Its about time , a rant

[CGinJCMO]

Can't agree completely. Part of the job of a teacher is to inspire.

Teaching has changed since I was in school. Of course part of that could be because I attended a small rural school and I now work in a larger city school, plus there is more technology available (computers were just beginning to be "common"). I see things that I didn't learn until in High school being taught to 6th, 7th & 8th graders (mostly math) while things I learned in Junior High (mostly English/Lang. Arts) isn't taught to them anymore.

As a teacher I could stand on my head and I'd still have students that:
a) just want to disagree with everything (The sky is not blue it's _____)
b) is just doing time until they are 17 and can legally quit
c) spend all night playing video games/running the streets and are too sleepy during school hours to stay awake, much less learn

Not all students are this way, but a public school has to take all kids (private schools can chose not to "babysit" problem students and devote their time and attention to those that want to be there)

As a parent, I try to make my kids take responsibility for their own actions. I send them to bed at a reasonable time, ask about homework and help if asked, etc. but I cannot go to their school and make him pull that homework I saw him do out of his binder, stop passing notes/talking, etc. (The school district I work in doesn't take out-of-district kids and I'm not changing districts just for the few years my kids are in school.) The student has to realize that he/she has to work to make their life the way they want it, be it the way they dress, act, or whatever. The old adage about "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" applies.

Back to the original topic, I don't like the saggy pants, holes in jeans (but you can buy clothes that are distressed and those holes appear after a few washings - that's one reason why when I pay good money for clothes, I want them to look new and not old; old will come with time) and b**bs about to fall out of spaghetti strap tank tops that some of these kids think are acceptable to wear in public. Oh and don't forget the I-just-got-out-bed look of flannel pj bottoms and slippers for shoes. The majority of students make good clothing decisions and some make such cute clothing decisions that I wish I still had my slim teenage body back so I could dress like that too.

OK, I'll get off my soapbox now.
CG

 

[chickened]

part of what has lead to innovation and the pioneer spirit of our country is the overall culture of strong individualism. yes it has problems, but i honesty believe that the individualist streak of our society is what leads to such a spirit of creativity and progress.

That may indeed be a small part but what really leads to innovation is pursuit of wealth inspired by opportunity, determination and the chance to do something free of encumbrances by a controlling faction. People wanted to fulfill a dream that is what really brought people here and it was their concern for their brother that inspired them to succeed. Now days it is greed and selfishness and self interest. These are the things that the innovative pioneers of America have said in their biographies like Henry Ford and others.

Some synonyms of individuality:



uniqueness, egoism, individuality, independence, distinctiveness, eccentricity, selfishness

 

[chickened]

Teaching has changed since I was in school. Of course part of that could be because I attended a small rural school and I now work in a larger city school, plus there is more technology available (computers were just beginning to be "common"). I see things that I didn't learn until in High school being taught to 6th, 7th & 8th graders (mostly math) while things I learned in Junior High (mostly English/Lang. Arts) isn't taught to them anymore.

As a teacher I could stand on my head and I'd still have students that:
a) just want to disagree with everything (The sky is not blue it's _____)
b) is just doing time until they are 17 and can legally quit
c) spend all night playing video games/running the streets and are too sleepy during school hours to stay awake, much less learn

Not all students are this way, but a public school has to take all kids (private schools can chose not to "babysit" problem students and devote their time and attention to those that want to be there)

As a parent, I try to make my kids take responsibility for their own actions. I send them to bed at a reasonable time, ask about homework and help if asked, etc. but I cannot go to their school and make him pull that homework I saw him do out of his binder, stop passing notes/talking, etc. (The school district I work in doesn't take out-of-district kids and I'm not changing districts just for the few years my kids are in school.) The student has to realize that he/she has to work to make their life the way they want it, be it the way they dress, act, or whatever. The old adage about "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" applies.

Back to the original topic, I don't like the saggy pants, holes in jeans (but you can buy clothes that are distressed and those holes appear after a few washings - that's one reason why when I pay good money for clothes, I want them to look new and not old; old will come with time) and b**bs about to fall out of spaghetti strap tank tops that some of these kids think are acceptable to wear in public. Oh and don't forget the I-just-got-out-bed look of flannel pj bottoms and slippers for shoes. The majority of students make good clothing decisions and some make such cute clothing decisions that I wish I still had my slim teenage body back so I could dress like that too.

OK, I'll get off my soapbox now.
CG

One of my pet peeves. Get dressed when you leave the house!!

 

[cassie]

I agree, defining oneself with outward adornments is shallow, unstable and often leads to other self created problems in life... like "why can I not find a decent job?" when my pants need one hand to hold them up.

At least these kids are wearing underwear. When I was in high school I picked pears one year in my future father-in-law's orchard. One of the guys on the picking crew wore jeans, boots, and nothing else. He wore his pants so low that we girls all speculated about just what was holding them up, and hoping for them to fall down. Finally, one of the other pickers, male, had had enough and did something the rest of us had been tempted to do but lacked the nerve. He came up behind Low Rider, grabbed his pants on each side and pulled down hard. There Low Rider stood, full monte, the way God made him, in front of the whole crew, who, if they weren't laughing, were applauding wildly. After that Low Rider got a belt and kept his pants up where they belonged. I was always sorry I was in another part of the orchard and missed the whole show.

 

[EweSheep]

At least these kids are wearing underwear. When I was in high school I picked pears one year in my future father-in-law's orchard. One of the guys on the picking crew wore jeans, boots, and nothing else. He wore his pants so low that we girls all speculated about just what was holding them up, and hoping for them to fall down. Finally, one of the other pickers, male, had had enough and did something the rest of us had been tempted to do but lacked the nerve. He came up behind Low Rider, grabbed his pants on each side and pulled down hard. There Low Rider stood, full monte, the way God made him, in front of the whole crew, who, if they weren't laughing, were applauding wildly. After that Low Rider got a belt and kept his pants up where they belonged. I was always sorry I was in another part of the orchard and missed the whole show.

 

[OldGuy43]

That may indeed be a small part but what really leads to innovation is pursuit of wealth inspired by opportunity, determination and the chance to do something free of encumbrances by a controlling faction. People wanted to fulfill a dream that is what really brought people here and it was their concern for their brother that inspired them to succeed. Now days it is greed and selfishness and self interest. These are the things that the innovative pioneers of America have said in their biographies like Henry Ford and others.

Some synonyms of individuality:



uniqueness, egoism, individuality, independence, distinctiveness, eccentricity, selfishness

As I've pointed out before; there is nothing wrong with "doing your own thing" as long as you understand that there is a price to be paid for being different.

Sometimes that price is more personal than others. My favorite story on the low pants front was a fellow in his late 20's (I'm guessing) who was leaving the grocery store with his small child in one arm and his groceries in the other. You can see this coming, right?

You've got it. He was in the middle of the street in front of the store when his shorts dropped down around his ankles. There he stood in his underwear, child in one arm, groceries in the other with a "what do I do now?" look on his face.

(Yes, I did offer to hold his child while he pulled his pants up. If he'd just had two bags of groceries I probably wouldn't have.)

 

[PaulaSB12]

What about rules about long hair in public schools? That could cause problems with say the Sikh faith as they are not allowed to cut their hair or shave.

 

[galanie]

I thought the Sikh wore turbans with that hair wound up in them. At least the ones where I worked did. As a child of the 60's though, I rather like to see a guy with a pony tail.

 

[chickened]

Before I got married I had a full scraggy beard. It looked like crap looking back at my pictures. My wife's aunt asked me if I was I going to keep it for the wedding (huge wedding) I said I had not thought about it. She convinced me to shave it for the sake of all the photos. I now look back and see It was the right thing to do but back then it seemed pointless. I am happy I had the sense to actually listen to someone I had a different opinion than.

 

[galanie]

I'm glad you shaved too. Young guys can't pull off a scraggly beard like old guys can.