Get Schooled

By high school teacher

November 8, 2005 12:16 PM | Link to this

At the schools where I have worked, the faculty members nominate teachers, and then we vote on the list of top nominees. I would like to see students involved in the selection process; they are the ones who truly know! Many teachers who deserve the accolades often go unrecognized because they teach remedial classes or teach freshmen, which for some reason is considered undesirable in many systems. All too often, those who teach honors classes are praised more than other teachers. Who has the harder job: the teachers who teach the cream of the crop, or the teachers who teach the kids who don’t want to be here?

By em

November 8, 2005 12:44 PM | Link to this

I agree with high school teacher.

By Robert

November 8, 2005 12:46 PM | Link to this

Every teacher is teacher of the year! So many “student” are rude, disrespectful, without manners, will not listen, and on and on, any person that is willing to stand in front of 30 or more of these insulate brats to even attempt to teach is teacher of the year.

Yes, I am a teacher. No, not all students are like this. However, when you get even one general level class that cusses at you, throws things, won’t listen, and then gets made at you because “you failed them” - what would you think?

By Leia

November 8, 2005 12:58 PM | Link to this

All teachers have a hard job. Teachers who teach the “cream of the crop” also typically have to deal with parents who don’t understand that their children can earn grades below an A. If you’re doing your job right - you also have to differentiate your lessons so that you’re actually teaching a gifted curriculum. Yes, we don’t generally have to deal with the cursing, and such, but, when we do - these kids are far more dangerous than you’d imagine! These are the ones who bring bombs to school and write stories about killing everyone in their diaries.

But, back on topic - the teachers at my school who are voted TOTY are usually the ones who’ve been here a while or are about to retire. Our school plays the sympathy vote big time!

By Ron

November 8, 2005 01:23 PM | Link to this

Its great to HONOR a teacher rather than punishing them for being strict on a disobedient, gangsta wannabee, kid. Administrators are too quick to listen to the punk kid and equally punk parent, rather than standing behind the teacher.

It is no surprise that more and more good teachers are hanging it up.

By Dan

November 8, 2005 01:33 PM | Link to this

Posts like Roberts are a big reason these blogs get contentious. A friend of mine won TOTY last year at a local school (junior high I think). She quit her job in marketing six years ago, got her certificates and is working on her degree. yet she still won, so it isn’t always the teacher there the longest or teaching honors or whatever. There will always be more good teachers than awards and as many bad teachers as good (that goes for any profession) The point being, keep trying to do the right things and you will eventually get noticed, even if it’s from a kid you taught 15 years ago sending a thank you note.

By oldteacher

November 8, 2005 01:35 PM | Link to this

When you are nominated for teacher of the year, you have to fill out many forms and then do a song and dance for a committee. It isn’t easy.

By high school teacher

November 8, 2005 01:57 PM | Link to this

I’m not saying that teaching the cream of the crop is esay; I teach both honors and regular classes. I do tend to struggle more in the regular classes because the kids aren’t as intrinsically motivated to do well. And Leia has a point. Most of those “helicopter parents” are parents of honors students.

Regardless, TOTY is an honor.

By RF

November 8, 2005 02:10 PM | Link to this

Dan- You are soooo right. So many teachers who are awesome never get nominated for awards because there are just not enough awards to go around. I’ve taught a long time, and the best ‘awards’ I’ve gotten are my front porch swing (built by a parent as a thank you gift), a card on my refrigerator from a kid that I had probably ten years ago, and a great friend who was a student of mine back in the stone ages when I started. Those things are a lot more meaningful than being teacher of the year. I’ve also been around long enough to see former students become teachers and have had the distinct honor to teach with them and know I was part of making them into something. Those are the meaningful awards, not always tangible, but memorable nonetheless.

By Martha

November 8, 2005 04:07 PM | Link to this

I am an educator even though I do not presently teach or work outside my home. I have been a teacher. I believe that teachers have to be more than a good instructional educator; but a well-rounded individual who instills not only information to students (who are willing to learn )but also instill wisdom. In my classes, the novels/short stories that we read led to discussions afterwards. These topics might be any or all of these: life, death, pride, selfishness, after-life, purpose, tolerance, values, character and much more. I hope that the students who left my classroom received far more than just a good teacher of the material. I hope they received wisdom to put the knowledge into action. Many people are gifted in teaching, but few can instill in the students a zest for knowledge and wisdom for a lifetime. That is my definition of a teacher (s) who should be honored. I know there are many of them; hard to choose, I am sure. Some of the best teachers that I had in school were teachers of the fine arts: music (chorus, band), drama, and debate(speech). I hope these “fine arts” never leave our schools. I salute each teacher who is teaching because of a calling; it is not easy. I also would like counselors to be free to be “there” for the students to talk to them, trust them, and know that they have an adult friend/advocate who will help them in many areas. The counselors are “way too busy” and need to be “freed up” to be a source of strength to the students. We might have a different school atmosphere then. Parents are still the heart and soul and foundation of any good teacher and student. Cooperation is essential. Thanks for “listening”.

By retired teacher

November 8, 2005 04:13 PM | Link to this

I taught for over 30 years and was honored as teacher of the year at the local and county level several times. I agree with RF, the best awards are from former students and the parents of students. All “awards” are not material items. Knowing I had a positive influence on so many people is very rewarding.

By Tiffany

November 8, 2005 04:45 PM | Link to this

Robert, Oh my goodness!!!!!!!!!! Do you really teach at a school where they actually throw things and curse at you?

By Tiffany

November 8, 2005 04:50 PM | Link to this

All teachers…. Do you really have to put up with such in a classroom or was Robert exaggerating?

By Karen Armsby

November 9, 2005 08:27 AM | Link to this

I am very cynical about the teacher of the year awards. IMHO these awards are usually given to appease, mollify and divert attention from the fact that those competing for the awards have not been adequately compensated, are generally not appreciated by the adminsitration, and in fact have to play politics to even get in the running. I think there are many unsung heroes among our thousands of teachers that will never be nominated or considered, but they are excellent teachers. When one teacher is designated the best, the others are then deflated and surely feel like losers. What’s the point in naming just one TOTY per school, per school system or for the entire state?

TOTY appears to me to be just another PR opportunity created by the school system to crow about their accomplishments.

By Leia

November 9, 2005 09:05 AM | Link to this

Tiffany - I don’t know what Robert’s experiences are, but, just yesterday, we had a student curse out a teacher, the A.P. and the principal over getting her cell phone confiscated! When Mom came to the school - she continued the curse-fest! So, yes - it does happen.

By Robert

November 9, 2005 09:40 AM | Link to this

Tiffany, Please understand that what I described is not every student nor every class. However, I do teach one class this semester that is filled with these types of students. They regularly cuss at each other and at me. I have even heard them cuss at their parents. Their behavior is simply out of control and there is nothing that I can do as a teacher for one period a day to change this. They will not listen to any lesson. The only time that they are quiet is when they put their head down to sleep. If I try to wake them up they cuss at me. It is a class like this that makes me reconsider my decision to teach. The parents are just as useless to correct the student’s behavior as are the administrators.

By Tammy

November 9, 2005 10:32 AM | Link to this

Rober, I underderstand your pain as I have an eighth grade class similar to yours this quarter. The majority of them are rude and disrespectful both to me and each other. They throw things and my room is covered with trash each day they leave. When I call their parents, they either say that I am picking on their child or that they can’t control their child either. I’ve assigned these students detention and have referred them to the office, but my administrators are too busy dealing with more serious discipline issues (drugs and violence) to deal with lesser issues like these. Fortunately, not all of my students are like that, or I would leave teaching altogether. Most students are a joy to teach and a pleasure to work with.

By vendy

November 9, 2005 10:34 AM | Link to this

TOTY is a very appropriate for the dedicated teachers and it came as a surprise to one of our high-school teacher who had just come from India.

Long live American-way-of-life!

By Nhaq

November 9, 2005 10:40 AM | Link to this

Yes I was teaching and now recruit High School teachers for science and special-education. Intalage Inc.. You have to see to beleive the excitement of the teachers who are rewarded with TOTY.

Yes. Americal-way-of-life is best.

By DB

November 9, 2005 11:32 AM | Link to this

I think the awards are a joke. For every TOTY, there are many teachers that are just as good or better that don’t get recognition mostly due to politics.

As a teacher, I would say the best award is knowing deep down you’re a part of a successful school where all your colleagues are part of the team creating productive members of society. And even better than that is when you get visits, cards, or emails from students or parents saying how you made a significant difference. I’ve seen rewards given to great teachers, and I’ve seen rewards given to teachers that just make themselves “look” great. Those rewards are about as credible as politicians if you ask me. And I would tend to argue the definition of “great teacher” is extremely subjective.

By SWC

November 10, 2005 10:07 AM | Link to this

“Administrators are too busy dealing with more serious discipline issues (drugs and violence) to deal with lesser issues like these”

This approach is a recipe for failure! If one allows students to get away with the “lesser” infractions then they will all too often end up committing the more serious ones.

The great Mayor Rudolph Guiliani ignored the liberal ACLU handwringers and revitalized New York City by addressing “minor” infractions like turnstile jumping, graffiti, unsolicited window washing and the like. In a very short time he brought crime rates down overall and returned New York to the civilized world. The same philosophy needs to be used at the schools.

p.s. What is “a psychoeducation center”?

By Tiffany

November 10, 2005 10:13 AM | Link to this

Robert/Tammy

Wow, I didn’t know we had that going on in public schools. I thought that teachers had more support in school (from administration). Well, I definitely will stop my teacher bashing (not supportive of parents\students). I think if I had to deal with issues like that, I would develop a hard shell and only have time for those students who want to learn. Wow, it’s still hard to digest.

By Tiffany

November 10, 2005 10:49 AM | Link to this

I used to be one of those readers who always had a suggestion to teachers who in my opinion were just complaining. People just don’t understand what teachers have to go thru….myself included. All these quotes from books and magazines people post. All the suggestions from other educational sites……is useless until you walk a mile in a teacher’s shoes.