I remember when

[observer]

When I started teaching High School in 1963, I was in one of the highest paying jobs available to women at that time. Paradoxically, teaching was also one of the lower paying jobs for men with equivalent education and qualifications.

I can remember discussing in staff rooms the need for some type of remuneration based on effectiveness, because so few people of value and expertise were coming into education, because it paid so much less than the private sector.

How things changed! Somewhere along the line, teachers became unionized, and thus began the protection of the least able - as well as, perhaps, some rewards for the deserving. But, by raising the pay standard, I think the profession also began to attract those who wouldn't likely survive in the "real" world. Prior to the hike in salaries, we may have missed out on some of the brightest and best who could have worked wonders in the classroom; but for the most part, those that were in the field before that pay hike were passionate about their avocation.

We also were missing out on those who had little skills for a real world environment, and therefore gravitated towards a well paying job that they could KNOW was theirs until retirement - with a good pension to go with that retirement.

How things have changed - from MY perspective!

[retired2]

I have long thought that people with BA's and more were too educated to teach the lower grades. Great for high school but they can not get down to the level of the lower grades.

[Slowfood]

When I went to High School I made the comment with the teachers there it seemed like a sheltered workshop. Not all bad though.
There were some teachers that were very competent, at the top of their game,loving what they did. it was very obvious.
Some were obviously not so competent and had no business in front of a classroom. There were those who showed they hated what they did and were just waiting for their pension. Yep hiding in the world of academe,their effectiveness never being rated.
I have taught at Conestoga College and Mohawk College in regular daytime and nighttime classes, you can bet I was rated on a regular basis.

[observer]

There was always a problem with "rating" as I saw it. What do you do as a basis for that? How well the kids liked you? Certainly, even in high school, the majority of kids were not going to give you high "marks" for being strict. And it's possible to really "love" a teacher who is personable, but not accomplishing the education goals.

So - then you bring in the outside analyst? - the "inspector"? I remember that well - trembling - hoping that this wouldn't be the day that some kid would get extraordinarily unruly!

And now they seem to try to do that by rating the SCHOOLS - on how well they attain some pre-determined criteria - based on tests every 3 years of school age or something. Never believed that how well kids functioned on tests was a true evaluation of what they had learned or accomplished in a classroom.

[observer]

Do any of you remember a teacher who affected you positively? - believed in you or encouraged you? - or inspired an interest in a field that you'd not before had much interest in?

Or are most of your memories of the negative variety?

[gale force]

After another of my family's frequent moves I entered a new school, in a new town, with a totally different curiculum midway in the year. My home room teacher was also new to the classroom, and perhaps that was why he seemed to be more aware of the problems I was facing. I have never forgotten that kind, understanding man. In addition, he was a marvellous teacher. I believe I was eleven years old, definitely at a very impressionable age!

[growler]

the one who, i think had the most effect on me was a great old lady from freelton ont., miss parker, a spinster, that taught me in gr.s 1+2 and had me skip from 2 to 3 my second year !
great lady !
them my gr. 7+8 teacher was the best at making me want to learn, in walsingham central school, he was a great teacher, but was unliked by most,(including me) his name was mr.gord phelps, from port rowan !
and even though he was the principal, he had to work at the brewers retail part time to make a decent living !
but he did know how to teach !

[kishgo]

I had many excellent teachers. I admired all of them for different reasons.
An early primary teacher was Miss Casselton who became Mrs. McCrory. She taught my brother and me and I taught all three of her children!
Another favourite was Miss Doris Burns. I loved the way she read aloud, especially a (boring) story called Pageen and the Pilgrim. It was her voice that had me listen to every word she said. She taught History. Loved it too.
In High School at SCS, a math teacher from Tillsonburg, Mrs. Hogarth was the ONLY person who made math sense to me.
If I had a not so favourable teacher, there was one male gym teacher that I had absolutely no use for. He loved to 'snap' the bras of the girls as they walked past and made all kinds of sexual inuendos (sp?). He played a reeeeally rough game of basektball with the boys at lunch time. Eventually he left our board but if memory serves me correctly, it wasn't under favourable terms. I remember tellling my parents about his actions, many times over. Not sure how they handled it but I noticed he didn't bother me much after that.

[uncle jack]

my best teacher was Mr.Ted Gosnek he taught machine shop at Delhi District High School

[growler]

yes i had him as a teacher as well he was pretty good to !

[Ruby Tuesday]

Wholly, obviously I didn't take "memory 101!" as I don't have that good of a recollection of teachers from school. I do remember some of my high school teachers and a few of my primary teachers, but not enough of a memory to really recall what they were really like. Maybe that means that they didn't make any significant impression on me?

I do remember that when I was younger I dreamt of growing up and being a teacher - I loved spelling and reading! Now I have to say that I am probably glad I didn't carry that out. It would be nice to have the summer off, but there are lots of good jobs out there where the pay comes in line with teachers' pay ...so, I am happy where I am at.

I do think that teachers should be compensated for efforts and performance - not just because they are in a certain spot on the grid. It seems, though, that any rating or performance measuring system that is introduced is fought at by teachers. Why? Why would anyone that is doing a good or really good job be worried about someone wanting to understand how they are performing? Not me. In the private sector you are accountable for performance levels and compensated for performance, so you have a reason to want to perform at your best. Of any profession that should be strictly watched it is those that are in the public eye and have some accountability to taxpayers.

Now, if we could only let the teachers not have to deal with psycho parents that who think their kids are angels ....

[kishgo]

Just to add my two cents worth, teachers are rated on their teaching ability, lesson plans, records and personal interview by a principal and a superintendent. It can be yearly depending on the teacher.
As in any job, if you are struggling or having difficulty, you are guided through the troublesome area, provided a mentor or leader or whatever you wish to call it. We have reading specialists to help with this in the elementary school, math specialists, etc etc etc.
It is possible to have a performance report every year if you require that.
But sadly, even after all of that, there are a few rotten apples in every barrel. They should be tossed out but are not.
Not all parents are psycho but I'll tell you, when it happens, it goes huge.

[observer]

So, if you had a favourite teacher - or a memorable one - as some of you seem to indicate you had, what was it that made that teacher memorable?

Was it because you felt they took an interest in you as a person - or was it because they understood how to present the material to be learned so you could understand it?

What makes a memorable teacher?

[Sponsored content]