What is up with Math?

**TofuNinja** · 12-04-2002, 11:26 AM

I have a class here at Catl State Fullerton on how to teach math to kiddies.... and well half the class can't do long division.... what is up with this? Isn't it great, wannabe teachers who can't do long division....(sigh)

Side Note: I hate Gray Davis

**revil** · 12-04-2002, 12:02 PM

I've meet so many idiots who want to be teachers. they all had the mentality, "teaching kids is easy and i won't have to know as much." and that makes me want to punch them. If they are going to teach, then they need to be experts on the f*cking subject (not literally, unless it's sex ed...

).

**Burzhui** · 12-04-2002, 12:16 PM

First of all the american way of long division is totally ****ed up, that's why many kids can't get it right.
Second of all i agree with revil, these people need to be beaten, that's why the friggin educational system is a failure

**faither** · 12-04-2002, 12:19 PM

Watch out! The last disparaging remarks about teachers (their ability and dedication) caused an uprising. Me, though. I'm with you guys.

**zenbooty** · 12-04-2002, 12:52 PM

Those who can't do it, teach it.

I really think a movement needs to begin to encourage those who've recently retired from successful careers to become teachers. Nowadays most teachers seem to start right out of college, having yet to face the real world in any meaningful way. Hell, they're still practically children themselves. All the behavior theory and child psychology learned in a typical "education" degree program will only train teachers to control behavior. It takes wisdom to be able to impart knowledge on children. Wisdom the average 23 year old BA grad just doesn't have yet.

**johnnymk** · 12-04-2002, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by zenbooty
Those who can't do it, teach it.

I really think a movement needs to begin to encourage those who've recently retired from successful careers to become teachers. Nowadays most teachers seem to start right out of college, having yet to face the real world in any meaningful way. Hell, they're still practically children themselves. All the behavior theory and child psychology learned in a typical "education" degree program will only train teachers to control behavior. It takes wisdom to be able to impart knowledge on children. Wisdom the average 23 year old BA grad just doesn't have yet.

**Pinkgirl36** · 12-04-2002, 01:38 PM

I plan on being a teacher. But I know it is going to take ALOT of schooling. At the Junior College I go to know, one of my teachers is trying to get a class in to our college district that is REQUIRED to take if you want to become a teacher. I see no problem with taking it.
I've had some of the greatest teachers in the world and also some of the worst, and I want to be one of the good teachers, and I know it won't be easy, and that it's not an "easy" job and many times it's a very thankless job, but honestly I think that the best reward is when the children you taught however many years ago remember you and come visit and see that you are still the same wonderful teacher you were when they were in school

**whitak24** · 12-04-2002, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by zenbooty
I really think a movement needs to begin to encourage those who've recently retired from successful careers to become teachers. Nowadays most teachers seem to start right out of college, having yet to face the real world in any meaningful way. Hell, they're still practically children themselves. All the behavior theory and child psychology learned in a typical "education" degree program will only train teachers to control behavior. It takes wisdom to be able to impart knowledge on children. Wisdom the average 23 year old BA grad just doesn't have yet.

good points.

when i think back to my educational experiences, most of my "young" teachers were great fun....but i didn't necessarily learn that much from them.

and what better way to teach kids science than to have a retired engineer do it (or something like that)?

**GraingerGuy** · 12-04-2002, 03:39 PM

Originally posted by zenbooty
Those who can't do it, teach it.

Do you really think that? Well....I'm here to say that's bull...plain and simple.

A whole lot of my friends who are becoming teachers, a lot of my other teachers have the brains and the talent to do whatever they want.

My voice teacher right now....she could make it in the classical music business if she wanted....but she loves us.

My dad...made it in the computer business when things were just starting to pick up, worked for NASA, etc....he's a principal right now...teaching math and computer stuff.

My high school choir teacher also could have made it into the classical music scene.

My 3 of my friends who are math majors are most definately smart enough to go into anything they want....but they're going to be teachers cause they love kids.

All the behavior theory and child psychology learned in a typical "education" degree program will only train teachers to control behavior

Wrong. They teach us how to get our information to them while being able to motivate the students.

I really think a movement needs to begin to encourage those who've recently retired from successful careers to become teachers...It takes wisdom to be able to impart knowledge on children. Wisdom the average 23 year old BA grad just doesn't have yet.

Wrong again. It takes a teacher who is excited about the subject, knows a lot about the subject, loves kids, cares enough that the studnet will do well, etc. I know a lot of adults who have a WHOLE lot of wisdom that would NEVER do well as teachers.

And another thing about getting the retired folks to teach....would those retired people be open to using new ideas to get the information across to the kids? Most likely not. The newer teachers are the ones would try and shake things up a bit....sometimes it works....sometimes it doesn't.

**hang10wannabe** · 12-04-2002, 03:44 PM

i dont see anything wrong with the american teaching or standards, its the people themselves that are dummasses, if u wanna learn, you learn, if you wanna go home on your computer and post on G|A thats your... bus...i... ness... o wait

**zenbooty** · 12-04-2002, 04:22 PM

Originally posted by GraingerGuy

Do you really think that? Well....I'm here to say that's bull...plain and simple....[more text ensues]

Your comments seem pretty well thought out and spoken with passion, and I hate to sound condescending, but I honestly think you'll feel differently in 7 or 10 years.

**GraingerGuy** · 12-04-2002, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by zenbooty

Your comments seem pretty well thought out and spoken with passion, and I hate to sound condescending, but I honestly think you'll feel differently in 7 or 10 years.

I can honestly tell you that I do not think I will feel differently about teaching in 7-10 years. I'm about to graduate with my music education degree and while I am a little scared of the responsibility of teaching, I am very stoked about it! I went into education because I love kids, I love music, and I love teaching. I feel so strongly about education that I am going into it even though there are other things that I could have done. (If music wasn't an option, I would have done CS)

I know and understand that I have a responsiblity of being a good teacher and to the kids....and that will NEVER change.

**sbp** · 12-04-2002, 09:44 PM

I concur with zenbooty.

Like it was said before, many of the education majors are from the bottom of the student pool. Too many of whom took cakewalk, gooblydygook classes. And it shows.

**Tse How** · 12-04-2002, 10:00 PM

Originally posted by zenbooty
Those who can't do it, teach it.

I really think a movement needs to begin to encourage those who've recently retired from successful careers to become teachers. Nowadays most teachers seem to start right out of college, having yet to face the real world in any meaningful way. Hell, they're still practically children themselves. All the behavior theory and child psychology learned in a typical "education" degree program will only train teachers to control behavior. It takes wisdom to be able to impart knowledge on children. Wisdom the average 23 year old BA grad just doesn't have yet.

This won't fly, at least not as a regular thing. What makes you think that a 65 year old engineering retiree can relate more to children than a 23 year old who has been studying education for the last 4 or 5 years? Sure, the 65 year old has more life experience but is that necessary what the kids want to hear in science class? Especially those with a lot of needs? Its a good idea in theory for some cases, but I personally don't think it'd work.

**Sir_Froggy** · 12-04-2002, 10:44 PM

Originally posted by whitak24

and what better way to teach kids science than to have a retired engineer do it (or something like that)?

\

well not always, cuz my physics teacher wasn't an engineer or anything, but i've learned a lot from him, and he does some really cool projects, i number hovercraft the first of them all

**GraingerGuy** · 12-04-2002, 11:36 PM

Originally posted by sbp
I concur with zenbooty.

Like it was said before, many of the education majors are from the bottom of the student pool. Too many of whom took cakewalk, gooblydygook classes. And it shows.

**Jeffbx** · 12-05-2002, 05:23 AM

Originally posted by GraingerGuy

Do you really think that? Well....I'm here to say that's bull...plain and simple.

It's absoultely true in some cases... just last week my 5 year old comes home & tells me that her Spanish teacher told the class, "I don't speak Spanish... I just teach it".

**cheapie** · 12-05-2002, 06:46 AM

that's what happened to my bro-in-law. he was taking a french class from a lady that didn't speak french! i think a lot of the probs with teaching is the union and the dis-incentive to excel. while this may stir up a hornets nest, i believe it to be the case. take someone like me. i am a fairly intelligent person, well-educated, an excellent communicator, motivated, and i have a knack for explaining complex issues in an easily-understood manner. i would be a perfect teacher. (i'm very humble also

) however, i went the way of marketing because of the fact that my drive to succeed would be thwarted by the bureaucratic nature of the school systems and because promotions are more largely based on seniority that qualifications. because of this, i will never go into the teaching field unless i suddenly become independently wealthy.

**faither** · 12-05-2002, 08:53 AM

Originally posted by Jeffbx

It's absoultely true in some cases... just last week my 5 year old comes home & tells me that her Spanish teacher told the class, "I don't speak Spanish... I just teach it".

Last year, my daughter's first grade teacher told the kids, "It's okay to use your fingers for counting. I still do."

She wasn't kidding. Total airhead.