After more than 40 years in education, Janet Kerr is considering a role reversal from teacher to student when she retires this June. I've decided to go. Kerr, chairwoman of the English department at Cooperstown Central School, has been bringing the works of Shakespeare, Hardy and Bronte back to life for students there since 1971. When she started teaching in 1957, Kerr said, teachers were expected to stand in front of the classroom and be in charge with no common connection to their students.
Kids feel they can talk to their teachers.
Both teachers and students benefit from that kind of experience. But some of the changes she has seen are not as inspiring, Kerr said, citing new state education regulations as an example. Having made the decision to retire, Kerr said her days will go from being superstructured to pleasantly ill-defined. But really, you just have to come to terms with the idea of retiring. Although Kerr says she has no definite plans for her retirement, she said she would like to take some Irish literature classes.