E.D Hersh

Dear E.D. Hersh,

I want to point out that preparing students for standardized tests is not the way to teach them. They need to be learning more life skills and become prepared for the outside world to become good citizens. Most people think that teachers and students can do what they want within a classroom, and it is true that depending on the district, that some teachers can get away with more than others but there needs to be a standard within the teaching realm as well. There are few teachers that are actually held up to the standard of teaching that we are trying to obtain in this country. Granted, I teach at a private school, but wouldn't you think that a private education is supposed to be "better" than the alternative public school. If that is the case, then why is it that I find so many private school teachers who are unwilling to put in any extra time to help another student learn. At the previous private school that I was at, I played the role of the Athletic Director and Phys Ed teacher. I can't even begin to tell you how many days I spent after school or coming into school an hour early to help students with their math homework or help proofread a paper for them. When I began to question why they were asking me and not their teacher of that subject, they would tell me they already had and that the teacher was unwilling to stay and help. What are we teaching the children of today with that kind of attitude?

I believe

I believe that the physical education curriculum is now where close to where it needs to be and this is why most of America is obese. The first class that students are taken out of for any reason in school is phys ed. I would think that the health and well being of the students should be the most important. I also believe that Caltholic and Private schools should be held to the same standards as public school and from working at a private high school for two years and now working at a private k-8 school, the education level is very different. I had one student who was in the first grade enter my computer class, and as I was working with her I discovered that she didnt know her letters very well. I asked her to write her ABC's and she couldn't, and when I asked her to recite her ABC's she couldn't do that either. I sopke to her teacher after class and she said to me that the parents don't care. Well, I believe that these are the students we need to pay the most attention to. Just because this child has parents who don't care, doesn't mean she isn't entitled to a decent education and that us, as a faculty shouldn't provide it. I shouldn't be taking time away from my class to teach a 1st grader her ABC's.

introduction

Hi everyone, I am Shirah Odeh. I missed the first class so I know my introduction is a little late. I am finishing my graduate work here in December in Exercise Science. I coach soccer here at MSU with the women's program and am now in my 3rd year as an assistant coach. I also teach k-8 phys ed and computers in englewood. I have played and coached soccer and basketball most of my life and hope one day to be head coach at a college somewhere. I have an older sister whom I live with, and a younger brother who is attending MSU for his undergrad as well. I am taking this course to help me obtain a supervisor's certificate in the future of my teaching career.