Boston Globe: A higher bar for future teachers

Parent Cafe
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<p>no the security guy didn't want to transfer - lets just say- the principal felt that it was politically desirable for him to be in another building- I disagree- but I am not privy to all the background.
He had been a great asset to the community, he knows the kids- and they respect him.
Considering that at Ds previous school the security person rarely left his office and that was mostly to go have a cigarette,- the contrast was really appreciated.</p>

<p>I agree that the system is dysfunctional
When good teachers- bear the brunt of poor teachers- & the good teachers who have 10 years seniority are paid the same as the bad teachers with 10 years seniority.....?</p>

<p>I think in many businesses- with unions- it is really difficult to transfer or let go people who aren't doing their job.</p>

<p>For example- my H works at Boeing- for 20 years. He is highly skilled- but has turned down any offers to go into management. Right now , he is his own dept & lead. Lots of inefficiencies & lots of people who have been transfered from dept to dept and building to building, because without clear documentation of why they shouldn't be working there- and an extreme enough case that will hold up to union investigation- they are going to keep their jobs.
One shop for instance changed the job titles of all the jobs in the shop & then all the classifications of all the workers- except one, so he finally was disappeared.</p>

<p>Im not arguing why we have unions- however- in my H case- they haven't been helpful on a personal scale. </p>

<p>The Seattle district is so big, that teachers can be moved around for quite a while after they have a few years experience- but with principals staying the most for 3 years at a school, not many of them have an investment in building a strong team. Which is really a pity.</p>

<p>My mother for instance-attended Garfield- and when she was there, the principal had been there for over 20 years!
That used to be much more common & coming from a school that had 3 principals in 6 years and now has gone through 2 more since we have left, I am very aware of the impact transition in leadership has.</p>

<p>RIght now at Garfield- I think we have a wonderful principal- the district really needs to have more mentorships for principals and more support for schools undergoing changes in administration.</p>

<p>Teachers should be allowed to teach-while we have collaboration time so that all classes can be on the same page ( a figure of speech - not literally)
interest in depth of curriculum is so varied- and it seems such a political thing- between serving your students the best you know how & not making the other teacher look bad because you are doing twice as much.
A strong principal can bring accountability to the classrooms and provide support for teachers who take on extra challenges.</p>

<p>But why do the principals need a union?
If you are a great principal- you should be able to be paid for your experience and the challenges of your school- those assigned to more difficult schools should be have more expected of them and paid likewise, but those principals who aren't effective- who are transferred around the district for 10 plus years- spending only a year or two at a school, those principals should not be kicked upstairs- but given a modest severance package and suggestions on retraining.</p>

<p>We have as many employed in the adminstrative side of the district as we did when the schools enrolled twice as many.
The phrase too many cooks comes to mind..</p>

202

<p>You might wonder why my kids aren't on track to be teachers seeing how I feel... well just like a mama bear I too want to protect my children in life. </p>

<p>All one has to do is read some of the posters here to see why I wouldn't want my children to deal with such misplaced anger. Mean people suck.</p>

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<p>Opie, my son in in the public school. My d spent time there, too. Teacher's kids always are assigned to the good teachers. Let's take a poll & I'm sure posters here will agree.</p>

<p>If you think anyone is complaining about tough, non-nonsense teachers, then you have not been listening. I dream of them for my son & we've had quite a few. But I've given egregious examples that you chose not to read, apparently. No misunderstanding possible on my part when a teacher tells me she reassured the struggling math class with the following insight: "I hate math!" I'm sure you'd be thrilled about her teaching your kids. How about the middle school English teachers who NEVER returned a paper. "It's against our policy." I asked how kids could improve their writing if they are just shown a grade and there are no corrections or suggestions given. After receiving a blank stare, I was asked why it was a problem, as my d earned straight As. Absolutely clueless teachers. How about DYFS observing an abusive teacher who retains her job? I saw another teacher dump out an ADD kid's desk while he was delivering birthday treats because it was crammed with paper and very messy. Happy birthday! Here's some humiliation on your special day. The look on his face when he returned was heartbreaking. I overheard another 2nd grade teacher, when questioned by a student why their class was always the first to line up & exit the building, say "It's becasue I can't pretend I want to be around children for another minute." Sarcasm for seven year olds must be one of the new pedagogic methods, I guess.</p>

<p>It sounds as if you have kids who fight & act out & have had issues. I don't. They wouldn't dare, as that is not how they have been raised. I've never needed to have an unpleasant meeting of that sort. Junior never came home telling tales. So you're off base on another assumption. </p>

<p>
[quote]
You have no idea cause you're mama bear. Try being a mama bear in a private school and see what happens

[/quote]
You don't know me at all. Opie. I'm the most professional, patient person in the world when I must deal with professionals. You get more flies with honey..... I hate mama bear types. And the Catholic school d attends has not heard a peep out of me. It is staffed with top-notch professionals who are not cruel to children or mentally unstable or incompetent.</p>

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<p>"no the security guy didn't want to transfer - lets just say- the principal felt that it was politically desirable for him to be in another building- I disagree- but I am not privy to all the background."</p>

<p>That's because the prinicpal still has to deal with the administration and like elephants they never forget.</p>

<p>"I agree that the system is dysfunctional
When good teachers- bear the brunt of poor teachers- & the good teachers who have 10 years seniority are paid the same as the bad teachers with 10 years seniority.....?"</p>

<p>I've asked this question and the main answer has always been "what happens when somebody new decides I'm a bad teacher?" "What if I get the mom that calls and demands I get fired everyday?" </p>

<p>"I think in many businesses- with unions- it is really difficult to transfer or let go people who aren't doing their job."</p>

<p>Actually it's just as hard in non union situations too. </p>

<p>"Im not arguing why we have unions- however- in my H case- they haven't been helpful on a personal scale. "</p>

<p>As I've said until we have trustworthy realible management that will deal with everyone in a consistent, fair and equitable way.. we'll have unions. Sometimes it not what you do, it's what the new boss thinks you're not doing.
I work in the business world and I can tell you alot of good people get thrown under the bus if it can advance somebody's career. We are not all the same, and some are willing to do anything at the expense of others to get ahead. </p>

<p>"The Seattle district is so big, that teachers can be moved around for quite a while after they have a few years experience- but with principals staying the most for 3 years at a school, not many of them have an investment in building a strong team. Which is really a pity."</p>

<p>Seattle needs to break up into smaller service districts. I agree moving prinicpals after 3 years makes absolutely no sense, but it follows the military practice of moving commanders to keep everyone on their toes. While it might and I say might work in the military, I don't think it helps your district. You lose the sense of family that a good prinicpal and staff can create. </p>

<p>"My mother for instance-attended Garfield- and when she was there, the Principal had been there for over 20 years!"</p>

<p>I think Sanford (military background) brought this to Seattle. He was so successful in so many areas that this wasn't questioned and his predesessors don't want to upset those who felt Sanford was the best thing to happen to Seattle schools. </p>

<p>RIght now at Garfield- I think we have a wonderful principal- the district really needs to have more mentorships for principals and more support for schools undergoing changes in administration.</p>

<p>Absolutely, I salute you. Noticing how many NM kids Garfield has produced in the last few years is truly amazing. I think Garfield may only be second to Bill Gates alma mater Lakeside. </p>

<p>"Teachers should be allowed to teach-while we have collaboration time so that all classes can be on the same page ( a figure of speech - not literally)
interest in depth of curriculum is so varied- and it seems such a political thing- between serving your students the best you know how & not making the other teacher look bad because you are doing twice as much."</p>

<p>I don't think there's time in a day to worry too much about what another teacher is doing. This is where sometimes I question this thought. Most teachers I know just don't have this kind of time. They tend to worry about their own house more than others. </p>

<p>"A strong principal can bring accountability to the classrooms and provide support for teachers who take on extra challenges."</p>

<p>I agree, and one has to understand strong doesn't have to mean disiplinarian, it can mean supportive. Some people will work their buns off if they know someone has their back. Sometimes it isn't downward communication (prinicipal to teacher) but UPWARD communication. Imagine a principal that supports her teachers and fights for them with the administration. </p>

<p>"But why do the principals need a union?
If you are a great principal- you should be able to be paid for your experience and the challenges of your school- those assigned to more difficult schools "</p>

<p>From experiences here (look up Marysville) principals need unions to protect them from administrators and school boards and their bad decisions. </p>

<p>We lost our HS prinicpal (who was imediately hired elsewhere) because she would not force School board and super demands on her teachers. The board and super at that time wanted none of her faculty to attend school board meetings or say anything EVER. She was a great person and while tough (yes even to her teachers) she was always fair. She refused unfair demands (like stiffeling free speech away from the job) and her life was made into a hell. She finally had enough and left, went elsewhere and is doing a great job in another district. It's been our loss. Her replacement has been less than stellar but follows orders. </p>

<p>You have to understand a Union doesn't always just protect the incompedent, they protect the unfairly treated too. This is a basic belief about things like torture.. do we allow torture of everybody including those innocent and figure that's Ok as long as we get the bad guys? is it good policy to torture 9 innocent people to catch 1 bad guy? I don't think so. </p>

<p>It helps to remember that in education the people who set policy ( school boards and elected officals) have the least amount of training or education on the matter of working with children, yet have the most power. There has to be a way to protect the innocent or concerned from unfair treatment by these people. </p>

<p>"We have as many employed in the adminstrative side of the district as we did when the schools enrolled twice as many.
The phrase too many cooks comes to mind.."</p>

<p>That is where we've improved, no more 100k a year pr person (250k for the pr department 3 people) alot of administrative junk jobs went away. We had our own good buddy system for a while. Most have been cleared out and we're back to working in the right direction. We were able to dump alot of 6 figure administration salaries who never spent a day in a classroom.<br>
And also the new superintendent didn't require a 24 hour a day body guard. </p>

<p>It was truly a werid time a few years back up here.</p>

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<p>SS- I am also from NJ and I disagree with your statement that teachers children always get the best teachers. I know at least 4 teachers on a personal level and their kids never received special treatment on teachers assignments. By the way my neighbor teaches at a private hs school and my impression of her is she would be a lousy teacher. Three students that have had her for class also told me that she was awful. She remains at the private no fear of being let go since many teachers left that school to teach at the new public hs that just opened. She applied did not get hired.</p>

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<p>StickerShock, So if we make teachers pay as high as MD's, we will attract good quality students into the profession, who are willing to undergo a rigorous training program, and we will have wonderful teachers. There won't need to be unions and so forth. Why are we willing to pay the MD fees and yet unwilling to pay teachers to ensure a good education for our young ones? </p>

<p>College professors, like any other professional, have its share of incompetent people. But I can assure you that the incompetent ones are mostly in the lower pay scale. The good ones, command salary ranges that are equivalent to an MD.</p>

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<p>"No misunderstanding possible on my part when a teacher tells me she reassured the struggling math class with the following insight: "I hate math!" "</p>

<p>So what???? this statement is going to ruin a child's life PLEASE. Your outrage is unfounded. Is this teacher totally uncapable of performing math calculations or did she when she took math "hate it"? GEE I guess that would put her with the majority of people in the world wouldn't it? If she can't teach the subject is one thing, her statement (I hate math) is more or less innocent and harmless and felt by millions of people every day. </p>

<p>"I'm sure you'd be thrilled about her teaching your kids."</p>

<p>As long as she knew how to teach math, her personal dislike for math wouldn't bother me in the least. It's an nonissue. We all do alot of things we don't like, don't we? Let me show you how to get through this...</p>

<p>"How about the middle school English teachers who NEVER returned a paper. "It's against our policy." I asked how kids could improve their writing if they are just shown a grade and there are no corrections or suggestions given. After receiving a blank stare, I was asked why it was a problem, as my d earned straight As. Absolutely clueless teachers."</p>

<p>OK honestly how did you handle it mama bear? I have to wonder as you don't appear to be much of a listener. If you felt your meeting was unsatisfactory did you then schedule a meeting with the principal to go over your concerns? </p>

<p>" How about DYFS observing an abusive teacher who retains her job? I saw another teacher dump out an ADD kid's desk while he was delivering birthday treats because it was crammed with paper and very messy. Happy birthday! Here's some humiliation on your special day. The look on his face when he returned was heartbreaking."</p>

<p>As I've said when talking about mine, sometimes the best teacher isn't the nicest one. I seen this story before and I probably know more about how everything comes about to get to this point than you do. </p>

<p>You've convicted the teacher ahead of time. She's abusive??? How do you really know? Did she strike the child? </p>

<p>Or simply trying something after other means hadn't worked? Were you there everyday Why was his desk stuffed with papers? Maybe the kid wasn't doing any work? Why should he have a party if he's not doing his expected classwork? </p>

<p>It's not a daycare it's a classroom. </p>

<p>You've tried to spin this story in such a way as to make unexperienced readers think this woman is some sort of demon when in reality she's Dr Philing this kid cause maybe nothing else worked to that point. OR should she just give up and let the kid slide? Why does a teacher only have to be nice to be helpful? </p>

<p>" I overheard another 2nd grade teacher, when questioned by a student why their class was always the first to line up & exit the building, say "It's becasue I can't pretend I want to be around children for another minute." Sarcasm for seven year olds must be one of the new pedagogic methods, I guess."</p>

<p>My god, you must have wonderful to be around. Your a gossip, a tattletale. What's really wrong in these situations? Could it be you? your outrage is unwarranted. again. </p>

<p>"It sounds as if you have kids who fight & act out & have had issues. I don't. They wouldn't dare, as that is not how they have been raised."</p>

<p>So were mine until they began to be beaten up by gangs on the way home. Turning the other cheek often leads to bruises on both in our neighborhood. We a certain point decided to defend oneself against the bullies. This meant both students were suspended no questions allowed. So we took our suspensions.</p>

<p>My son's crime was being smart. I guess that must be a parenting issue for me. He never once started a fight, I'd kick his backside. But after being beaten up so badly in 7th grade by three kids, we told him to protect himself. Next day he was suspended for a week for breaking one's nose and chipping the tooth of another when they jumped him walking home, the third ran away when he began to fight back. So you're absolutely correct, he's a bad kid. He wouldn't fight back at first because his parents told him to turn the other cheek and didn't want to disrepect us. yea he's a bad kid. Willing to be beaten for three city blocks by a group of kids because he thought his parents would be mad if he got in a fight. Yea a bad kid for sure. </p>

<p>" I've never needed to have an unpleasant meeting of that sort. Junior never came home telling tales. So you're off base on another assumption. "</p>

<p>It might not mean juniors lying, it might mean junior is taking something the wrong way. But I guess if dumping out a desk can only be interupted as an act of violence.. well. That's your parenting skills not mine. </p>

<p>"You don't know me at all. Opie. I'm the most professional, patient person in the world when I must deal with professionals. You get more flies with honey..... I hate mama bear types."</p>

<p>Then your writing style and your realife are completely separate things. How much honey have you spread here? You've attempted more stings for sure. </p>

<p>" It is staffed with top-notch professionals who are not cruel to children or mentally unstable or incompetent."</p>

<p>You know if it helps you feel better about the expense to paint with such a broad brush by all means do so. However, it certainly doesn't mean your anywhere close to reality.</p>

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<p>padad,
I think I can answer your question, whether it was rhetorical or not. </p>

<p>I think that elementary & even secondary level teaching is not seen by most people as an intellectually rigorous profession, which is too bad, & which is off the mark. A great teacher training program is founded on theory (as are all good medical programs, including those for nursing). Then you are trained & tested at applying that theory. I had the best of both worlds: some of my intellectual grounding at Berkeley, my practical training through the best program of the time -- which then was actually a State U. Also, professionally oriented teachers avail themselves of opportunities for continual higher education through trade associations, through Extension programs, through graduate level courses. And quality teachers did that instinctively long before districts made continual professional development "mandatory." (Like we're schoolchildren, too.)
:rolleyes: Physicians would laugh if you suggested that such PD were "mandatory."</p>

<p>The teaching of young children requires a foundation in Ed Psych, cognitive theory, etc. The teaching of older children should require either an advanced degree, a second B.A., or demonstration of proficiency/ability to teach to that intellectual level. Too many people associate credentialed teaching with "child care." That, it is not -- although curiously, many parents assume a kind of "babysitting" role of teachers.</p>

<p>So again, the above misperceptions are based on ignorance. I have difficulty with that, because as a teacher I am supposed to advocate & represent the opposite of ignorance -- or why am I so employed?</p>

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<p>I didn't discourage my daughter from being a teacher-I think she would make a terrific one & I expect that she may still do that someday at some point. However- she does have ADD, and I have noticed that teachers who also seem to have ADD, can have a pretty difficult time having enough structure to run a classroom.</p>

<p>She has spent most of her volunteer time with kids- her summer jobs were as an instructor at various summer camps & her year home, she helped to run an after school program at her old elementary school & her year volunteering with CityYear she worked with homeless elementary kids & inner city teens helping them to use computers and write resumes.
( and I just saw several of her old elementary school teachers last night at the Ratey workshop- which was great fun)</p>

<p>I have actually been encouraging her to apply for some of the positions at the Portland school district- they pay better than what she is earning now & she can explore the field a little more.
But while I know that she is a particulary good teacher- she also is a great writer & after living in communal environment like the campus for the past few years- she wants to be more introspective and write for a while.</p>

<p>Teaching does take a lot of energy- even for crappy teachers & some of us recharge only when we are alone and quiet- others recharge when they are around others & I have noticed that some of my Ds most enthusiastic teachers seem to be that type- But that isn't to say only outgoing people can be teachers.</p>

<p>( and re private school- my older D attended private from K- college graduation- we were really lucky- I never felt like I had to be a mother bear as you put it. she was in one school for K- which was more of a K program than a school, another for elementary and one for 6-12- she did recieve funding- otherwise it wouldnt have been a choice- but it was a good experience-
I did have to be more of a mother bear at my younger daughters private school that she attended through 2nd grade. It was a very new, very small school, which had some great traits, but as she reached the upper grades, we made the decision to switch to public for more choice ( um hah!) in teachers. )</p>

<p>Re the teachers having to get along with the other teachers comment was based on my time at one particular school- so it may just be true for that school- I had been on a committee to get the school in line with the transformation grants as well as building leadership teams and since I was in teh school everyday- I had made friends with some of the teaching and support staff as well as being on hiring commitees for teachers and principals</p>

<p>The school had been known for certain programs for years-and the teachers had always been the ones to run those programs ( during the school day)
, but as the programs required a certain bit of physical stamina, as they got older they didn't want to run them anymore- which was fine. </p>

<p>However, when parents and other teachers tried to get together to continue the programs- which were important to the philosophy of the school and why the parents had chosen the school- a couple of the senior teachers made life pretty difficult, even to the point of taking out petitions pitting one group of teachers against another and making tshirts poking fun at one of the parents who was particulary invested in having a program continue.</p>

<p>A strong principal- would have been useful in that situation.
However, the principal we had- after another couple years at two other schools is now a "director" in the district, earning 6 figures.
The teacher who was the head rabble rouser however, has left the district and is now at a high school on the eastside ;)</p>

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<p>Epiphany, I agree with you absolutely. I raised the questions hoping that poster like you will come out and say so. So long that we parents do not understand what you said in your post, we will continue to have difficulty in our K12 system. I often hear parents complain about the system and yet are unwilling to raise funding of school systems where teaching's pay will be competitive with other high paying professions. It is precisely the misconception that it does'nt take much to be a teacher that causes the reluctance to increase funding.</p>

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<p>I should have added, padad, that secondary level students also are a special category, requiring their teachers to understand adolescent cognitive development & the subtleties between the various grade levels. It used to be assumed that the brain kind of plateaued after 8th grade; this is not so.</p>

<p>I also have to say, again, that for whatever good the teachers unions have done or now do, one of their negatives, i.m.o, is the way many of them behave publicly -- & not just on the picket line, although that sometimes is also an issue. I just notice a kind of blue-collar mentality that blurs the line between classified employees & certificated employees. Frankly, when I go to a site school, I can often not tell the difference.</p>

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<p>Epiphany, I hope those of us who follow this thread can appreciate what you are saying, and I hope that you will continue to make the point.</p>

<p>Right now, we are lucky to encounter teachers who are both qualified and dedicated. I just don't see a way to expand this group unless we come to understand that teachers are as important as our MD's and need to be trained just as rigorously. We need to change our perception to attract a large number of qualified people into the profession. It takes real expertise to teach, and that cannot be done without adequately financing the system so that teachers' compensation can be highly attractive. </p>

<p>Thanks for saying what you said.</p>

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<p>* I just notice a kind of blue-collar mentality that blurs the line between classified employees & certificated employees. Frankly, when I go to a site school, I can often not tell the difference.*</p>

<p>Im wondering what sort of difference you think there should be?</p>

<p>*It takes real expertise to teach, and that cannot be done without adequately financing the system so that teachers' compensation can be highly attractive. *</p>

<p>Im wondering how much do you think that would be?
Should they be paid similar to other public employee positions like Police and Firefighters?</p>

214

<p>ephif.</p>

<p>"I just notice a kind of blue-collar mentality that blurs the line between classified employees & certificated employees. Frankly, when I go to a site school, I can often not tell the difference."</p>

<p>Could it be that this entire group of people at a site while knowing amongst themselves who, is who care not to dress so differently as to indicate a class system? In many cases these people socialize together bring a sense of family to the workplace. While the aide that comes in and helps the teacher knows their role, is there a need to make it overtly visable? </p>

<p>Not attacking your comments, but maybe giving you an idea of a why. Everybody works together here (gawd, maybe we do live in the best school district?) for the kids. We've attended many functions over the years where everybody likes each other and a good time ensues. Alot of our certified are specialists in their own way here. ESL, special needs assistance.. just like teachers, alot of our certified try and make themselves better. Alot is accomplished if the worksite is supportive. Heck I've even shared a drink or two with several of the principals we've seen over my wife's 30 years and a few jello shooters with the teacher's aides.</p>

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<p>You're right, EK & Opie. My post sounded weird. I guess I lament a certain reversion to such informality that I see now versus when I began teaching (first name basis with students, ultra-casual dress, other things). There's no need to be stuffy or put on airs; I don't mean that either. Nor do I mean there should be some kind of artificial "class" divisions or overt hierarchy, or that teachers should not collaborate with & be respectful of classified employees. Not at all. Everyone in the environment should be respected. But I do think presentation counts for something. It's probably just me, & the fact that I was raised in a more "formal" family. (Yes, you're right. I'm probably just weird or odd.)</p>

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<p>Emerald, Your question: "Im wondering how much do you think that would be?
Should they be paid similar to other public employee positions like Police and Firefighters?"</p>

<p>If we are to make teaching as attractive as the medical profession, we will be able to recruit students of similar quality into the profession. I truly believe that teachers need to undergo training as rigorous as those given to the medical profession. This is not to say that police and firefighters are not important, it is simply that those two systems are not doing poorly. We certainly paid lawmakers a lot more, and they are pretty much useless. Also consider that we are paying a teacher less than what we spend on a prisoner in the penal system. The money we spend on Iraq the last three years could probably pay for all the teachers for the next 25 years. I can go on and on on our misplaced priorities, but the point is that we live in a free-market society, and you get what you pay for.</p>

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<p>ephif,</p>

<p>Absolutely no problem with what your saying. I do understand, it doesn't make you werid. Things change and we all have comfort zones we like better than others.</p>

<p>For us out in the west, where you can still smell cow poo and find 5 or 6 starbucks in our town, it might be a bit different. More relaxed about some things. It doesn't make us right and you wrong, we just do what works for us.</p>

218

<p>Epiphany:</p>

<p>Not weird or odd, just a matter of preference. Our k-8 schools run the gamut from quite formal to very informal, from students calling teachers Mr. or Mrs. to caling them by their first names (in our own k-8). In charter schools, students are asked to wear quasi-uniforms (khakis and shirts for boys).</p>

<p>I did not notice a difference in performance or attitude between the formal and informal schools. That was tied more closely with the SES of the students. Not all schools have parents involved in the hiring of teachers. Ours did, so the informal style of the teachers reflected the desiderata of parents.</p>

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<p>Funny you mention the first name basis issue, Epiphany. I had never heard of a school where students call teachers by their first name until I came to this board but that's how it is at the private school where my daughter is student teaching. In the midwest! When I mention that to my friends here, many of whom are teachers or administrators, they are all quite suprised. We've got the cow poo but just last week got our first Starbucks... Is that how it works, once the Starbucks come, it's only a matter of time until everyone is called by their first name??</p>

<p>A book I am currently reading is called "The $100,000 Teacher" by Brian Crosby. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/100-000-Teacher-Declining-Currents/dp/1931868484/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product/002-7205467-5465605%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.amazon.com/100-000-Teacher-Declining-Currents/dp/1931868484/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product/002-7205467-5465605&lt;/a> He talks about how teaching is thought of as a fall back career and how one would not get into engineering if teaching didn't work out. Crosby is a teacher himself and you can hear his frustration throughout the book. An interesting read.</p>

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<p>Students in my daughter's school call the teachers by their first names, and the respect and demeanor in the school is stellar.</p>

<p>I know people are often aghast at that level of "casual" in a classroom, but the kids are quiet, respectful of the teachers and each other, and don't need to be screamed at by a Mr. or Ms. authority figure to do what they are supposed to do.</p>