<p>Emeraldkity4 - i agree with your point about dentists, roofers, and teachers. </p>
<p>I believe that the vast majority of teachers are knowledgeable, dedicated, and worthy to be in the teaching profession. But what about those few bad apples? </p>
<p>True, there are bad apples in all professions. But the impact of bad apples in most professions is easily forgotten. A bad apple in other professions is not so easily or quickly forgotten. (Teaching, medicine, and others). </p>
<p>As frustrating as it can be, a rude teller or incompetent cashier can easily be forgotten (though the vast majority of them are good, and are troopers for working in the trenches). With a bad cook, you can send the meal back. With a bad contractor, there is normally some type of contractual recourse (refund, re-do the work, etc.). </p>
<p>Bad apples, and mistakes in other professions, linger a bit longer. Incorrect/inaccurate information from a sales person can lead to the purchase of the wrong product. In in many circumstances, there is no return or exchange options, so you are stuck with a product that you otherwise would not have purchased. </p>
<p>In both of the first two categories, a consumer can avoid the bad apple, after one single incident, by not returing to the busines, or by avoiding that particular person. </p>
<p>A bad apple in the medical profession is probably the worst. Their miscalculation or error can result in death, in a worse case scenario. However, with doctors, (though i hate our over-litigious society) they can be sued, or fired for malpractice.</p>
<p>With teachers (coaches, ministers, and certain other professions), as Emerald put it they "make lifelong impressions for good or bad". </p>
<p>On the positive side, I still remember my 5th grade teacher, Mr. Duncan. One of the things he taught us was Greek roots, and how to put together different words using alternate prefixes and suffixes. It was fascinating, and has stayed with me to my current old age. </p>
<p>However, negative impressions also last a long time. Many of you probably remember some nasty/mean person from your childhood. It may have been a neighbor, a relative, a teacher, a coach, etc. For me, it was a neighbor, Mr. Alexander, who lived across the street, and down a couple of houses. He yelled at kids. Any kids, all kids. Used to scare the crap out of us. The good news, we could avoid him. We could walk on the other side of the street, or wait till he went inside. </p>
<p>What about our children? I would venture to guess that most of you parents are like my wife and I, and you have a zero tolerance level for anyone yelling at your kids (for any reason). </p>
<p>I posted this earlier in this thread: In our local elementary school, there is a tenured teacher (teaching 3rd and 4th grades) who should no longer be teaching. Maybe, she should have never been a teacher. If she ever was good, she lost it many years ago. She is well known for her frequent tirades. She yells at her students on a regular basis. She verbally abuses them. She ridicules and shames them. My son and daughter were lucky enough to avoid her class. My niece was not so lucky. My sister-in-law gave things a few weeks, and then, after hearing of several abusive days, went into the principal's office, and requested her daughter (my niece) to be moved to another class. Her request was granted. </p>
<p>My wife and I have always volunteered at the school (during the years that our kids were in attendance). My wife helped in the office, and in the class. I drove on field trips (took vacation days, to be there for our kids). On more than one occasion, I overheard her yelling at her class. You could her yelling from 3 classes away, out in the walkway. (I have to concede that on one of the occasions, it was so bad that i was tempted to go in and slap her. How dare she yell at 3rd and 4th graders. However, I would have ended up in jail, so I turned away and walked the other way. And she is allowed to continue teaching?? Great system.</p>
<p>You know that the worst part of it is? To think of those poor children, who spent hours in her class each day. And then imagine it went on for the entire school year. You can't tell me that some of those kids won't have emotional scars that they will linger with them for years. </p>
<p>Yes, it was probably a very isolated situation. She is definitely the worst teacher at the school. There are a couple of other teachers who had misspellings in all their letters and notices that went home to the parents, but when compared to this woman, they were saints. And, the vast majority of teachers at the school were very good to excellent. </p>
<p>Think of the students who suffered verbal and emotional abuse from her, all year long. And she has been at this school since before my son was in 1st grade. He is now a freshman in college. How many children has she abused over those many years. </p>
<p>And yet, she can't be fired. Many parents have gone to the principal. (Three different principals have come and gone at the school). Yet, she remains. Someone please explain it to me.</p>
<p>Lest you think i am making up the story, her name is Ms. Iuna. (I misspelled her name so as to prevent myself from being sued.). Any reader living in the area, will quickly recognize the similarity, and will know who I am referring to.</p>