Having attended the academic institutions I have, and because of the people I surround myself with, I have been exposed to debate after debate. Participating in some of these encounters has been much more enjoyable than others. And the reason that this has been the case is that some individuals are prepared for the debates, they are knowledgeable about the situation which they are discussing. For some reason a great many people I have been in debates with merely want to argue. They are genuinely passionate about the issues, but in general they are not as educated as they should be on issues that they care so much about. There is no reason for somebody to get into an argument without being able to support their side with substantial evidence.
I must admit that I have been guilty of not having educated responses to issues about which I am passionate. It is because of this that I am aware of the disparity between having a solid argument, grounded in fact, and one that is based solely upon an individual passion and ability to argue. to be honest, it is really easy to feel good about oneself when in a debate with another person who knows nothing about the issue, and is truly arguing for the sake of arguing. However, I have never truly enjoyed finding myself in such situations. Whenever finding myself in these encounters, I find that I do not feel good about myself and being able to make my argument. Rather, I get frustrated and angry that I am in a debate with somebody who does not feel that our discussion warrants them putting time and effort into something about which they claim to be passionate.
If people truly care about the topics that they debate, then they should have no issue researching the issues. In doing this they are able to not come off as ridiculous, uninformed, unintelligible individuals. It is not hard to place oneself in a position of being informed and able to carry on intelligible debates. Read online, read books and the newspaper, do your research. That is all that must be done; people merely need to prepare themselves on issues about which they are passionate.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Academic Association
In a response to my post entitled Parental Presence a colleague of mine, CircumVentures, brought up the issue of teachers unions and how difficult it is for even unqualified or unsuccessful educators in the public school system to lose their job. As an individual who attended a private school, I was never exposed to teachers unions and, therefore, did not have a familiarity with what comes with membership in such organizations. After my colleague's comments on Parental Presence, and as a resident of California, I made the decision to educate myself on the California Teachers Association.
As has been pointed out to me, it is almost impossible for teachers who are members of unions, such as the CTA, to lose their jobs. A part of one's membership in CTA is that, if needed, teachers are provided with legal services, whether free services are provided or they are provided at a discounted fee. In addition to providing its members with legal counsel when necessary, the CTA works to improve working conditions within schools. Not only does the organization work to improve the working conditions of its members, but it also fights for higher salaries, more health benefits and more affordable retirement policies.
The California Teachers Association provides its more than 340,000 members with a great many benefits that they may not receive if they did not hold membership to such an organization. The CTA fights tirelessly to protect and advance both the professional and economic interests of its members. While I am able to recognize these benefits and the possibilities that there are others to being a member of the CTA, I am still not sure where I stand on teachers unions. As I stated, I understand and am thankful for all of the benefits provided by organizations such as the CTA, but I still do not know how I feel about the fact that even educators who have not been successful in the classroom not only retain their positions, but receive additional aid.
As has been pointed out to me, it is almost impossible for teachers who are members of unions, such as the CTA, to lose their jobs. A part of one's membership in CTA is that, if needed, teachers are provided with legal services, whether free services are provided or they are provided at a discounted fee. In addition to providing its members with legal counsel when necessary, the CTA works to improve working conditions within schools. Not only does the organization work to improve the working conditions of its members, but it also fights for higher salaries, more health benefits and more affordable retirement policies.
The California Teachers Association provides its more than 340,000 members with a great many benefits that they may not receive if they did not hold membership to such an organization. The CTA fights tirelessly to protect and advance both the professional and economic interests of its members. While I am able to recognize these benefits and the possibilities that there are others to being a member of the CTA, I am still not sure where I stand on teachers unions. As I stated, I understand and am thankful for all of the benefits provided by organizations such as the CTA, but I still do not know how I feel about the fact that even educators who have not been successful in the classroom not only retain their positions, but receive additional aid.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Parental Presence
When it comes to institutions of learning, there are countless players in the education of children. Of course there are the students and teachers themselves, and there are the school's administrators. A sometimes forgotten demographic,however, is that of parents. Without the parents, the children would not be in the classroom. This is true in the sense that if not for dear old Mom and Dad, that little student sitting at the cluster of desks in the left corner of the room would not even exist. But past that, it is because of the parents that the student is sitting in this particular classroom. The parents choose what school to send their children to, thereby becoming intricately involved in their entire educational career.
But what is the role of the parent past choosing the school that their children will be attending? Different parents take very different approaches to how they involve themselves in their children's classes. Some are the over involved parent, the ones who take it upon themselves to act as another, if not the primary, educator. This is the type of parent that teachers cannot stand! There is a reason that every teacher gets hired, a reason why they are the one up in front, running the class. Yes, this is often the predominant type of parent, but not the only kind out there.
Despite being a rare specimen, the helpful parent surely does exist. No need to be overly involved, no need to be telling teachers and administrators how to run their classrooms. Only an obliging volunteer when needed. These individuals are willing to take the necessary steps to enhance their children's experience while in school. It is these parents that all teachers wish to have in their classrooms. The parent willing to drive for field trips, willing to help out during the class bake-sale, willing to take home the class guinea pig for winter vacation.
This latter type of parent is the one that needs to become the dominant parental presence in the classroom. While the overbearing, overly involved parent is better than the parent taking no interest whatsoever, this demographic is, in some ways, just as detrimental. For the child of the overly involved parent, there is nothing more dreaded than the image of that parent walking through the classroom door. And when something so unfortunate happens for children at a young age, it is such events that these students associate with their education for the rest of their lives. When this happens, when, for the rest of their lives, students correlate their ever present parents with school, the desire to learn is greatly diminished.
As those involved in the field of education, it is our responsibility to not only advocate for the helpful classroom parent, but to assist in training this breed of parent. Not only does having parents willing to help make things easier for the teacher, but also makes the entire learning experience infinitely more enjoyable for the students. To all you parents our there, take an interest in your children's education, but do not assume that it is up to you to provide them with their formal education.
But what is the role of the parent past choosing the school that their children will be attending? Different parents take very different approaches to how they involve themselves in their children's classes. Some are the over involved parent, the ones who take it upon themselves to act as another, if not the primary, educator. This is the type of parent that teachers cannot stand! There is a reason that every teacher gets hired, a reason why they are the one up in front, running the class. Yes, this is often the predominant type of parent, but not the only kind out there.
Despite being a rare specimen, the helpful parent surely does exist. No need to be overly involved, no need to be telling teachers and administrators how to run their classrooms. Only an obliging volunteer when needed. These individuals are willing to take the necessary steps to enhance their children's experience while in school. It is these parents that all teachers wish to have in their classrooms. The parent willing to drive for field trips, willing to help out during the class bake-sale, willing to take home the class guinea pig for winter vacation.
This latter type of parent is the one that needs to become the dominant parental presence in the classroom. While the overbearing, overly involved parent is better than the parent taking no interest whatsoever, this demographic is, in some ways, just as detrimental. For the child of the overly involved parent, there is nothing more dreaded than the image of that parent walking through the classroom door. And when something so unfortunate happens for children at a young age, it is such events that these students associate with their education for the rest of their lives. When this happens, when, for the rest of their lives, students correlate their ever present parents with school, the desire to learn is greatly diminished.
As those involved in the field of education, it is our responsibility to not only advocate for the helpful classroom parent, but to assist in training this breed of parent. Not only does having parents willing to help make things easier for the teacher, but also makes the entire learning experience infinitely more enjoyable for the students. To all you parents our there, take an interest in your children's education, but do not assume that it is up to you to provide them with their formal education.
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