former educators,

[Rudy123]

Kids absolutely have to be taught how to run around a gym. There are rules — not just to the games they play (which have to be *taught*), but also rules and procedures for the class itself, whether that’s 1st grade PE, high school trig, or Josh’s Dobbs aerospace engineering classes.

Yours and Rudy’s comments show that you haven’t spent a minute in a classroom setting since you left school. It really is sad that so much of our population views teaching as an easy-peasy, summers-off, “roll call, roll the ball, and read the newspaper” career.

I wish you could see my wife grading papers at 9 o’clock on Sunday. Or me teaching our future their rights under the Constitution (and no, it’s not communism or socialism). Or taking one of my ball players on college visits, when they realize their Waffle House waitress mom won’t have to pay for their college, much less watching them grow from immature freshmen to young men and citizens.




I hate that crap. I don’t come to where you work and smack the corn dog out of your hand.

I often talk to young adults and they do not know who Thomas Jefferson is. They think the capital of New York is NYC. They have never heard of a country by the name of Turkey and they believe that in the 1800s all southern citizens of America owned slaves
They can not tell you the first thing about history or civics but they are convinced that socialism is great. They think that gun ownership is bad and they think many other silly things. Wonder where they get those ideas??

 

[Hacksaw]

They obviously do. Thanks for proving my point.

You seem to have all of the answers regarding public education. You certainly are critical. Why don't you earn the degree, become a teacher, and start the revolution to fix everything. My bet is you wouldn't last a month. You definitely wouldn't be happy with the pay. And, you would be extremely frustrated with inexperienced bureaucrats creating laws making your job impossible. Couple that with unwarranted criticism from people like you, and my guess is you'd happily saunter back to whatever pedestal you came from.

You seem kind of angry. Do I have the right to ask questions or don't I? I already said in a previous post that there are a lot of good, honest, hard-working teachers out there who care deeply about what they do. They have my respect. I'm sure Mrs. Coach_Z is one of them. I have no reason to think otherwise.

But we spend an absurd amount of money every year on public education and there seems to be no accountability when the results are lacking. The default is always that we need to spend more money. And if you question it, just look at your own reaction as an example of the hostility it evokes. How many states have approved lotteries with the promise that the revenue generated will solve education budgeting problems? And yet every election (at least where I live) there are ballot measures demanding more tax money in order to head-off some doomsday scenario.

Asking questions does not equate to an attack on teachers.

 

[OnlyGodForgives]

I taught Seventh grade (the absolute worst grade) in public school for one whole year then got the opportunity to train adults and leapt at it. Some of the twelve-year-olds had already been identified as potential star athletes and were chaperoned in a trailer with, no joke, a Speak-and-Spell. A teacher's grading papers all weekend in no way indicates that students are benefiting from their time in the classroom. Nobody who makes the choice to push that rock up that hill week after week has any right to a sense of pride. The public education system is truly deplorable and teachers are a central reason for its failure. If we paid teachers what they think they are worth, 99.999% of those teaching currently would be out of a job because true talent would be attracted to the profession. Bring on the robots!

 

[Rudy123]

I taught Seventh grade (the absolute worst grade) in public school for one whole year then got the opportunity to train adults and leapt at it. Some of the twelve-year-olds had already been identified as potential star athletes and were chaperoned in a trailer with, no joke, a Speak-and-Spell. A teacher's grading papers all weekend in no way indicates that students are benefiting from their time in the classroom. Nobody who makes the choice to push that rock up that hill week after week has any right to a sense of pride. The public education system is truly deplorable and teachers are a central reason for its failure. If we paid teachers what they think they are worth, 99.999% of those teaching currently would be out of a job because true talent would be attracted to the profession. Bring on the robots!

I have spoken to parents before and they have no idea who their child's teacher is or ever ask about their classwork. The parents are not concerned at all
Of course some parents realize that education is key so they are involved in their child's education
Also in order to get rid of the bad teachers their needs to be a way to prevent the union from protecting them under every single situation. There are some types of behavior that should result on the teacher being fired yet the union allows them to keep their job. The bad teachers know that there are no real consequences

 

[Hacksaw]

I have spoken to parents before and they have no idea who their child's teacher is or ever ask about their classwork. The parents are not concerned at all
Of course some parents realize that education is key so they are involved in their child's education
Also in order to get rid of the bad teachers their needs to be a way to prevent the union from protecting them under every single situation. There are some types of behavior that should result on the teacher being fired yet the union allows them to keep their job. The bad teachers know that there are no real consequences

Parent involvement is an aspect of the job where I totally sympathize with teachers. When the parents are not engaged, it's an almost unwinnable war for the teacher. That has to be tough.

 

[iluvsmesumdooley]

They don't do stories on the good teachers, but surely you know there are some.

Of course they don't. Because crap sells. You only hear the bad things going on because people like to hear crap. Crap sells.
The thought of a Southern teacher indoctrinating students with communist ideology is probably the dumbest thing I've heard or seen since Carroll tried to throw from the one instead of giving it to Lynch.

 

[iluvsmesumdooley]

I have tried to warm up to Pruitt because I know he taught in a public school, and it would be good to see educators recognized for success in the media instead of splashing the few bad apples all over Facebook.

My questions - you said "educators." Who are the others?

 

[iluvsmesumdooley]

Taxpayers have every right to question why public education costs so much and gets such poor results. I realize that those who make their living off of it don't like it, but that's too bad.

As for your wife...are you saying that she grades papers all weekend? Or does she just procrastinate until Sunday night -- and then has to hurry up and get them done? I'm happy to grade those papers for her if she'll work for me this summer while I take it off.

I'm curious - what do you do for a living?

 

[Boca Vol]

So do you do that w every profession?! Take the few exceptions and assume they are all that way or just educators? Because all professions have those few exceptions! I'm just going to say this, your comment has to be the most ignorant statement I've read on here!

More ignorant than, "Butch gets it!"?

 

[HooahVol]

My kids go to the Farragut public schools and are getting a fantastic education. I honestly have no clue why anyone living in Farragut would pay a premium for a private school with such good public schools in their backyard.

As for the quality of teachers. I find most people who are angry at teachers it is because they want their teachers to raise their kids for them. Morals, hard work, the desire to learn all starts at home. It is easier for some parents to blame the teachers for their failing children rather than to look in a mirror.

 

[VolForLife83]

I often talk to young adults and they do not know who Thomas Jefferson is. They think the capital of New York is NYC. They have never heard of a country by the name of Turkey and they believe that in the 1800s all southern citizens of America owned slaves
They can not tell you the first thing about history or civics but they are convinced that socialism is great. They think that gun ownership is bad and they think many other silly things. Wonder where they get those ideas??

Who cares about history? We're looking forward to the future. History is half lies anyway.

Kidding, kinda

 

[Vol_Maul]

Taxpayers have every right to question why public education costs so much and gets such poor results. I realize that those who make their living off of it don't like it, but that's too bad.

As for your wife...are you saying that she grades papers all weekend? Or does she just procrastinate until Sunday night -- and then has to hurry up and get them done? I'm happy to grade those papers for her if she'll work for me this summer while I take it off.

**** you. I’m not a teacher or involved in that profession in any way. You’re just an *******.

 

[Vol8188]

Taxpayers have every right to question why public education costs so much and gets such poor results. I realize that those who make their living off of it don't like it, but that's too bad.

As for your wife...are you saying that she grades papers all weekend? Or does she just procrastinate until Sunday night -- and then has to hurry up and get them done? I'm happy to grade those papers for her if she'll work for me this summer while I take it off.

If it's such an easy gig with great benefits (time off) why don't you do it?

 

[BloomuVol]

Who cares about history? We're looking forward to the future. History is half lies anyway.

Kidding, kinda

That's fairly ignorant. History or the study of history isn't just dates and events. You have to understand the greater context of the event and what caused it to be able to learn from the mistakes we as a society have made. Once we understand what caused an event we can take steps to prevent another event like it from happening. For example, without the knowledge of how laws and regulations allowed for the conditions to exist for the housing bubble and the recession, we wouldnt be able to have a conversation on how to prevent something like that from happening again.

 

[Hacksaw]

I'm curious - what do you do for a living?

I might be inclined to answer that if you can tell me why it's relevant.

 

[Hacksaw]

**** you. I’m not a teacher or involved in that profession in any way. You’re just an *******.

Nothing I said warrants this kind of hostility. You don't have an argument so you're resorting to emotion and insults. What did I say that was so offensive?

 

[Hacksaw]

If it's such an easy gig with great benefits (time off) why don't you do it?

Show me where I called it an easy job. I think the opposite is true. I think it's a tough job. But a lot of people work hard jobs. Some of them are harder than a teacher's job, but they're not beyond questioning.

Every time you question the system as a whole, it's defenders will immediately tell you how hard teachers work. Most of the money we spend on public education gets siphoned-off before it ever gets to the classroom, so I certainly don't think teachers are the biggest problem. I think most of them are doing their job.

Now teacher's unions...that's a different story.

 

[MurphyVol]

If it's such an easy gig with great benefits (time off) why don't you do it?

My wife is a teacher and it's a tough gig for most all teachers except one.....elementary PE. Man how I wish I could go back in time. Off at 3:00 without 2-3 hours of grading in front of you....it's a sweet gig

 

[Coach_Z]

Taxpayers have every right to question why public education costs so much and gets such poor results. I realize that those who make their living off of it don't like it, but that's too bad.

As for your wife...are you saying that she grades papers all weekend? Or does she just procrastinate until Sunday night -- and then has to hurry up and get them done? I'm happy to grade those papers for her if she'll work for me this summer while I take it off.

Thanks for asking. No, she grades every night. Since she teaches elementary school, she’s responsible for planning, teaching, and grading each subject rather than just one. She’d use her planning period to grade, but that’s for, ya know, planning. Unless it’s being used for meetings, where the administration or the county comes in and breaks down test data to see how they can improve scores. She’d do it after school, but more meetings every day. She’d do it when she gets home, but it’s hard to read 2nd grade handwriting while you’re cleaning the house. Or fixing dinner. Or chasing around our 1-year-old. Plus, she’s four months pregnant, so she’s even more worn out after teaching 30 seven-year-olds for 8 hours than normal. So yeah, when the weekend comes, she enjoys it. If you call that procrastination, that’s your prerogative.

My wife is superwoman. Assuming your job doesn’t entail manual labor or require PhD-level math or science, I’m confident she would do your job better than you.

 

[k-town_king]

People without education are always trying to criticize educators and the education system. Teachers do a tough job. Don't be mad that they teach history and not revisionism.

 

[iluvsmesumdooley]

I might be inclined to answer that if you can tell me why it's relevant.

You made it relevant. You have no problem lashing out at the teaching profession, so it's only fair you put your profession on the block.

 

[Hacksaw]

Thanks for asking. No, she grades every night. Since she teaches elementary school, she’s responsible for planning, teaching, and grading each subject rather than just one. She’d use her planning period to grade, but that’s for, ya know, planning. Unless it’s being used for meetings, where the administration or the county comes in and breaks down test data to see how they can improve scores. She’d do it after school, but more meetings every day. She’d do it when she gets home, but it’s hard to read 2nd grade handwriting while you’re cleaning the house. Or fixing dinner. Or chasing around our 1-year-old. Plus, she’s four months pregnant, so she’s even more worn out after teaching 30 seven-year-olds for 8 hours than normal. So yeah, when the weekend comes, she enjoys it. If you call that procrastination, that’s your prerogative.

My wife is superwoman. Assuming your job doesn’t entail manual labor or require PhD-level math or science, I’m confident she would do your job better than you.

You might be right. She sounds awesome and you seem like you are a good husband. I'm sure you are both lucky to have each other and I wish you and your family a long, happy life together. I hope you realize that my comment was not meant to be disrespectful, as some here seem to have taken it. If it came off that way, then I hope you will accept my apology.

The larger point I'm trying to make is that a lot of people have hard jobs. But you can't even ask whether a teacher is doing a good job or not, without being vilified. I think that point has been illustrated pretty well here.

And, as I have said already, most criticism of public education is not focused on teachers. Mine certainly is not. Teachers having to buy supplies for their students with money from their own pockets, for instance, is a symptom of the problem, not the root cause. But if you criticize public education, someone inevitably accuses you of attacking teachers. It's a defense mechanism to avoid talking about the larger issues, IMO.

 

[Hacksaw]

You made it relevant. You have no problem lashing out at the teaching profession, so it's only fair you put your profession on the block.

See my previous post and then go back and re-read what I wrote in that context. Maybe you'll see the point I was trying to make and it won't look like I was lashing out at teachers (which I don't think is a fair characterization).

Even if I was being critical of teachers, my job would still be irrelevant.

 

[Vol Fan in Fla]

No reflection on Coach Priutt but these days when I think of educators I think of unqualified people who indoctrinate high school and colleges in to socialism and communism
I also think of adult teachers on high school who have sex with 15 year old students and when caught they have no remorse.
Just saying

"unqualifed people.." - each state establishes teacher certification criteria and standards. Unfortunately, some of the best and brightest would never dream of entering education because of the pay. And that will never change, because there aren't many folks that are willing to pay even one more cent in taxes to help fund education.....

"indoctrinate high schools..." - curriculum is developed by state departments of education. Some of the most politically extreme (conservative and liberal) people I know are public school teachers. They would walk out before they were forced to teach a curriculum endorsing socialism, communism, or any belief system. Teachers teach and students learn the state standards (facts, concepts, and skills) not belief systems. If you don't believe so, pick a random high school near you and go ask to look at a copy of their social studies book. Or better yet, ask to observe a class. Or better yet, offer to volunteer.... I promise you, every school needs more of them..

I won't even address the sex with students comment.

Just please pause for one second before posting comments and opinions that are insulting and demeaning to an entire group of professionals, most of whom work extremely hard for little money and zero recognition, and they do so because they want to make a difference in kids' lives. Certainly some teachers are inept and unqualified to teach. But broad, oversimplified statements like the above are lazy at best, ignorant and damaging at worst.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Coach_Z]

You might be right. She sounds awesome and you seem like you are a good husband. I'm sure you are both lucky to have each other and I wish you and your family a long, happy life together. I hope you realize that my comment was not meant to be disrespectful, as some here seem to have taken it. If it came off that way, then I hope you will accept my apology.

The larger point I'm trying to make is that a lot of people have hard jobs. But you can't even ask whether a teacher is doing a good job or not, without being vilified. I think that point has been illustrated pretty well here.

And, as I have said already, most criticism of public education is not focused on teachers. Mine certainly is not. Teachers having to buy supplies for their students with money from their own pockets, for instance, is a symptom of the problem, not the root cause. But if you criticize public education, someone inevitably accuses you of attacking teachers. It's a defense mechanism to avoid talking about the larger issues, IMO.

I absolutely accept your apology. It takes a lot of integrity to offer an apology like that. A difference in opinion is one thing, but I thought you were painting with too broad a brush and I took umbrage. If I came across as too brusque or brash, I apologize as well.

There needs to be accountability in the profession, and most times, I believe there is. But I think that teachers can get old and stale, and like any other profession, you’ll come across people that aren’t compatible with the job. I hope we can always have a civil discourse like this.

Now will teaching experience, at whatever level, help our follicly-challenged staff build up our team? I don’t see how it can hurt. Like Vol8188 said, coaching is teaching. Go Vols!