tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184878.post7935154901468442882..comments2023-10-15T10:29:12.991+01:00Comments on Karyn's erratic learning journey: Are you a mean parent/teacher? Good for you!The upsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345558899662051670noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184878.post-40553880723019117262008-10-20T20:47:00.000+01:002008-10-20T20:47:00.000+01:00@V Yonkers. I don't thing that's 'mean', I think t...@V Yonkers. I don't thing that's 'mean', I think that's mean (without quotes). There are plenty of parents that fall into that category, too. This post is not about them.The upsychohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06345558899662051670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184878.post-34855075184293443612008-10-20T19:16:00.000+01:002008-10-20T19:16:00.000+01:00Well, my kids (and nephew who I babysat until he s...Well, my kids (and nephew who I babysat until he started school) used to call me "meany Mom" when they were young! Now I think I'm more than mean, if last week's "discussion" as to whether they could go to a school function unsupervised was any indication.<BR/><BR/>I have a colleague, though, who is much loved and very strict, but whose name goes perfectly with this post, "Principle Meany" (really her name).<BR/><BR/>However, one thing your post implies that I find some "mean" teachers don't do, is to be fair. There are some people that are mean to demonstrate they are "good teachers" rather than to set standards and help the student. Both my children have had the teacher that gives a test that no one can pass so they can make sure they have a bell curve in the class. To do this they test on content they have not covered. Likewise, I have had teachers accuse my children of not trying when I have seen them spending up to 4 hours a night studying (in primary school).<BR/><BR/>My point is that "mean" is necessary, but so is being consistent and fair.V Yonkershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11910904367068063554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184878.post-77161074036259966282008-10-20T10:25:00.000+01:002008-10-20T10:25:00.000+01:00@blogger You are so right about the implied additi...@blogger You are so right about the implied addition, Ken, but, since it was a direct quote (albeit an anonymous one) I didn't feel free to make any additions to it. I tried to make that provision in the preceding text.<BR/><BR/>I think teachers probably remember with fondness those who had greatest need of correction - they were the ones who tested their mettle as teachers!The upsychohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06345558899662051670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14184878.post-51629876605398507622008-10-20T09:36:00.000+01:002008-10-20T09:36:00.000+01:00Kia ora Karyn!You could add to your last sentence,...Kia ora Karyn!<BR/><BR/>You could add to your last sentence, "or dads or teachers." I'm sure you were implying that.<BR/><BR/>When I first started teaching in New Zealand, we had a senior master who was also the games master. Jack was an ex-army seargent.<BR/><BR/>I called him Master in Charge of Discipline. The kids called him Gravel-guts. He was a strict as hell. But the kids loved him. <BR/><BR/>The day before the McEvedy Shield, Wellington schools sports tournament, Jack had a serious stroke that paralysed him down one side.<BR/><BR/>I was supervising the long jump on the morning of the tournament when I learnt of Jack's unfortunate stroke. On release from that duty, I drove immediately to the hospital to be with Jack.<BR/><BR/>He lay in a ward by himself. I was the only visitor at that time. The light was dim in his ward. I could hardly see his outline as I approached his bedside.<BR/><BR/>I entered quietly, for he looked sound asleep. He turned his head to me and said, "How much did we win by?"<BR/><BR/>That Saturday, our school had achieved an outright victory. It gave me the greatest pleasure to tell Jack our points score and how we won the Shield.<BR/><BR/>When I'd finished relating my tale of the school's victory, Jack said, "You'll never guess who came in to see me this morning."<BR/><BR/>I made a few lame guesses.<BR/><BR/>"J---y S-----s", he said.<BR/><BR/>I knew this boy well. He'd left school some years before. He was one of the cleverest toughest rogues that had ever gone through the school. J---y was forever in trouble.<BR/><BR/>"I must have broken more pada-tennis bats over his backside than he's had breakfasts," Jack explained - which was true.<BR/><BR/>Jack recovered from that stroke and lived out his retirement years.<BR/><BR/>But he always spoke softly and kindly when he related the tale of the first visitor who came in to see him in hospital - one of the most mischievous rogues to have been on the roll of the school.<BR/><BR/>Ka kite<BR/>from Middle-earthBlogger In Middle-earthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08722634477041121797noreply@blogger.com