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

[Marty Weiss <martweiss@comcast.net>]

The city has problems of its own which few suburban teachers can relate to.  In the burbs most students have some idea of what physics is supposed to be, but in my inner city high school some guidance counselors told them that they "needed" physics.  Because the stats showed few minorities in engineering they pushed engineering for what appeared to be brightest kids, in spite of the fact that they had gotten "C's" on algebra and hated math.  So, the first time I showed them an equation I had a few who complained to the counselor that I was using "too much math".  For some, he told them to "suck it up and deal with it."  But a few insisted on dropping the class which he gladly did. If I saw a truly gifted student I would pull him or her aside and tutor them myself in the algebra they never learned before.   Once we got the numbers down to those who really wanted to be there I had approximately 75% of the college bound seniors and juniors in physics and after quite a struggle we managed to pass the course 'together'.... another thing the inner city high school teacher must do which is relate to the personal and academic struggles of the kids; such as after school jobs that went from 3 til 11 to support their families, single moms with babies at home being taken care of by the grandmom, girlfriends of druggies who abused them; kids who were jumped on their way home and had their books stolen or dumped in mud-puddles;  kids who were so spaced out that they literally fell off their seats.   Yes... these were the physics kids who one would think were immune from all that.  Except, in the city, no one is immune.  To get them into and through college was itself a challenge when they are the first generation to even graduate from high school.  

Yes, my friends, teaching in the city is not something for the squeamish or for the Princeton grad who comes unprepared for these challenges.  
  
On Oct 20, 2013, at 2:53 PM, Bernard Cleyet wrote:

> 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:
>
> _______________________________________________
> Forum for Physics Educators
> Phys-l@phys-l.org
> http://www.phys-l.org/mailman/listinfo/phys-l