tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post502853226853339390..comments2024-01-06T07:53:11.832-08:00Comments on disabled Christianity: Good intentions and lazinessJeff McNairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10029386598033932429noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-81014469394684048202010-07-01T17:43:26.683-07:002010-07-01T17:43:26.683-07:00I too am discouraged when people have been given a...I too am discouraged when people have been given an opportunity to teach and they simply babysit! One of my observations that I did for this class was such an experience where I left completely discouraged. The teacher obviously had no passion for her students, much less for teaching at all. She did not even acknowledge us observing her in the classroom, where most teachers will excitedly come over and explain why they do what they do.<br /> It is very interesting to hear this experienced from your perspective as a trainer of some of these teachers. I think that in order to teach in a special education program, a teacher really has to have a passion for the students they are teaching. I also think it is important as you said to really strive for best practices! Good intentions are worthless if nothing ever comes of them. I found it to be really interesting that you would rather have a grumpy teacher for your children that taught them something rather than having a teacher with good intentions who never took the time to learn what outcomes they should be expected to reach. I never really thought about it in that context but it’s so true. A teacher may provide a pleasant environment for the students, but if they walk away with nothing learned, it was pointless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-81708917097787609572010-06-15T16:42:46.811-07:002010-06-15T16:42:46.811-07:00The topic of disabled students and their teachers ...The topic of disabled students and their teachers is always a touchy subject. I agree that teachers need to push their students as much as possible because we want to see growth in our siblings or children but so much responsibility is placed on the teacher. I understand that not everyone is meant to be a teacher but that is what the credential program is for, to weed out the weak. If a person is able to pay for school and make it through the year to year and a half long process I believe they deserve to teach but like you said that does not mean they should become stagnant and lazy. They should always look to make improvements. I don't agree with "lazy" teachers but can we consider all teachers who don't push their students to the absolute max a lazy teacher? I don't think so, especially when dealing with disabled students, I understand they are human and just like everyone else but they do learn differently for obvious reasons, this is where I think it is the parents job to help their child. For some students, I think doing puzzles and singing songs is exactly what they need because that is the most entertainment they will get all day because when they get home they will be neglected by their entire family which is more of a tragedy to me then a teacher that wants to "babysit". To me, it is the parents job to find a suitable class for their child. My mom fought tooth and nail for my brother and I believe he has made strides that he would never have made if he went to the area school but my mom did the research to find out where the best school for him would be. Then she would scout out the classroom multiple times so she could see the teacher and how they operated. As I step down from my soapbox (sorry) I would like to restate that I do indeed agree with you that it is not a teachers job to feel they "have arrived" once they get the position but sometimes a little love and energy is what the kids need because they aren't getting it at home. Each case is different but I'm glad you are an advocate of challenging teachers to get better at what they do which will in turn help children with disabilities grow and progress in society.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-38498514044615359362010-06-13T17:06:01.745-07:002010-06-13T17:06:01.745-07:00While I was reading this one particular classroom ...While I was reading this one particular classroom came to mind. A severely handicapped class at a high school. I spent at least a good four hours with this class. The whole time I was there not once did any instructional time take place. Whenever the teacher was in the classroom she sat at her desk and the rest of the time she was in and out doing who knows what. The aides did the work. They diapered, fed, and at times interacted with the students. They were babysitters. During lunch time a mainstream student who was a nephew to one of the aides came over to speak with his aunt. He then notices one of the students who did not look well taken care of. She had crust formed around her eyes, snot coming out of her nose, and was eating as the drainage from her nose ran into her food. Well this mainstream boy notices the girl and begins to gag loudly and makes a bit of a scene. The aides instead of cleaning her up or asking the boy to leave begin laughing at the situation and tell the girl to go hug this boy and follow him. Well you can imagine the boy’s reaction. He was gagging loudly with tears in his eyes at how disgusted he was and the aides just laughed and laughed. I could not believe what I was seeing. They did not care to help the girl they just sat back and let her become a joke. This to me was just a taste of how much work needs to be done in order for all kids to receive a true education. Even if there are good intentions laziness should never be an excuse to not get up and do something.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-37668811118145601112010-06-01T18:01:57.966-07:002010-06-01T18:01:57.966-07:00I have visited very few moderate/severe special ed...I have visited very few moderate/severe special education classrooms; one which caught my attention was a County classroom at a High School in Moreno Valley. The teacher for the severely handicap students has probably been teaching there for 10-15 years. <br />Her classroom is about 20 ft. wide and 15 ft. long. Most of her students are wheelchair bound and are diapered. The disabilities in her class vary from Down syndrome to Cerebral Palsy. She has about 15-18 students; knowing that you can imagine her classroom structure. When you walk in the classroom, it is even hard to walk because of all the wheelchairs. The task of just taking the students to the buses was time consuming and hard. The time that I was there as a volunteer, I noticed that she tried hard to spend time with each student, but sometimes that was impossible. She did a lot of hand over hand work with them. She would hold their hand as they turned the page in a book, she would hold a tambourine as they sang a song, and would hold a spoon in their hand (for those who where not tube-fed) as they ate. I admired her work, but noticed that it might have been too much for her to handle with only two other Instructional Assistants.<br />In my opinion, if you are not able to brainstorm new learning activities and accommodate to your student's needs, then you might want to re-think teaching in that area. It is good to have a schedule and a lesson plan, but making it different and interesting every day. Having two to three hours of free time should not even be considered. Where is the education in that? <br />I also sat in IEP's to translate for parents and noticed that a lot of the parents did not have comments about what they would like their student to learn at school. This frustrated me, not only because they did not suggest anything but also because they would often times refer back to the teacher.Nohemi S.http://naomimi19@yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-1175174930717436762010-05-18T14:03:26.419-07:002010-05-18T14:03:26.419-07:00I find the idea that any classroom would have two ...I find the idea that any classroom would have two and half hours of free time to be atrocious. This time could be used for many, more constructive means, and would never have flown on a daily basis in general education classrooms. While I have never worked in a formal classroom setting where I have had to fill out an entire day, I certainly hope that I would be able too. Some of the activities that the teacher initiated do not sound inherently bad, if used in the proper context with the proper students, but this unfortunately does not seem to be the case. I am curious though if this is something that was eventually brought up to the teacher or the school board. I wonder this because I am curious as to what the schools reaction would be since her desk was covered in awards. If they enjoy this status quo of sitting in circles leading songs, well I may know an unemployed student with a guitar, who is going to be looking for work at the end of the semester. I was also disappointed to read about the master teacher who wasn’t “mastering.” I have had friends go through similar processes and am always shocked at how mixed the results are, and I find that extremely unfortunate.Jacob Harringtonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-16005724514793017142010-05-17T23:32:22.241-07:002010-05-17T23:32:22.241-07:00Reading this post reminds me of why I want to furt...Reading this post reminds me of why I want to further my education and become a better teacher. I do not want to be that lazy teacher you are writing about. So void of care and creativity that teaching becomes something you do every weekday and thats it. Just being a warm body in the room is not enough. Reading about these lazy teachers makes me wonder what their motivations are for teaching. Were they once sincere? What wore them down? What can I do to make sure that doesn't happen to me? My initial reaction was, "Oh man, they suck. How could they do that to those kids? They should just quit and let someone who cares do it." But like I said, I wonder how easily I myself can resemble or begin to resemble them. If anything, I read this as warning. <br /><br />I also like that you point out that good intentions only go so far. Again, this is something I need to apply to my own teaching now and in the future. It doesn't matter if I sincerely desire for my students to learn if I am doing very little to reach that goal. Actions are key. Doing, planning, working harder then the day before. Just writing that makes me think... "Wow, this isn't going to be easy." Its not. But of course, it isnt supposed to be. It should be rewarding... but not a cake walk. My students now and Lord willing, in the future, depend on how hard Im willing to work. Gotta remember this. <br /><br />- Adrian Martinez EDU541 Summer 2010 CBUAdrian Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10005172631581447438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-78308895161250944552010-05-05T11:38:34.506-07:002010-05-05T11:38:34.506-07:00You stated; “It breaks my heart when I see student...You stated; “It breaks my heart when I see students in these kinds of classes, and breaks my heart even more when teachers that I have trained have regressed to this level.” Referring to teachers who are doing little or nothing in the classroom after getting their credentials. Being a teacher in the classroom myself, I am able to see both sides of this argument. I do not condone this behavior or lack of teaching but I do understand a few things about what may be happening. <br /> One thing that may be occurring is that the teacher comes to the classroom with what they have learned and have been taught; but then is sidelined by what the district and individual school wants. This may occur because the district test scores are down and needs the schools to make changes that are not necessarily in the best interest of the students. In fact, a school may want certain changes in order to raise the individual school’s test scores to look good to the state, in order to get more funding. These are real, inexcusable events that occur all of the time in education.<br /> I am speaking from the standpoint of a general education teacher though, who knows very little about the alternate education of people with disabilities. Referring to your visit where a “master” teacher built 2 and ½ hours of free time into the schedule, I cannot speak intelligently about this. This is not something that I personally understand. When I was under my mentor as a 4th grade teacher, I learned to never have gaps such as this. Learning should always be taking place. It is possible that my judgment is being clouded by my own desire to become a fully certified teacher.<br /> You hit on a valid point in your article. Stating that one of your teachers was willing but unable to do their job because the “master” teacher was not doing what they were supposed to be doing. From speaking with people in this position in the past, happens frequently. <br /> Regarding the “ master “teacher doing things in her head; this should never be done from what I have been taught. Teachers should always have a lesson plan, and should never “wing-it”. This is as you say; “laziness”. <br /> I enjoyed what you stated about grumpy vs lazy. I too am a parent and would much rather have a grumpy teacher who is teaching than one that has good intentions and does nothing. I think that as a teacher, I realize one thing…If a teacher does not enjoy their job, for whatever reason; then they should do something else or there will be no teaching. Only good intentions. Teachers love children I believe, or they would not do what they do for the most part. I think that some things come their way that detaches them which may be a downfall for the students.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6825243.post-31228052781853180932010-04-29T00:58:43.085-07:002010-04-29T00:58:43.085-07:00I too, have walked into the classroom of lazy teac...I too, have walked into the classroom of lazy teachers. What I believe is the most upsetting is when the teacher does not even attempt to demonstrate good intentions. At that point it is an indication to everyone that they do not care about the purpose of the job and their job has just turned into getting a pay check. If a teacher gets to that point, it is a big indicator that they need to either move schools or do something. However, I can see and understand how a teacher would not want to leave an easy job that requires no effort at all, since it is easy money. If the ultimate goal of the teacher was not to have to put the effort, then why even go to college; fast food or retail would have required less effort. I am not implying anything negative about those jobs; any job is a good job. Here is my point, if you went to school for x number of years and paid so many dollars for that college education, use it. It is not fair to the children, and it is not fair to the good teachers that cannot get a job because a lazy teacher is filling the position.RosaWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00395071827961873333noreply@blogger.com