Is there such a thing as a bad teacher? The out-to-lunch-lady who "educates" your kids? The teacher who prefers to talk sports more than teach math? A teacher who just doesn't give an "F"?
I think there is a "bad" in every profession - from doctoring to teaching. Bad happens. What can you do?
So why does it get so itchy-under-the-skin when you get a bad teacher?
Perhaps, because as grownups, we know that certain school fundamentals become life skills. And kids need to know these skills. Like reading, writing, multiplication (and I point out - I didn't have strong math teachers growing up thus I'm a multiplication #Fail...and don't ask me to divide, I'd have to find the calculator on my blackberry).
As a parent, I've heard of some teachers who don't correct stories for spelling or grammar because it breaks the creativity of the child. Bah humbug. A child needs to know how to spell - if only to correct spell check - otherwise their "things" can become "thongs" without their intention.
I had a high school law teacher that read the newspaper everyday in class. And the students just chit-chatted away the year. Come exam time - he taught to the exams - writing the answers on the board and telling us exactly what to memorize before finals.
Another teacher singled out this poor boy - always using him as an example of what not to do/how not to say something in French class. Now this was before bully-awareness...but looking back...that teacher bullied that poor boy.
With it being the end of the school year, perhaps some of you are giving a silent WOOT at saying adieu to a bad teacher...just remember your kids can learn something from every experience and activity...good and bad.
And as a take-away: everyone should give an "F" about education.
"
Printer-friendly version