questions for ohgetreal

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questions for ohgetreal
By another teacher

Sorry, "ohgetreal", but your take on summer school and how teachers spend their summers is not quite accurate. In fact, it is so far misconstrued from the reality of our jobs and how we spend time in the summer, that it is
clear you are not well-informed about this profession. Summer school offers classes for remediation and enrichment. Many of the students in our summer school classes are taking advanced courses or computer/science enrichment, writer's workshops, etc. Those of us who are teaching summer school are working hard to make sure the experience is enjoyable and valuable to their educational

careers. Admittedly, some students are playing "catch up"--but don't throw that blame on the teachers. Perhaps those children are struggling and catching up on the coursework for a variety of reasons: extended school absence, family/home problems that led to a difficult school year, lack of support from parents during the academic year, students who move alot, etc. The list goes on and on and on. Those of us who are not teaching summer school are writing curriculum, planning lessons and themes, meeting with colleagues, attending CSE and child study meetings. organizing our classrooms, attending professional development workshops, etc. That having been said, I would like a little enlightenment from you, "ohgetreal." Perhaps if you could answer some questions for us we could better understand your criticism of the teaching profession. I would like to know, what is your profession? If you are a homeschooling parent, then that is your profession, but do you have some sort of degree that is equivalent to ours that allows you to question our practices in such a critical and condescending tone? Is your training superior to ours, and if so, could you share some of your insights with us so we can compare notes? What has happened in the public education system that has left you so bitter and critical? It is one thing to homeschool and still come here for support and advice--those are REAL teachers--parents who choose to educate at home, but look for and use resources accordingly, and another to homeschool and then come here and criticize professionals because they disagree with something. Finally, "ohgetreal" I would like to know how you spend your summers or vacation time. What do you do to rejuvenate yourself and prepare for your children's education. Oh, one last thought as well, since you seem to be so quick to criticize our "failures" as teachers in public education, I am just curious, what do you do when your children aren't successful with a lesson or they don't master something the first time around? Do you criticize yourself or do you find a way to reteach it? What if they STILL don't get it after many attempts? What do you do then? I would like to suggest that the debate between "ohgetreal" and the professional teachers and home-schooling parents come to an end. The debate is becoming critical of others, condescending, and highly unprofessional. Clearly each and every one of us has better things to do with our time--whether we relax or work in the summer is irrelevant. We know we are successful--we don't need ohgetreal to tell us otherwise.