Other People's Responses

[katrinkakat]

I think people make those comments because they could never see themselves teaching and they are in awe! I get the same thing: "You're a teacher? Wow! How do you do it with all those kids?" So, in a way it's a compliment.

[MissEducation]

I get both flattered and annoyed by the comment "I could never be a teacher." In some ways, people mean it as a compliment like, "Wow, your job requires a lot of compassion and patience." On the other hand, some people have said things like, "I would have just smacked that kid!" I don't find those comments helpful. In a way it's almost like a veiled criticism of the educational system itself and a jab at me for working under it. That said, I try not to be too sensitive over it because life's too short to spend it mad or annoyed.

[jen12]

I know what you mean, Miss Education. It's like those people who "jokingly" say those who can do, those who can't teach...

I spent ten years in corporate human resources. In that environment, if two employees had an altercation, I had first check files for previous similar incidents, then call them both in for separate, documented interviews to find out both sides of the story. Then call in all witnessess to document what they saw. Then I had to talk to the employees' supervisors and sometimes even their managers to tell everyone what was going on. Then, I'd have to do a write up, send it to Legal for approval in case someone sues for getting called on the carpet at work, and get signatures and then stick everything in a file in case it happened again.

When two kids have an altercation, I pull them both aside, find out what happened, make the aggressor apologize and 15 minutes later the kids are playing together again as if nothing ever happened.

Which way actually accomplishes something?

[stephenpe]

I know what you mean, Miss Education. It's like those people who "jokingly" say those who can do, those who can't, teach...

And then that smart@$$ woody allen had to add,
"and those that can't teach, teach gym." Funny it was but I can teach about almost anything and have.