Comments on: What Did You Learn in School Today? http://iwassaying.net/2008/07/10/what-did-you-learn-in-school-today/ Chatter, memories and rants. Don't stop me if you've heard this one before. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:05:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Pete http://iwassaying.net/2008/07/10/what-did-you-learn-in-school-today/comment-page-1/#comment-390 Pete Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:45:16 +0000 http://iwassaying.net/?p=110#comment-390 Mike, Some time I'll tell the story of my years as a closing agent for a your-kneecaps-are-your-collateral mortgage lender headquartered in Boston. This was capitalism with a delicate Cosa Nostra seasoning. Mike,

Some time I’ll tell the story of my years as a closing agent for a your-kneecaps-are-your-collateral mortgage lender headquartered in Boston. This was capitalism with a delicate Cosa Nostra seasoning.

]]> By: Mike Nichols http://iwassaying.net/2008/07/10/what-did-you-learn-in-school-today/comment-page-1/#comment-384 Mike Nichols Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:36:00 +0000 http://iwassaying.net/?p=110#comment-384 I can really empathize with you. I taught public school as an orchestra director for 12 years and then had my own private teaching studio for 7 more. I left public school teaching, burnt out due to several of the things you mention: blockheaded administrators, constrictive and engraved-in-stone curriculums, dealing with parents, and many other things you don't mention. I saw many teachers who were less suited to the classroom than you describe yourself as being. Why they were there, I cannot say, but several of them were making a career of it! Can you imagine marking the years until retirement in a job you are not suited for and absolutely hate? Can you imagine what this kind of teacher is doing to the students? But it's not just education; there are many -- too many -- who trap themselves into a job they hate just because they don't have the insight to see how it is crushing their souls, the imagination to see themselves in a more-suited job, and the initiative to do something about it. Now, if we were to trade horror-stories, let me tell you about the 18 months I spent with a rapacious, unethical corporation... I can really empathize with you. I taught public school as an orchestra director for 12 years and then had my own private teaching studio for 7 more. I left public school teaching, burnt out due to several of the things you mention: blockheaded administrators, constrictive and engraved-in-stone curriculums, dealing with parents, and many other things you don’t mention.

I saw many teachers who were less suited to the classroom than you describe yourself as being. Why they were there, I cannot say, but several of them were making a career of it! Can you imagine marking the years until retirement in a job you are not suited for and absolutely hate? Can you imagine what this kind of teacher is doing to the students?

But it’s not just education; there are many — too many — who trap themselves into a job they hate just because they don’t have the insight to see how it is crushing their souls, the imagination to see themselves in a more-suited job, and the initiative to do something about it.

Now, if we were to trade horror-stories, let me tell you about the 18 months I spent with a rapacious, unethical corporation…

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