How much is a person’s character worth? Whether they’re nine years old, or ninety, I believe that character matters, BIG TIME! I teach character building way more than anything else, even more than Houghton-Mifflin, to my fourth grade students at Klatt.
It doesn’t matter whether you teach at Bear Valley, Huffman, Roger’s Park, Mountain View, Fairview, Tyson, or Klatt. I believe the long-term economic benefits far exceed the benefits of a Liberal Arts degree from some Ivy League school. I’m sure you know several people who are very well-educated, lazy, arrogant, pompous pricks that could have benefited from an “education” in manners, honesty, respect, civility, determination, persistence, self-reliance, strong work ethics, and maybe a little humility and integrity on the side. Or, maybe you know someone with a PHD in _____________________, (fill in the blank), who is a rude, obnoxious, and dangerous taxi driver.
I think you can figure out where I’m coming from with my first “blog” ever. I have been teaching in Anchorage for 14 years, and I still need to “peek at” the teacher’s manuals to remind myself what the heck a pronoun is, or the difference between a complete subject and a simple predicate. What I’m saying is, teaching kids all this “non-essential” crap will probably “prepare” them to be “successful” in college. Then real life hits them right between the eyes. They have to get a job where they are expected to know how be responsible, show respect toward others, do the job correctly without someone holding their hand, etc..
In short, I believe Dr. M. L. King Jr. said it best, “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Learning to be strong and righteous in the heart and soul will pay much greater dividends than some sheepskin from Princeton, Northwestern, or even UAA.
Tom Taake
Well,this is my first blog comment ever and I appreciate your passion for teaching character building values,but I don't think all that "other stuff" is nonessential. I have been teaching elementary school kids for 20 years and I believe character building skills are important,but I also believe that having sharp writing skills and a good knowledge of how to present oneself through writing is very "essential" in the job market. A person's character will not even be noticed if he/she is not able to write a basic resume or communicate clearly in letters of interest for job applications.
ReplyDeleteI have watched my grown children struggle in the job market in the past 10 years and the ones that are able to present themselves clearly through the written word are much more "sellable" as potential employees of well paying jobs. Good character will maybe show through in personal interviews, but an applicant usually has to go through a written application process before a personal interview is given.
So,yes to the character building, but please don't knock the teaching of the very important essentials that are necessary for a student to be ready for the lucrative jobs that are hoped for in his future. They really are not "crap".
Peggy Marron
Thank you for your comments. I believe there's a reason why they invented word processors, with spell check, grammar check, paragraph check, etc., etc.. What about all the kids learning the 2nd language of texting? Kids can even Google every kind of essay/term paper imaginable, so the only thing preventing them from those temptations is their character! Next time you're online you should check out the millions of ready-made resumes available! As a successful employer for 20 years prior to becoming a successful teacher, I found out many times that one's character was more valuable than their ability to write. As teachers, we are so naive to think that our students are going to go to college. The facts just do not support those hopes. Almost 75% of today's high school kids do not graduate with a 4 year degree. Anyway, I'm guessing we could debate this until the cows come home, but I have to proctor the SBA's. Thanks again, Tom
ReplyDeleteTo try to slant this towards an economic subject and the economy of Alaska, I’d say the money isn’t there to pay teachers enough to teach both an academic curriculum and and a comprehensive character curriculum. I think the majority of teachers teach some character along the way but it is impossible to make it a major part of the curriculum. We are hired to teach specific academic concepts at each grade level.
ReplyDeleteThe content of a student’s character is highly influenced by is or her family and the environment in which he or she is raised. However, in some cases children don’t learn very positive characteristics at home and it is left up to the school to either put up with inappropriate characteristics, or teach him to improve his character.
With some states moving toward merit based pay, spending a majority of time teaching only “character” scares me. If my wage is going to be based on my students’ performance on an academic test, I am going to try to give them be best knowledge base to pass that test.
Character does matter, but until they extend the school day or school year, I don’t think the community wants us to spend a majority of time on character building instead of reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Kenneth Hays
Kenneth,
ReplyDeleteYou don't mention what grade you teach or where, which I think is very important. You say you are "scared" of me teaching "only character." Please let me know where it says that in my blog. Also, I teach the "canned" curriculum just as well as the other 4th grade teachers, maybe more thoroughly, and with more "fidelity" than most. The Houghton-Mifflin Language Arts, EDM, ASD Science tubs, and even the new Social Studies stuff are all taught with excitement and passion. You are making some pretty paranoid statements as far as Alaska "moving toward merit based pay" and having your "wage tied to student test performance." You also say, "I am going to try to give them the best knowledge base to pass that test." Does that mean you're "teaching to the test," and are assuming that I am not teaching enough academics? My students' test scores prove otherwise. You also claim "In some cases children don't learn very positive characteristics at home" so what you do is just throw in the towel? I don't give up on my students like you seem to infer when you say, "It is left up to the school to either put up with inappropriate characteristics, or teach him to improve his character," which requires me to get paid more money to compensate for the hours and hours it'll take to turn Johnny around. So, what you're saying is if Mom has given up, and Dad is in jail for dealing crack, and nobody gives a shit about Johnny at school, at least the teacher's ass is covered because they "taught the kid as best as I could so he could pass the SBA tests and I don't lose any of my merit pay or don't have to work an extra hour each day." Please let me know where you teach so I can make sure my daughter doesn't end up in your classroom. God forbid, she has a "non-academic" problem that she needs help with.
Tom Taake
Tom, lighten up. It's just a blog for extra credit points.
ReplyDeleteKenneth Hays
Interesting debate - I'd like to join in!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, let's explore this from the perspective of economics as we were asked to do, for there is value to be found in many things other than goods and services.
The quality of one's character has value, and since it is so highly valued (judged) by most in society via externality influences, the opportunities and successes that one gains in life will to no small degree be impacted by it. In fact, it's ultimate value over the course of one's lifetime could be comparable to an advanced degree as to the gain that one ultimately receives, or could receive from it.
As for the teaching of it, one need not turn it into a curriculum per say, but rather model it in the way that one teaches and interacts with the students. This takes no planning time, or extra money, just the will to do it. Without the value of character to go along with it, what value is there in an education anyway?
And then in regards to writing skills, this facet of an education has great value within any society. In my opinion however, it is being taught wrong, and so not only do students find it dry and boring, but they end up not very good at it despite all of our efforts.
I know how to write well, and that skill is of great value to me. Additionally, its externality influence is great, for society places great value on it as well, therefore I can acquire material value from it if I choose to do so. But, I could not now, even after 7 years of college and 14 as a teacher, define for you what a pronoun is, or an adverb, or a conjunction! I don't care what they're called, I know how to structure words together, I know the mechanics of writing.
What we have done with the teaching of writing is to make it so dry and full of endless definition that the pure joy of learning how to write well and creatively has been lost. These kids place no sense of value on writing well because it's no fun for them, and if it's no fun then they cannot see how it will have any value for them in the future no matter what we say or do.
Again, however, the technique of modeling can be used to overcome this, along with allowing students to write creatively without so much emphasis on what the different parts of a sentence are called or what they mean. We're putting them to sleep and turning them away from writing by making the study of it so dull! In that sense, we are diminishing the value that they place upon it, while at the same time increasing the value that we place upon it - that is a no win situation for a student. I'm certain that there must be some economic methaphor to describe such hypocrisy in assigning value, I just don't know what it is!
Sorry, I forgot to add my name to the above.
ReplyDeleteTony Schmidt
How about a teacher modeling excellent character qualities for students AND delivering a solid, inspiring curriculum. One without the other is not a full education. The quality of the teacher is the most important factor in any student's education.
ReplyDeleteStudents still need to have mastery in math, english, language arts, science and many other areas, even if they are really great, hardworking, honest and caring kids.
A strong work ethic can be learned and nurtured when a teacher sets clear (and high) expectations, helps students acquire the tools they need to succeed, and follows through.
We all know that not every student is going to succeed in every area (including character), but that doesn't mean we don't keep trying. And we hope they keep trying too.
Jeanne Larsen