because I have one teacher that is drunk with power and is probably too drunk to teach the class too.

If you can't teach you better give me an easy grade. If you can teach, then I'll earn the grade. It really is that simple. It isn't good when you have a teacher that doesn't know how to teach and then he makes you earn a grade. Because how the hell can you earn anything when you don't know how to teach them to earn anything?

[Legend of Josh]

Dude, why don't you just chill out? If I were your math teacher I'd probably slap you in the face with the back of my hand. Double-tap even. Leave the LoJ handprint on thy grill-piece.

[Rake2204]

Hopefully they will know how to ****ing teach. Like said and done, I'm not complaining about how Quizzes and Tests are a worth a lot, because they should be worth a lot. I'm complaining about how my teacher doesn't know how to teach but at the same time makes tests and quizzes worth a lot. The past teachers I've had that didn't know how to teach made homework a lot of points, so it basically made up the fact that they couldn't teach.

I'm basically getting ****ed over at the moment.
Oh bummer. In my college experience I've had some great teachers and professors, but I also had a fair share of people who surely appeared to be masters on their topic, just with no teaching skill.

Further, I've had a number of college courses where my class grade was taken from just a midterm and a final (with maybe a giant project or term paper in between).

And I understand what folks have been saying about having to teach themselves in certain classroom situations. I think we've all been there. I do think there's an effective way of pulling this strategy off though. While I'm not a big fan of just setting kids free to learn what they may, I do believe in steering students toward developing their own answers in a given subject. Learning appears much more effective when students come to conclusions through their own thought process and understanding versus a teacher simply telling how it is flat out.

Finally, I wholeheartedly agree with whoever it was that mentioned that straight lecturing is not an effective form of teaching. The supposed premise that college age students (and above) can magically handle and absorb two hours of one-way talking is relatively preposterous from my corner. Lectures in college can often be used as a tool to compliment your reading. But I have to believe there's a better way. In college, the only thing worse than lectures were lectures with graded attendance.

[beermonsteroo]

Given the fact that American teachers are so badly payed having theachers like that is not very suprising

[brooks_thompson]

If you can't teach you better give me an easy grade. If you can teach, then I'll earn the grade. It really is that simple. It isn't good when you have a teacher that doesn't know how to teach and then he makes you earn a grade. Because how the hell can you earn anything when you don't know how to teach them to earn anything?

that's not how that works. if you're going to college, you're going to eventually need to find a way to take initiative on your own, whether due to a bad professor or a good one who wants to push her students.

---

i just came to share an anecdote about the silliest science teacher i ever had, coach kirby. he was a football and basketball and baseball coach primarily, so he didn't give a damn about the class he had to teach. this was jr. high, but we watched laserdisc programs designed for elementary kids, and he sat behind his desk eating triscuits, teaching NOTHING the entire year. we would take a week from time to time to watch a star trek movie.

a favorite quote:

spock: "this planet has a very strong surface gravity."
coach kirby: "see, gravity! science term." *munch*

[Juges8932]

Having a teacher that doesn't know how to teach at all, gives you minimum points for homework and having it completely centered around tests and quizzes is ****ing bullshit.

Why should homework even count for more than, at most, a small percentage of your grade? Unless it is something analytical, it is just easy-ass drone work. Hunt and copy. Copy paste. It doesn't make your brain work. All it does is make you search for something in a book, and copy that bit of information. That doesn't take any intelligence and doesn't help your critical thinking.

College (assuming you want to go) is going to be rough for you, especially if you go to a research oriented school (in my experience). Teachers who are there to do primarily research, only teach as something secondary because they have to, not because they enjoy it or give a shit. I had some great teachers, but I also had classes where I literally had to teach myself the entire course.

Also, grades in college (in my experience) are composed of tests and quizzes, almost entirely. The most I have had hwk count for was 20% in physics I. In the majority (75%) it was 3-5 tests and that was it.

[rufuspaul]

a favorite quote:

spock: "this planet has a very strong surface gravity."
coach kirby: "see, gravity! science term." *munch*

:roll: :roll: :roll:

[Poodle]

Why should homework even count for more than, at most, a small percentage of your grade? Unless it is something analytical, it is just easy-ass drone work. Hunt and copy. Copy paste. It doesn't make your brain work. All it does is make you search for something in a book, and copy that bit of information. That doesn't take any intelligence and doesn't help your critical thinking.

College (assuming you want to go) is going to be rough for you, especially if you go to a research oriented school (in my experience). Teachers who are there to do primarily research, only teach as something secondary because they have to, not because they enjoy it or give a shit. I had some great teachers, but I also had classes where I literally had to teach myself the entire course.

Also, grades in college (in my experience) are composed of tests and quizzes, almost entirely. The most I have had hwk count for was 20% in physics I. In the majority (75%) it was 3-5 tests and that was it.


yeah any big school they don't baby you. some classes can have hundreds of students in a auditorium where you're just a number listening to lectures every class. most good small schools are very expensive and even then they don't baby you like in middle/high school. every college class i can remember came down to a mid term and final as your whole grade. thats why/how you screw yourself if you miss classes or don't keep up, but its all about discipline, and thats sort of what i'd say middle/high school homework teaches kids- to get their shit done.

study habits make/break people in college. you can't breeze by stuff without knowing it like in HS. in community college you can, but a decent 4 yr school i don't see that happening.

[rufuspaul]

study habits make/break people in college. you can't breeze by stuff without knowing it like in HS. in community college you can, but a decent 4 yr school i don't see that happening.

So true. I had no real study habits before college. After floundering freshman year I had to train myself to get my shit together. I started by taking notes in outline form for each class and then hand copying them later that night. Somehow writing the same thing twice embedded it in my brain.

[vapid]

Strong study habits and test-taking skills is more than half of education up to end of the undergraduate degree.

[PowerGlove]

Strong study habits and test-taking skills is more than half of education up to end of the undergraduate degree.

I have never had strong study habits and I'm learning the hard way.

[rufuspaul]

Strong study habits and test-taking skills is more than half of education up to end of the undergraduate degree.

And afterwards too. Ask your dad how many tests he took his first 2 years of dental school.

[vapid]

And afterwards too. Ask your dad how many tests he took his first 2 years of dental school.
Yea I'm sure it's important later on too I just haven't experienced it myself so I didn't want to comment on it.

If you are good at pattern recognition and know how to play the "game" of standardized testing, you have such a nice advantage in education. To be honest I'm starting to think that my love for video gaming helped me in that aspect, as it helped train me to adapt to rigid rules of certain situations and use them to my advantage... such as testing.

[BDiesel324]

Strong study habits and test-taking skills is more than half of education up to end of the undergraduate degree.
Do you have any experiences with this shit? Seems like you do. But I'm guessing you made it up with your study skills?

I am a student that is pro-active in class but is lazy at home.

[LA_Showtime]

This saying is complete bullshit.

Exactly. Although I definitely think the cliche has some merit. For instance, I would rather learn from somebody who has actually become worked for an accounting firm than somebody who knows all of the definitions but has never actually prepared financial statements for a business.

[LA_Showtime]

So true. I had no real study habits before college. After floundering freshman year I had to train myself to get my shit together. I started by taking notes in outline form for each class and then hand copying them later that night. Somehow writing the same thing twice embedded it in my brain.

Same here. My situation was basically opposite of the norm. Instead of skipping in college and getting behind in my homework, I did that in high school. It's helped not having a set formula to get good grades. Some guys I know aced most of their high school courses but have struggled in college because they have to put in more time.

[LA_Showtime]

BTW, the only aspect of high school that bothers me is its inability to teach people how to write. I am a terrible writer. Fortunately, it hasn't screwed me in college, because most people in this generation can't write worth shit.

Oh yeah, and they lied in elementary school. I have never used cursive. Assholes.

[mattevans11]

You know the voucher system was one of the few things I agreed with pres. Bush. If you have a student in a shitty high school like the one I mentioned, then you should be able to get a voucher and use that $9,000 to go to a better school.


you really think this is the best way to go about public educaiton..i for one believe that all scools shoudl get the same funding....

when i first saw the voucher system, i thoguth it was a good idea, bit you are taking money out of an underperforming school, which usually neeed it worse.....

dont you see a problem arisiing out of this system?

[brooks_thompson]

no the kids with the highest potential deserve the chance to reach it

[mattevans11]

Given the fact that American teachers are so badly payed having theachers like that is not very suprising


while i agree with the fact that teachers are underpaid, and usually under appreciated, it is a field that is outcome driven. Most of us do it for the progress that you see from day to day but especially from after a year of bing with tyou in classs.

if you paid teahers more there would be greater competition for new teachers coming in the field, but you would still have a hard time getting reid of terrible terured teachers...

you would almost have to wait 20 years to ween some of these teachers to get out of the edcuation field

[mattevans11]

no the kids with the highest potential deserve the chance to reach it

i accept what you said but i will give you a scenario......

okay so school A is a terrible achiving school

school B is a better school......

both in the same district by the way. (working on the same budget)

school B gets a lot of kids from school A.....

in order to seve the extra kids, the district has to find a teacher to teach the extra population. they turn around and pull the teacher from school A to work at school B. therefore you could potentially get teh same teacher as you would have had with the other school, but the district has to pay extra money to transport kids to a school out of their area.

like i said the coucher system sounds good in theiry, but is less appealing in practice.

[Rake2204]

Oh yeah, and they lied in elementary school. I have never used cursive.
I can't believe this still happens, and it's still the same lines. I guess cursive is a good craft to learn, but man, did teachers build that up to be the end-all or what?

As it is, I much prefer "printing" aka "not cursive". I get a lot of letters and notes from coworkers written in cursive that are borderline illegible. It's like deciphering a secret code.

Finally, in response to the lack of writing skill being taught, I'll meet you half way. As a teacher and English minor, I've always felt there was too much emphasis on English language definitions and terms.

[brooks_thompson]

i accept what you said but i will give you a scenario......

okay so school A is a terrible achiving school

school B is a better school......

both in the same district by the way. (working on the same budget)

school B gets a lot of kids from school A.....

in order to seve the extra kids, the district has to find a teacher to teach the extra population. they turn around and pull the teacher from school A to work at school B. therefore you could potentially get teh same teacher as you would have had with the other school, but the district has to pay extra money to transport kids to a school out of their area.

like i said the coucher system sounds good in theiry, but is less appealing in practice.

yeah but the top teachers at the better school will still be there. presumably the honors/AP teachers

[mattevans11]

yeah but the top teachers at the better school will still be there. presumably the honors/AP teachers


that would be great but there is a limit to how many kids can be in one class at a time......

[mrRager]

I absolutely hate it when teachers and administrators cry about not having enough funding. Every time a school bond issue is on the ballot here in Charlotte it passes. Taxpayers here pay the highest rates in the state and our public education system is an absolute joke. I found out the other day that it costs over $9,000/yr/student at one of our worst performing high schools. What a waste. Sometimes just throwing money at the problem isn't the solution.

As to the OP, I had several teachers in high school who were known as "coach". That is their primary job for the school was to coach one of the teams but they also had to teach a subject. I remember my algebra teacher taking the class out to the baseball diamond and having us rake the infield and chalk the lines. When I got to college and took calculus I was completely lost.
At the last part :roll: your math teacher made yall do manual labor over algebra

[AS85]

Im a teacher myself. Cant get myself to read through the thread.:(

[Jailblazers7]

I can't believe this still happens, and it's still the same lines. I guess cursive is a good craft to learn, but man, did teachers build that up to be the end-all or what?

As it is, I much prefer "printing" aka "not cursive". I get a lot of letters and notes from coworkers written in cursive that are borderline illegible. It's like deciphering a secret code.

Finally, in response to the lack of writing skill being taught, I'll meet you half way. As a teacher and English minor, I've always felt there was too much emphasis on English language definitions and terms.

I know this post is 3 years old but I figured I would share this article about how cursive helps in the brain development of children:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/memory-medic/201303/what-learning-cursive-does-your-brain

Cursive isn't so much a tool to be used later in life but a tool to help the cognitive development of the students. I actually wish it would have been emphasized more during my youth because good penmanship is impressive. I had signing my name because it looks like a 13 year old just wrote it.

[mrRager]

I know this post is 3 years old but I figured I would share this article about how cursive helps in the brain development of children:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/memory-medic/201303/what-learning-cursive-does-your-brain

Cursive isn't so much a tool to be used later in life but a tool to help the cognitive development of the students. I actually wish it would have been emphasized more during my youth because good penmanship is impressive. I had signing my name because it looks like a 13 year old just wrote it.
If it comforts you, we were forced to practice cursive writing a lot as children and my signature as well as general writing looks like it pertains to someone who suffers from parkinsons.

[It's A VC3!!!]

Like a lot of doctors, they are only in it for the money. But when you get one with a true passion to teach, and a passion for the subject, that's special.
True. I've had two teachers, an economics teacher in high school and a philosophy teacher in high school as well that truly had a passion for the subject and conveyed the topic very well.


Anyways, as to OP, get used to the outdated system that is longing for a change. You can actually learn more if you took the textbook assigned to you in class and read the chapters at home at your own pace and comfort. school is a ridiculously outdated system, which is why someone like bill gates is trying to change the school system and make it online and more one-on-one and take away 50% of the formal crap that we don't need to know. if you want to make a decent living in life, going the traditional route of going to school and getting a degree will help you. if you want to make a lot of money you have to learn specific knowledge about one thing and excel at it. for example, i want to be a FX trader or bond trader for JPMorgan or Goldman Sachs. something school won't teach me and i've had to learn on my own through pain and gain.

[bladefd]

It is all about finding a teacher that is passionate about what they teach, enthusiastic, and at least attempt to be inspirational. Those are the teachers you look for and they will have the most impact on you down the road. You won't remember 90% of what they taught you 2yrs after taking the class, but you will take away impactful life-lessons that will stay with you for life.

I had maybe 9-10 great teachers that inspired me during my journey - the rest were mehh (including K-12 and college).

I also had my share of teachers that couldn't teach. All about luck of the draw in K-12.. you get who you get. In my school system I attended before college, the counselors don't let you switch teachers unless if you're switching two different courses. I had to do that once after I realized how crappy my English teacher was in 10th grade, but I had to practically beg my counselor to switch courses. Even then, they don't let you choose the teachers though. In college, I can choose who I want and switch however I want. If the professor doesn't teach well, I switch professors

[cuad]

The only teachers I ever learned from were Art History teachers. I taught myself everything else, usually way behind the other students.

[Swaggin916]

True. I've had two teachers, an economics teacher in high school and a philosophy teacher in high school as well that truly had a passion for the subject and conveyed the topic very well.


Anyways, as to OP, get used to the outdated system that is longing for a change. You can actually learn more if you took the textbook assigned to you in class and read the chapters at home at your own pace and comfort. school is a ridiculously outdated system, which is why someone like bill gates is trying to change the school system and make it online and more one-on-one and take away 50% of the formal crap that we don't need to know. if you want to make a decent living in life, going the traditional route of going to school and getting a degree will help you. if you want to make a lot of money you have to learn specific knowledge about one thing and excel at it. for example, i want to be a FX trader or bond trader for JPMorgan or Goldman Sachs. something school won't teach me and i've had to learn on my own through pain and gain.

Pretty much. It almost makes sense to have your career be about money too... Because when passions become about the money, they are no really no longer passions. If you job is about making money and making others money... well then there is no problem. It's all money baby.

[Levity]

my highschool physics teacher was a young, and highly intelligent 2nd year teacher. Super nice guy and had similar music interests as mine, but his way of teaching was absolutely terrible/uncomprehensible. i honestly dont think i retained anything i learned from that class.

but i think he was aware of his shitty teaching, because im pretty sure i bombed the final, but my grade % still improved post final and i finished the class with a B+

[niko]

True. I've had two teachers, an economics teacher in high school and a philosophy teacher in high school as well that truly had a passion for the subject and conveyed the topic very well.


Anyways, as to OP, get used to the outdated system that is longing for a change. You can actually learn more if you took the textbook assigned to you in class and read the chapters at home at your own pace and comfort. school is a ridiculously outdated system, which is why someone like bill gates is trying to change the school system and make it online and more one-on-one and take away 50% of the formal crap that we don't need to know. if you want to make a decent living in life, going the traditional route of going to school and getting a degree will help you. if you want to make a lot of money you have to learn specific knowledge about one thing and excel at it. for example, i want to be a FX trader or bond trader for JPMorgan or Goldman Sachs. something school won't teach me and i've had to learn on my own through pain and gain.
That's a bad example. I have so many friends in the market. You need skills you specifically get from college and grad school, the advanced math, the understanding of the financial markets, etc. That's why companies like that always look for degrees from good schools, to make sure you have that background. Yes, you need to learn the job but it's a mess to do if you don't have the proper skills behind it. They also want to make sure that not only are you smart enough, but that you're determined enough to have gotten through something difficult (i.e. - undergrad or grad).

I learned analysis of the FX markets on my own for example. But a lot of my basic skills came from school. If you don't have a really varied skillset and knowledge base, then how do you learn by trial and error the more advanced skills.

[Rameek]

My calc teacher would show up, say hi, run through the chapter and whenever we had a question, she would ask another student to explain it since that she couldn't. I was basicallly teaching myself.
This topic has been done before and this is significantly old but I will tell you why some teachers do this. If the methods they use to explain can not get to a few students sometimes a peer may say it in a way that may get you to retain it. Not saying that your teacher could or couldnt though.

There is a more recent thread done in this same vain. As a former teacher these threads are informative.

Society norms are tied into educational system. It goes hand and hand. The things that make this country great also is holding her back.

[It's A VC3!!!]

That's a bad example. I have so many friends in the market. You need skills you specifically get from college and grad school, the advanced math, the understanding of the financial markets, etc. That's why companies like that always look for degrees from good schools, to make sure you have that background. Yes, you need to learn the job but it's a mess to do if you don't have the proper skills behind it. They also want to make sure that not only are you smart enough, but that you're determined enough to have gotten through something difficult (i.e. - undergrad or grad).

I learned analysis of the FX markets on my own for example. But a lot of my basic skills came from school. If you don't have a really varied skillset and knowledge base, then how do you learn by trial and error the more advanced skills.
You'll find anything to disagree with me about. School can teach you anything about markets, how to understand trends, leverage and technical analysis. However, when it gets down to the gritty trading work, no amount of school can instruct you on how to facilitate a trade or not let your emotions dictate the next move you make.

And the bolded statement proves me point. Unless you go to an Ivy league school, you won't be properly learning anything about the different types of day trading you can do. That's why you also do a two to six month program after getting hired by these financial institutions on how to trade. If these companies were so confident that school "taught you what you needed to know" they wouldn't vigorously put you in their own classrooms following being hired.


School is not about diving deep into the forensics of finance, music, art, sports or etc.. It's formal education. They'll give you the general information to see if you're interested and if you are interested it's up to you to dive more in depth to start your career. Who the **** ever said "school made me rich". More people say "school made me fall in useless debt" than anything else. It's up to the person to learn their own specific knowledge if they want to succeed. And to be honest, 8/10 people will find a job that doesn't even pertain to what they learned in school anyways so it doesn't even matter.

[nathanjizzle]

if i was a ceo at a major company, im hiring college kids, they will progress the company because they know the latest literature. training and tenure will come with work. where as someone that has just been an understudy of someone doing the work is only going to know the work and not know how to better it.

[It's A VC3!!!]

if i was a ceo at a major company, im hiring college kids, they will progress the company because they know the latest literature. training and tenure will come with work. where as someone that has just been an understudy of someone doing the work is only going to know the work and not know how to better it.
Of course you will because you know definitely that they will learn the system. Any time you become an investment banker or day trader for any financial institution they will send you to their own "classrooms" for several weeks to several months before they allow you to use their own money. New traders that get hired at Goldman Sachs will start with $5 million to $15 million in their trading account and could reach up to $30 to $50 million after their first year as a trader. If I owned my own hedge fund I would only hire from top ivy league schools as well because as a instructor I want the best minds. I don't care what they learned at those schools as long as I know they achieved good grades and are brilliant. These managers can teach them everything they need to know anyways.

[niko]

You'll find anything to disagree with me about. School can teach you anything about markets, how to understand trends, leverage and technical analysis. However, when it gets down to the gritty trading work, no amount of school can instruct you on how to facilitate a trade or not let your emotions dictate the next move you make.

And the bolded statement proves me point. Unless you go to an Ivy league school, you won't be properly learning anything about the different types of day trading you can do. That's why you also do a two to six month program after getting hired by these financial institutions on how to trade. If these companies were so confident that school "taught you what you needed to know" they wouldn't vigorously put you in their own classrooms following being hired.


School is not about diving deep into the forensics of finance, music, art, sports or etc.. It's formal education. They'll give you the general information to see if you're interested and if you are interested it's up to you to dive more in depth to start your career. Who the **** ever said "school made me rich". More people say "school made me fall in useless debt" than anything else. It's up to the person to learn their own specific knowledge if they want to succeed. And to be honest, 8/10 people will find a job that doesn't even pertain to what they learned in school anyways so it doesn't even matter.

Not sure what you are talking about. You need the schooling (basic) before they can train you to do the job. Without the schooling, they cannot train you in more difficult matters. That doesn't make the schooling useless, it actually makes it a necessity.

Companies train you how to work in their specific industry. Doing that requires already having a good solid background in finance which you get (drumroll) from school. The worst thing in business is you hire someone, and you starting training them and it becomes apparent their education and skillset is lacking. It's such an enormous time drain to have to stop what you are doing and teach someone things that they are supposed to know before even stepping foot inside the room.

Every job has a learning curve to learn to do things their way, that doesn't mean you can go in without a good background and catch up. Good luck with that.

[niko]

Of course you will because you know definitely that they will learn the system. Any time you become an investment banker or day trader for any financial institution they will send you to their own "classrooms" for several weeks to several months before they allow you to use their own money. New traders that get hired at Goldman Sachs will start with $5 million to $15 million in their trading account and could reach up to $30 to $50 million after their first year as a trader. If I owned my own hedge fund I would only hire from top ivy league schools as well because as a instructor I want the best minds. I don't care what they learned at those schools as long as I know they achieved good grades and are brilliant. These managers can teach them everything they need to know anyways.

Let me get this straight. You're learning things related to the job prior to trying to get into the job. But you don't think it's important to learn those things prior to the job. It's totally not important to know finance prior to trading, but to prepare to trade, you're learning finance. They don't want you to be sensitive, they don't angry people, they don't want people who are going to go ballistic blaming others. You have to be able to play nice, take criticism, take charge without your head exploding. Mistakes are made, things need to be corrected, and it needs to get done sans drama.

No offense, but if your online persona is anything near your real one, I'd avoid being a trader. They wouldn't like you.

[It's A VC3!!!]

Not sure what you are talking about. You need the schooling (basic) before they can train you to do the job. Without the schooling, they cannot train you in more difficult matters. That doesn't make the schooling useless, it actually makes it a necessity.

Companies train you how to work in their specific industry. Doing that requires already having a good solid background in finance which you get (drumroll) from school. The worst thing in business is you hire someone, and you starting training them and it becomes apparent their education and skillset is lacking. It's such an enormous time drain to have to stop what you are doing and teach someone things that they are supposed to know before even stepping foot inside the room.

Every job has a learning curve to learn to do things their way, that doesn't mean you can go in without a good background and catch up. Good luck with that.

I just said all of this yet you wrote a montage thinking that I was disagreeing with you (because you are a contrarian) for no reason. I said that school will teach you the necessities like market trends, leverage and technical analysis but they won't teach you the most important thing, facilitating trades and erasing emotion.

[NotYetGreat]

As an education major still in college, it's pretty disheartening to hear that everybody still views formal education this way. I mean, if I were a bit more pragmatic, I guess I'd agree with you guys no questions asked, but being having delved into the world of teaching for some time now, I feel the duty to defend my (future) vocation because I know things are changing slowly but surely.

I do agree that a poorly-structured formal education system can be as oppressive as (or even more oppressive than) a bad government or whatever else you can think of, but that's exactly why I inserted that qualifier there - poorly-structured. Leaders in the field have known what you guys are saying right now for decades but it's really just taking time for these new philosophies and paradigms to break into the classroom. I do have hope though, and Im going to make damn sure I do my part in making that hope come alive.

[Meticode]

Some of these teachers are so bad from hearing about it, it would make me want to record a video with my phone and show it to someone who can do something. Shit is ridiculous if it's true.