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EduTalk |
A Forum of Sharing for Educators Across the World |
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This is a place where educators can share their thoughts about teaching and learning. Each month there will be an Editorial written on a subject of interest to teachers worldwide. And each month we will choose the best response for a $25 Gift Certificate from Amazon.com July 16th, 2001 Our first Editorial is an email recently received from an Australian teacher, currently living in the US. She gives us great insights into the condition of schools and learning from a different perspective. Have a read and let us know your thoughts. Hi, My name is Sarah and I am an Australian teaching in California. I have 12 years experience teaching in Australia and was an Advanced Skills Teacher in both Catholic and Public schools. Why am I writing? Daily my motivation as a teacher is being eroded by the poor condition of the education system in the US. Sure there are some great schools and some very dedicated teachers. However, education does not seem to be a priority here in the US. My first teaching job in the US I was confronted with a dirty room with desks and chairs, but not enough for my 35 Grade 4 students. I found that I had to buy writing materials, paper and books, just so my students could begin the school year. How students learn I am an experienced teacher in the Australian system, but I was not prepared for the antiquidated methods of teaching found in my first school. I was used to learning contracts, portfolios and student centered learning, however there was no time for that! Learning is very much text book driven and most pages of the Text are expected to be covered. The SAT's are responsible for this attitude to learning. I was a part of the Australian teaching community that fought hard against national testing, yet find myself caught up in it in the US. Special Education Students Very little time or support was given to me, as I struggled with students whose grasp of the English language was very poor. The teacher is expected to just push them through the system, hoping they will catch up somehow. Am I valued as a teacher? The answer to that is easy...NO. Teachers in the US get paid very poorly. They are criticized for the learning problems students have and do not get recognized for the hard work most do. Infact I get paid so poorly - $21,000 is my starting wage (after many years experience in Australia) that I am considering changing careers. This is a very dificult decision, but one that may have to be made, for financial reasons. I know that these are my experinces, and that not ALLSchools in the US are like this. This is my experience and unfortunately many US teachers are also feeling powerless with the state of education as it exists in America. Thank you for allowing me to express my frustrations as a teacher in the US. Ms.Sarah H, California, USA So what are your thoughts? Are you a teacher in the US and feel the same way? Are you an Aussie teacher interested in the US system? Please email us with your response to our first EduTalk Editorial. Include first name, State, and Country. For just a quick response to our Editorial, you may be receiving a $25 Gift Certificate from Amazon.com Respond to this month's Editorial. |
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