Comments on: protest http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/ Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:24:04 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: thebutton http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1627 thebutton Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:02:13 +0000 http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1627 *hugs* Sorry I've been absent from reading lately. Busy, busy. I'm glad the students had an organized protest. It does make them smart; however, you have the right to teach them. It's your job. They need the fundamental building blocks that you teach for them to become great musicians. One time, back in Jr. High, I recall Mrs. M telling a few of our chatty girls that if they didn't want to sing, they could get out of her classroom. By them talking and flitting about, they are disturbing those that have the desire to learn and thrive from you. I wish you the best. Not much left in this school year, right? *hugs* Sorry I’ve been absent from reading lately. Busy, busy. I’m glad the students had an organized protest. It does make them smart; however, you have the right to teach them. It’s your job. They need the fundamental building blocks that you teach for them to become great musicians.

One time, back in Jr. High, I recall Mrs. M telling a few of our chatty girls that if they didn’t want to sing, they could get out of her classroom. By them talking and flitting about, they are disturbing those that have the desire to learn and thrive from you.

I wish you the best. Not much left in this school year, right?

]]> By: firewings http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1603 firewings Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:25:51 +0000 http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1603 Hell, he can change grades I'm thinking. If a teacher gets pissy at the college level, buh bye participation grade which can be as much as 30 percent of the grade. And protest = no participation. Hell, he can change grades I’m thinking. If a teacher gets pissy at the college level, buh bye participation grade which can be as much as 30 percent of the grade.

And protest = no participation.

]]> By: theMayor http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1601 theMayor Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:11:46 +0000 http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1601 *edit* I mean to say ... Don't give into the little bastards, they may one day be president ... *edit* I mean to say … Don’t give into the little bastards, they may one day be president …

]]> By: theMayor http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1600 theMayor Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:11:02 +0000 http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1600 Wow. This goes back to my comment I made yesterday about how kids are pretty much handed everything on a silver platter. They will be in for a big surprise when they enter the real world. I'm with C too, and I'd have to say you can't just lower their grades for the hell of it, however, if you assign work and the work isn't being done, then that can lower grades too. Don't give into the little bastards .... rock on dude. Rock on. -kc Wow. This goes back to my comment I made yesterday about how kids are pretty much handed everything on a silver platter.

They will be in for a big surprise when they enter the real world. I’m with C too, and I’d have to say you can’t just lower their grades for the hell of it, however, if you assign work and the work isn’t being done, then that can lower grades too. Don’t give into the little bastards …. rock on dude.

Rock on.
-kc

]]> By: strangerandstranger http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1599 strangerandstranger Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:07:51 +0000 http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1599 I agree with C. You are there to teach them. They elected to take your class and they agreed to follow the rules at the beginning of the year. I know you can't change their grades just for disagreeing with your teaching style but you can give them an ultimatum. You agree to consider they're prefrences in music but they need to respect the fact that you DO have more knowledge about educating them in music than they do. You KNOW what they need as a group to do well and you KNOW what peices of music are best for the entire band and not just sections. The generations to come will have and do not have respect for any one based on how much they know or how much they can teach them. It is only about whether or not they agree with you or like what you do and how you do it. Respect is based on what they get and not what they give. Good luck to you my friend we are all behind you 100%!!! :) I agree with C. You are there to teach them. They elected to take your class and they agreed to follow the rules at the beginning of the year. I know you can’t change their grades just for disagreeing with your teaching style but you can give them an ultimatum. You agree to consider they’re prefrences in music but they need to respect the fact that you DO have more knowledge about educating them in music than they do. You KNOW what they need as a group to do well and you KNOW what peices of music are best for the entire band and not just sections.

The generations to come will have and do not have respect for any one based on how much they know or how much they can teach them. It is only about whether or not they agree with you or like what you do and how you do it. Respect is based on what they get and not what they give.

Good luck to you my friend we are all behind you 100%!!! :)

]]> By: firewings http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1598 firewings Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:47:34 +0000 http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1598 I'm not a teacher, but isn't that a lot of the complaints that students have? They lose a lot of their rights when they walk into your room because you are getting paid to Tell Them What To Do. I mean, at a certain point, can't you just say, well - that's all fine and dandy, but I'm dropping everyone protesting to a C average and you all will need to work up back to an A? Shoot, I mean, I really don't think they should have any leverage beyond what's accepted as human rights, potty breaks and the like. If they "don't like your policies" they can go ahead and take shop. Honestly. I think I'm just as worked up as you. You just handle in more diplomatically and this is why you're a teacher. I’m not a teacher, but isn’t that a lot of the complaints that students have? They lose a lot of their rights when they walk into your room because you are getting paid to Tell Them What To Do. I mean, at a certain point, can’t you just say, well – that’s all fine and dandy, but I’m dropping everyone protesting to a C average and you all will need to work up back to an A?

Shoot, I mean, I really don’t think they should have any leverage beyond what’s accepted as human rights, potty breaks and the like. If they “don’t like your policies” they can go ahead and take shop. Honestly.

I think I’m just as worked up as you. You just handle in more diplomatically and this is why you’re a teacher.

]]> By: mrschili http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1597 mrschili Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:00:48 +0000 http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1597 You're not being belittling by asking what they know that you - an educated, licensed professional teacher - don't. You're there for a reason, and they may not LIKE your policies, but you have something to teach them (maybe just that, often, we have to do things we're not thrilled about having to do). You can respect their grievances and still stand your ground, and I think that's precisely what you should do. Let me know if there's anything at all I can do to help... You’re not being belittling by asking what they know that you – an educated, licensed professional teacher – don’t. You’re there for a reason, and they may not LIKE your policies, but you have something to teach them (maybe just that, often, we have to do things we’re not thrilled about having to do). You can respect their grievances and still stand your ground, and I think that’s precisely what you should do.

Let me know if there’s anything at all I can do to help…

]]> By: glenda http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1596 glenda Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:03:33 +0000 http://eatsbugs.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/protest/#comment-1596 What kind of band director did these kids have before you were there?! Sounds to me like they were used to a very laid back band environment. I think you've been doing the right thing setting specific rules and procedures and enforcing them. Sorry you're having to go through this, but it seems like you're handling it well. My husband (also a band director--what a pair we are!) had similar experiences his first and second year of teaching, mostly because of the major differences in both personality and teaching style between he and their last band director. It was a horrific experience for him, so much so that he almost left the profession because of it. To make a long story short, he ended up giving teaching a second chance in a new district, where he is now in his fourth year and beloved by all. His program is outstanding and still gets better every day. Sometimes it's just a matter of finding the right fit. Don't give up...I can tell how much you love music and want to pass that on to your students. Things WILL look up. What kind of band director did these kids have before you were there?! Sounds to me like they were used to a very laid back band environment. I think you’ve been doing the right thing setting specific rules and procedures and enforcing them. Sorry you’re having to go through this, but it seems like you’re handling it well.

My husband (also a band director–what a pair we are!) had similar experiences his first and second year of teaching, mostly because of the major differences in both personality and teaching style between he and their last band director. It was a horrific experience for him, so much so that he almost left the profession because of it. To make a long story short, he ended up giving teaching a second chance in a new district, where he is now in his fourth year and beloved by all. His program is outstanding and still gets better every day. Sometimes it’s just a matter of finding the right fit.

Don’t give up…I can tell how much you love music and want to pass that on to your students. Things WILL look up.

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