Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1960-09-29

Gas a second grade teacher
in the County I can well be-
lieve these stories and shudder
to think of what we are head
ed for. There was a time in
the County when the teachers
opinion was respected. Under
the present Superintendent,
the attitude toward teachers
is eff you don't like it-GET
OUT. We can replace YOU"
If a child complains to his
parents that the teacher is
''mean" or the work Is too
hard he is Immediately trans
ferred to another second grade
where the teacher Is more pro-
gressive and thinks that disci-
pline is an unnecessary restric-
ton.
Believe me, / am not an
old-maid, a career teacher or
an ogre. However, l do be-
lieve that I have responsible
ty to the child and his parents.
1 happen to believe that a
child cannot learn much else
If he has not learned to listen
and obey. l also agree with
Mr.. Zatman that learning is
WORK. / am a fully qualified
teacher and am well aware
that each of my pupils is an
individual and that we start
from where the child is"
There, too, 1 am only one of
hundreds. Why all the talk?
If these specialists" have dis
covered something new or diff
ferent we will be more than
willing to listen. Meanwhile,
PLEASE LET US TEACH.
eff meetings are essential,
as DR.. Whittier seems to think,
why not let the elementary
teachers meet with the second
airy teachers and compare
notes. If anything would
come of such meeting, / be.
lieve it would be the fact that
we need MUCH stronger disci-
pline and to teach the skill
subjects in the elementary
grades.
1--WE, as teachers, are hear
ing this complaint from our
junior high sons and daugh-
tiers. They are wholly unpre-
pared for the seventh grade.
Why? Why aren't elementary
school teachers backed up
when they try to enforce dis
cipline? BY that / simply
mean obedience and common
courtesy in the classroom.
Why do our children get to
junior high before they are
told "Your work will be judged
on neatneSs, accuracy and
SPELLINGw Couldn't this
begin in third and fourth
grade?
II love children, / thorough
ly enjoy teaching (if given
half a chance) and have even
had parents ask that their
children be put in my class
because they were satisfied
with my results with their old
er children. l can't be such a
horrible tyrant! Some people
even appreciate discipline.
"What kind of system is it
where teachers are afraid to
open their mouths for fear of
their jobs? Where, il they
raise an objection, they are
"pampered" or "spoiled?"
Where they are asked to leave
their classes (of seven-year-
olds) to attend meetings
(Which last from 80 to 40
minutes) with Pc, Music and
Art Supervisors. Time, and
the work-load, do not allow
these specialists to get into
the classroom oftener than
once or twice a month-and
then to only one out of sew
eral first, second or third
grades! Why bother??
as it possible that these
well-educated people are so
wrapped UP in their subject
that they can't see the writing
on the wall? Aren't the prob
lens of crowded school condi-
tons, half sessions, over
crowded classes, discipline and
teaching the 3-R's more impor-
tant than "Life-span," teams"
workshops, and "Creativity?"
Teachers in the County have
filled out questionable after
questionable with suggestions
as to what they felt they need
ed most and their opinion of
"In-service Days" Frankly,
we are getting discouraged
and Disguised. What makes
the front office" think that
we don't compare notes? That
we don't think pretty much
the same? When are the
teachers going to have a voice
in THEIR business-TEACH'
ING??
1--WE would like to hear