Job Discussion Forums

[Jetgirly]

I was not, by any means, treated like a professional by my employer (the school) or our clients (the companies that hired us) when I taught Business English for a chain school in Italy. However, we were definitely "pimped out" by our school (as I mentioned in my original post), in that we were strongly encouraged to go out with students because then they would recommend the school to their friends and other companies, we were advised against declining dates with students because it would be bad for business and we were chastised if we didn't get enough gifts from our students (also if the students didn't bring the secretaries Christmas gifts that were "sufficiently expensive"). It was fun (most of the time) when I was twenty-one and fresh out of university, but after a while I wanted to work in a more professional environment. I came back to Canada, got a second degree, moved into the public school system and now have to abide by literally HUNDREDS of laws, codes of conduct and administrative regulations. In fact, a lovely new law was just passed this morning!

[jdl]

Ah yes, the HRCs. Macleans just had a 'go round' with them. As a friend of mine use to say, "Sometimes we become so open minded that our brains fall out".

Reading Ezra Levant on this issue is entertaining.

[Chancellor]

[Chancellor]

[Jetgirly]

[Chancellor]

[johnslat]

Dear Chancellor,

" . . . homosexuality is supposedly neither a behavior nor a choice; the gay rights activists insist they were born homosexual)"
I can see how that would make it not a choice, but how would it make it not a behavior?

Regards,
John

[Jetgirly]

[jdl]

Jetgirly,

Do you think Bill 44 will stand a challenge from ATA?

The bill does not prohibit the teaching of the curriculum. It allows students to absent themselves with parental permission from such teachings. Relgion and sexuality incidentally touched upon are exempt.....talk about an area for litigation. The classrooms affected may include Health, Physical Ed, Physics, Biology, Senior Social Studies, Science........

Any predictions or insights into the ATA reaction? Alberta Teachers Association is one of a very few Teachers Organizations that reserves the right to strike. Is this such an issue?

[jdl]

Chancellor,

Grab a copy of any of the Provincial ELA and ESL curriculum guides to better understand how ESL instruction is understood and implemented in the Public Schools. Of course the Curriculum will vary from province to province since education is a provincial/state matter, but in western Canada the Curricula have been integrated through the Western Canada Protocols. The curricula are quite enlightened and enlightening. The ELA and ESL curricula are top notch. I have found many esl teachers internationally were very excited to be put in contact with these curricula since it seems to be an area in which TEFL is in stress.
The implementation on the other hand can be another matter all together since resources and supports aka budget are often lacking. Nothing new there is there?

[Jetgirly]

[santi84]

[johnslat]

Dear jetgirly,
Ah, one of those. They've even been given a name: "helicopter parents"

"Helicopter parent is a colloquial, early 21st-century term for a parent who pays extremely close attention to his or her child's or children's experiences and problems, particularly at educational institutions. These parents rush to prevent any harm or failure from befalling them and will not let them learn from their own mistakes, sometimes even contrary to the children's wishes. They are so named because, like helicopters, they hover closely overhead, rarely out of reach, whether their children need them or not.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopter_parent

Helicopter parent: A nosy grown-up who's always hovering around. Quick to offer a teacher unwanted help.

In other words, an overprotective control freak (hover, hover.)

Regards,
John

[jdl]

jetgirly,

Yes 'helicpter parent" ...great term John! As a principal I had a few in my schools and they did require a great deal of patience, time and endurance! I usually tried to run interference for my teachers and had some very frank chats with the parents about hindering student progress and development through over monitoring. For some it worked, for others, the school was one of the few places where they actually had a voice and they were taking full advantage. In the cases where a parent could just not be satisfied I asked them what they would have us do. Once that was articulated I referred them to an agency or personnel outside the school who could help them, for often what they wanted was societal or policy in nature and really in a realm outside the school. That worked sometimes. Other times I just put them to work as a volunteer. That also worked from time to time in providing the parent a 'larger picture'

Having said all that, of the thousands of families I have had in my schools perhaps 5 have been of the helicopter variety...it just felt like a hundred.

I know it is an easy answer to say 'enlist her help' ... but it seems to be what works best. Maybe your principal could arrange to have this student with a teacher who is already familiar with the family to facilitate the child's continued growth without the disruption of having to 'induct' a new teacher???

I await the first HRC case involving a teacher who 'infringes' upon a child's rights vis a vis religion, sexual orientation etc. through the conscientious execution of his/her teaching duties. Hope the ATA is up for it and can defend the teachers adequately.

[Chancellor]