Posted by Sheri on October 19, 1997 at 14:21:56:
It is early hours here; another
early morning pondering the mysteries of the adolescent mind. I was
thinking of my future and the futility of it all, when I stumbled into your
site. After getting my sea-legs, I became captivated by the workings of
your minds. It was refreshing to read real thoughts.
I teach 8th grade science and there isn't one original thought in the
collective bunch! When I tried to do away with the textbook, they were
lost. They didn't want to think! They wanted to see the answer in print
(BOLD PRINT IS BETTER). The parents were just as bad; they wanted to know
when their child was getting a textbook and that they could not do the
homework without it. They are inculcated robots, having no idea how to
proceed without a written set of instructions.
The sad part -- I was teaching them a review of the metric system and basic
science skills!! Something they should have learned at the primary level.
98% of my students could not even figure out how to draw a line 1 cm. in
length. We are talking BASICS here!! How do I justify giving them the
textbook "The Chemistry of Matter" when they can not differentiate between
length, mass, volume, temperature? We don't have a textbook that teaches
those basics. How do I teach Boyle's & Charles's Laws, when they have
never measured volume, pressure, or temperature??? AND the only gas they
are familiar with is that which is expelled out their collective asses?
I do have a MS in biology...maybe I should go back to the lab ( lots more
$$ and lots less frustrating).
I am committed to the cause of teaching "skulls full of mush"! Thanks for
a great romp through your minds!
Sheri