http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/track-coach-nike-ties-fired-prom-student-article-1.1082469
http://lonelyconservative.com/2012/05/teacher-caught-on-tape-shrieking-at-student-for-criticizing-obama/
I found both of these articles irksome in different ways. Both deal with education, and both deal with people making decisions. What I find the most frustrating about teaching is have EVERY decision made in the classroom second guessed. Wither it is parent questioning junior's failing grade on standardized tests, or administration wondering why junior scored so well on standardized tests...(it's never that the teacher taught well, and always that the test is too easy) For the most part teachers are professionals, and act so. Sometimes even the most professional teacher makes a bad decision, or does something they normally would not do. It happens. Even professional athletes strike out or miss freethrows. We all know how revered they are.
The first article reports about a track volunteer being asked to "un-volunteer" for attended a prom with a student. This student had been struggling socially due not speaking English well. The coach went to promote the student's self confidence and did so under the stipulation that the student would improve their English. Personally I have been asked to proms, and had I been older and not as baby-faced as I was, I would have gone. Students need these types of social events as part of their development. If you believe any of the John Ford movies of the 1980's, you will understand that prom is the singular most important event of high school. Like, Duh!!
And to beat all this coach has proven successful in growing a program, and track no less. Neither tasks are easy, and is a testament to the coach and her husband. Now, the school is seeking to take apart a winning team (which will effect many more students negatively) because the coach attempted positive change for another. Explain that to me. Explain too the fact that the father of the student had to given permission. If you can explain this, please post a comment and I'd been willing to listen.
The second article demands equal explanation yet on the other side of the coin. Where the first seems to be a bit harsh, the second article seems a bit not. Allegedly a teacher ranted, and raved about President Obama to a student. At some point there might have been some profanity, which is un-excusable. No one should cuss at a student not matter how much you might want. There is video evidence of the event (has anyone asked why the students had their cell phones out recording all this...no school I've been around allows them during instructional time), and the teacher goes a bit nuts.
What is hard to explain in this situation is why less was done. The teacher is clearly in the wrong. As a civics teacher you try to bait students, there is some inherent in this, but it needs to be done so in a way that no single side is taken. I prefer to place a group of students opposed to another. You may play each side against the other and argue multiple points from the middle. While this teacher is guilty of more than just bad planning, nothing seems to be being done. Especially when placed next to the first article, the teacher in the second article seems to be more in line for punishment than the first.
I'm not a big fan of throwing teachers under the bus, though it seems that I am doing so. Both teachers made mistakes, so what?!? We all do it! Is there something magically different about teachers than other professionals. Is there a second set of standards for us? Are we supposed to teach you student and be perfect? If that's the case, we need a raise! And oh while your at it, why not start parenting your own child so we are not constantly having to.
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