That Was Then this is Now

Yes, there was a time when I went to school and you were expected to be quiet, have your hands on the top of the desk and your feet were firmly flat on the floor. There were no ipods, cell phones or ipads in our hands. When you were told to sing, draw, or read a book you did so without question.

Don't get me wrong, I am not necessarily longing for 'the good ole days.' Expectations were different and the cultural norm of education was not what it is today.

Todays's teachers have LD, BD, ED and autistic students as part of their class composition. Often teachers have to work with aides who service these students. There is not one lesson plan; rather, multiple lesson plans may exist in the same class period.

No where in the past can I recall so many sports, class activities, 504 plans, and other demands on ones time. It seems that teachers are always being asked to get more in-service training which often pulls them out of the classroom. Email didn't exist when I attended school. Now, a teacher may have to spend an hour (likely more) just to respond to the dizzying number of communications.

Today teachers are expected to teach character education and safety. That didn't take place in the classroom of 1930's or 1950's.

Education today doesn't merely rely on a teacher standing before a group of students as in the past. In contemporary times teachers have to develop powerpoints and sharepoint in addition to their normal classroom teaching responsibilities.

Teachers are stretched in so many ways and the demands placed on their time are simply not reasonable. Being a great teacher today is not merely based on how one takes care of their duties with a group of students, it's much more than that.

The point I am making is that when some people complain about the quality of education in America today, they need to have a better understanding of the demands placed on teachers and the extent to which they rise up to meet such demands.

What takes place in education today is in many ways a far cry from what took place when the parents of today's school children attended school. Today's instructors have adjusted to the times and the vast majority of them, like those of 30, 40 or 50 years ago are just as committed and dedicated as those of the past.

Dick