Being The One Who Cares Essay, Research Paper

Being The One Who Cares

In order to be a good teacher I feel that one needs to be

open and understanding of different events that might take place

in the classroom. Students today are not treated the same as

they were during the beginning of education and we have a variety

of students which attend our public schools. There are girls,

blacks, whites, Hispanic, and Native Americans and a number of

other different races participating in our classroom studies.

This is a wonderful accomplishment in our society. The variety

of backgrounds which are found in the classrooms gives our young

students a better understanding of different races and

nationalities. However, with growth there are always problems.

Because there are students from different backgrounds, we must

cater to all their needs. There may be students in our classroom

with completely different religious beliefs or no beliefs at all.

Teachers must understand each student and their personal beliefs

to make their learning environment comfortable. Every aspect of

our society has changed, we live in a more promiscuous society.

Our children are having children. We as teachers must educate

our student to the deadly effects of unprotected sex. I feel as

teachers earn tenure, they are more likely to effect the students

in a more personably manner. Having a stable and open classroom,

I feel the students will learn more and be a respected citizen in

our society. In this project I will discuss, prayer in the

classroom, AIDS and tenure.

Prayer in school is a controversial issue that must be

considered and dealt with as quickly as possible. All people

should feel free to worship and have loyalties to whichever

religion they choose. If no religion is chosen, then the

feelings of the person should be considered as will. Everyone

has an opinion on this subject, but everyones opinion should not

become an issue. Rather, the opinion should be offered in order

to be accepted or rejected by the individual. I feel that a time

should be set aside during the day to allow for mediation or

introspection. This time could be used by the students for

thinking, prayer, meditation or for private reflection.

Therefore, those who choose to participate can do so privately.

Since it is a quiet time, no religion is stressed, so whichever

seems to be more important to the student, the student has the

option to choose.

An alternative to quiet time is to rotate prayers among all

religious faiths with equal time being provided for all groups

and religions represented. The schedule may be rotated daily or

weekly between such choices as Christian, Jewish, and Catholic.

No shame should be placed on the students because of their

personal beliefs, and adults must never censure, or in any way

make light of a students belief. Also, no student should be

forced into or required to participate; all children should be

allowed to either join in, or to sit quietly during this time.

Like most things, this can be used as a positive tool for

teaching respect for others.

I feel this issue should be decided by individual school

systems and not mandated by the courts. However, if the school

does choose to have a religious moment, all religions should be

represented. This issue is a very private one, and no one should

be judged by his or her feelings. Also, no student should ever

be made to feel less than acceptable for their personal belief.

Teachers should keep in mind that not all children share the same

beliefs, therefore, if one or more students choose not to

participate in the prayer or quiet time, alternatives should be

offered to them. Reading may help the others to be quiet while

those who choose to participate do so. If a child chooses not to

participate, it should not become an issue between the student

and the class or the student and the teacher. No student should

ever be held up to ridicule. The teacher should try to make all

of the students feel as comfortable as possible whether they

participate or not.

If the subject is handled properly, this may help

contributed to a better understanding of the difference among

people. By teaching students that people are different at an

early age, it may alleviate some the hostilities between them as

adults. Also, this will teach students tolerance to views that

are different than their own. Students learn from what they see,

if they see and share prayer with their friends and classmates

they will seem less separate. The students may prove to be more

willing to accept the difference between themselves and others.

With this, a breakdown of prejudices may occur. Prejudice is

developed from fear of the unknown. Because some are different

than ourselves, we may feel that they are somehow less than we

are. Students should be taught at an early age that there are

differences in and among people the unknown becomes less feared.

By giving children the chance to share their most personal

beliefs without fear of ridicule, they will become more tolerant

and educated about the many different views shared by those

around them.

Teaching is not always done from a book. Students learn

from teachers and the teachers should also learn from students.

We should always be open to new experiences and willing to learn

from them. If the teacher is not familiar with the student?s

beliefs, he or she should take the time to learn about the

religion from the student. If the students learn acceptance of

difference as children, they will be more acceptable as adults.

This issue may be difficult for all to accept, and even if one

child feels uncomfortable with it – it should not be forced upon

them.

I feel that if religion was in our classroom, then the

subject of sex would not be a difficult subject to talk about.

In today?s society children are faced with many problems, and

an important issue that should be included in any educational

program is sex education. Children should be taught early what

sex is about and how to be safe when involved in a sexual

relationship. It is very unrealistic to believe that children

will not have sex. Since it is almost impossible to convince

them that it is dangerous, it is imperative that they know

exactly what can happen if they choose to have sex. Young people

have a tendency to see themselves as immortal. they must

understand that yes I can get AIDS; yes I can die, and there is

still no cure for the AIDS virus.

AIDS is a topic that everyone has heard about, but young

people may not be fully aware of how it is transmitted and how it

can be avoided. By teaching this in our schools, we can at least

be sure that each student knows the danger. Aids education should

be included in a sex education class, and the curriculum should

include educating the children about the many different sexually

transmitted diseases including AIDS, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Herpes

and other incurable sexually transmitted diseases. Students

need to be taught that if the choose to have sex they should

protect themselves. Pregnancy is not the only issue that should

be considered although the subject should be thoroughly

discussed. AIDS is now the most pressing social concern to be

taught to students.

While informing students about the dangers of unprotected

sex, condom usage should be discussed. If the children still

feel that sex is acceptable for them personally, condom usage

should be stressed. If they are aware that the transmission of

AIDS may be stopped by proper use of a condom, students may

choose to use them. It should also be noted that there is a

chance that a condom will fail. Condoms should be termed safer

sex and the only true safe sex is abstinence. Even so, condoms

should be made available to the students. Although some feel

that the distribution of condoms in the schools will increase

sexual activity, I feel that this will only protect those who

have already made the decision to be sexually active. In order

to encourage condom usage, teenagers should be taught the proper

way to use them. By distributing condoms and showing proper

usage, young people will become familiar with them. This will

help them to feel more comfortable and be more willing to use a

condom.

Condom machines should also be installed in both boys and

girls restroom. The students are then able to purchase condoms

privately. This will also encourage condom use because the

student will not have to feel intimidated about buying condoms in

public places. As long as condoms are easily assessable and

teenagers know how to use them, we may be able to slow the

epidemic of AIDS. Sex education and AIDS awareness go hand in

hand. By developing educational programs to teach safe sex, they

will be able to make an educated decision on whether or not sex

is right for them. Although we do not like to think that young

people are sexually active and in danger of contracting diseases,

it is irresponsible to believe that if we do not talk to them

about it they will not do it. Children are curious an feel that

it cannot happen to them, and peer pressure often causes young

people to act without proper considerations. Teenagers will

experiment therefore we must prepare them to make responsible

decisions. Their decisions could make a life changing difference

in their lives. Education is the best method we have to inform

them of the many factors involved in casual sex.

It has been found that students are more likely to trust a

teacher who has been in their schools for many years. They might

remember their older brothers and sisters talking about a

particular teacher. A student may feel more comfortable talking

with a teacher regarding a academic problem as well as a personal

problem; especially if they feel the teacher knows a little about

their lives without revealing a lot of information. A teacher

may help the student make a wise division regarding school or a

boyfriend or girlfriend. This leads us to the issue of tenure.

Tenure is a status granted to teachers after a probationary

period. This is sort of job security, which prevents a teacher

from being dismissed from work except for legally specified

causes and through due process procedures. Tenure is given to a

teacher after a three year probation. The teachers are given

three one year contracts that may or may not be renewed after

each of the three years. If you do not receive a dismissal

letter before the forth year, you will automatically receive

tenure. During any of the probation years you can be dismissed

for any reason. After you receive tenure you can only be

dismissed for one or two reasons. If you are proven incompetent

after receiving tenure you can be dismissed, and the only other

reason is on the basis of moral turpitude. Tenure goes with the

job, if the job has been abolished there is no tenure. For

example: A physical education teacher that is tenured can loose

their tenure if physical education is abolished.

As in all things, tenure has a negative side to it.

Teachers may be tenure status but may not have the qualifications

to hold the positions any longer. Many teachers who achieve the

tenure status might feel they no longer need to continue to

broaden their knowledge or stay current with the changes in

education. This can foster a lax attitude, and lifetime tenure

may induce laziness, stifle incentives or contribute to a lack of

performance in the classroom. Although this does not apply to

the majority of teachers; an attitude such as this will deprive

the students of the learning they deserve. If the administration

feels that a particular teacher should be dismissed due to the

lack of knowledge or the teaching abilities, tenure can also be

used to delay or block efforts to force the issue.

Tenure cannot and does not guarantee excellence. A teacher

is either dedicated to the profession or is simply getting a pay

check and three months off during the summer. This is a critical

point, and students will be deprived of a good education if the

teacher has this attitude.

Tenure will not guarantee a teacher?s interest in his or her

students. All teachers should take pride in the knowledge that

every student is interested to his or her care that they are

going to provide the best entrusting that they are capable of

giving. This means the teachers need to take the time to get to

know every student in their class. Tenure cannot prevent abuse

of either the system or of the student. It is abuse of the

system when the teacher hides behind tenure. Abuse of the

students occurs when he or she does not receive the very best

education the can receive.

Tenure is intended to show regard for scholarly achievement.

It is in large part a quest for security in ones profession. It

is meant to be protection against injustice of any kind, and it

should not be used as a shield for incompetence or lack of

commitment. Tenure should be treated as a privilege and an

honor. Dedicated persons in the teaching profession will surely

agree with this.

The merit pay system is an alternative to tenure. Merit pay

is a better system of rewarding a dedicated teacher or

instructor. In this system the teachers are given a pay raise

based on their work, not based on the number of years they have

taught. This system will weed out the people who use teaching

just as a job. I feel that if teachers are paid by the merit

system our children will be better educated. Our teachers will

value their position and impose themselves on the children?s

education. It is a proven fact, the more you reward a person the

higher the results will be. We need to reward our teachers for

the job well done and in turn our students will reward us with

their job well done. Whether in the classroom or after

graduation in their chosen profession. Education is the greatest

gift of all. I think it would be a wonderful feeling to find out

that the students which I have taught remembered me for the

excellent job I have done.

I feel that the student teacher relationship is an important

relationship. If the student respects the teacher they will

receive the best education possible. If the communication is

lost, some students may stray from the classroom activities and

loose the sense of the nature of a good student.

If the teacher is a veteran teacher then the students are

more likely to come to them regarding any problem. It may be a

problem with their studies, a problem with another teacher, or

even a domestic problem. Whatever it may be, we as teachers

should act In Loco Parentis.

I can relate to the problems in today?s classroom. I feel

its important for respected teachers to earn tenure, not only for

themselves but for the students as well. Familiar teachers

become the students friends, and topics such as sex, AIDS,

teenage pregnancy and religion might not be so difficult to

discuss. We need personal discussion in our classroom. What

goes on inside the classroom directly affect what will happen

inside the classroom.

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