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Re: [Phys-L] teaching credentials +- qualifications +- administration




On 2013, Oct 20, , at 06:09, Marty Weiss <martweiss@comcast.net> wrote:


One alternate route man, however, was a complete disaster... he entered with a PhD in Environmental Chemistry and was hired as the new 'golden boy' in the chem department. OMG... when the mentors were there showing him the ropes it was fine, but when he transitioned into solo teaching the classroom was a war zone... kids running around, food containers all over... the kids just knew they were in charge.

I attended a well regarded prep. school for 3.5 years and then the pub. HS in Santa Barbara. Because it streamed (pre-professional), I found little diff. in the quality of teaching, etc. 1951=>55.

Recently, to add to my meager retirement, I sub. taught at a Salinas HS. I agree, now classroom management is the sine qua non for successful teaching. But only if teaching non-streamed. I taught one quarter (10 weeks) chem. to two classes required for job prep students (regional occupation program). It was hell. The chair did tell me most of the students didn't belong there. The last class (3rd) was an elective, and, therefore, a joy. Since I didn' pass the CBEST in two attempts, my credential lapsed, which was a blessing in disguise, as I was then hired to teach at the Naval Postgrad. School where the students are officers and gentlemen and women.

bc didn't have an attitude and successfully hid his degree for a time, and, also, thinks classroom management is more important than a BA.



This man came in with the attitude that with his PhD he could simply walk in and the teenagers would be in thrall of his knowledge of chemistry. We all tried mightily to assist him, but with our own workloads we couldn't babysit this guy all the time, even with two mentors and the assistance from the supervisor and the department chairman. He lasted until Thanksgiving break and disappeared, never to return. He probably ended up in some industry somewhere badmouthing our school and the teaching profession.

On Oct 20, 2013, at 8:34 AM, Philip Keller wrote: