It’s 3:36 in the morning. I’m lying in my bed staring at the clock tick from minute to minute. My mind is full of worry. “ Why in the world would you be worried? “ you ask. “ Aren’t you retired?” It’s now 3:37. My worries are not about me. In fact, I should just roll over and go back to sleep, but something needs to be said.
Would it be fair to compare the practices and equipment used by hockey players from the 1960’s with hockey players today ? How about their stats? Would if be fair to compare the TTC from 1980 to the TTC service today? If you do not know, the answer is NO! Then why do people compare the school system that they attended in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, whatever decade applies to you, with today’s school system? It’s not the same system because change is essential to growth. I taught 31 years with two different school boards and I experienced ongoing changes needed to keep up with the changes in society. Yet,some people ask, “ Why don’t teachers teach kids cursive writing anymore? And how are they going to learn how to write?” I often stay out of these conversations and find myself internally screaming. Perhaps, schools should go back to using slates and corporal punishment too. OUCH! Other individuals post comments demanding teachers get back to work and teach students,how to cook, clean and change a tire. I understand that all of these skills are essential, and schools once offered this type of programming. However, I didn’t learn these skills in these programs, I learned them at home, with my parents. My parents also taught me about financial planning for my future…I’m retired. LOL. I also learned about honesty,respect,integrity,responsibility,courage,empathy,and love from my parents.
What does this have to do with the Teacher’s Strike? The fact is that teachers are not striking because they want to make parents and children suffer. They are fighting for the future of education. Class sizes need to be reduced because teachers are working in challenging environments. I could be the type of retired teacher who says, “ Well, in 1988,I had 32 kids in my grade 1 class,including a student who had fetal alcohol syndrome, and I managed, so what’s the big deal?” Stop screaming internally because the truth is that I couldn’t cope today and no it has nothing to do with my age. In 1988, the curriculum was a cut and paste situation,we had the freedom to choose appropriate learning units. Family life was not as stressful and accountability of extreme behaviour in classrooms was dealt with for the most part by the principal in the office. As a teacher, I could look at a child and calmly ask them to settle down so that the class could focus on learning and it generally worked. Today, some children negatively respond to redirection, and make it challenging for learning to continue in a positive manner. In 1988,the expectations for reading were not as high. Yes,I was expected to teach the children how to read, but there wasn’t any qualitative research pushing the boundaries like there is today. In 1988, if I called parents to ask for support regarding their child, they generally put their faith in my expertise. Today, some parents are not supportive and try to blame their child’s behaviour on the teacher. Yes, I know every situation is different. There have been so many changes in educational practises throughout many decades, some good, some not so good, but all are relative to today’s society. So when you think about teachers in the classroom, do not visualize them in the classroom you attended. Do not think that every student is sitting in rows actively listening to their teacher. It is far more involved and interesting than the old methods used in past decades. Teachers are working hard to teach the future generation about STEM. Teachers are working hard to teach the future generation, how to solve multi-layered math problems, not rote multiplication facts like 3×4 = 12 . Teachers are building a community of inclusive learners with growth mindsets and cooperative learning skills. Teachers need your support. They are striking to keep the education system relevant and productive. If the money is not there as the Ford Government claims, then why is it there to cover the cost of daycare every time teachers are not in the classroom?
It’s now 4:00 in the morning. Have I told you about my horrific experience with hallway care at the hospital? I do not know how the nurses cope, let alone the patients. I thought Ford was going to do something about that?
Recipes from the Classroom 