Skip to main content

The power of Praise

I taught a retread of a Creation stewardship class yesterday at my church for adults. The session went well, I thought. But the best part came at the end when three or four students complimented me on my teaching. Funny thing is, as a professional teacher I NEVER hear that. Sure, one could argue that some of my students (the ones that fail especially) would never say that, and I can accept that. What isn't acceptable is the lack of appreciation from students (it doesn't have to be every week, mind you) and especially from the administration. We get little generalized bits like "Oh, what you do is so important and we thank you so much," but how can I accept that as sincere when the administration has no idea what I'm doing in my classroom--except when there's a complaint, of course.
Sigh, anybody have a job opening that replaces gratitude with monetary renumeration?

Addendum: I should point out that over the years some of my students (teens) have been grateful for the little bit that I offered them. The trouble is they have only been at most 4% of my students. That is probably the way it is with most careers, but still. . . as a teacher, it's good to hear "Thank you for teaching me."

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Good reads of 2009

I haven't made a list like this in a while, and I believe I discussed most of these on the blog as I finished them, but I thought I'd make a handy short-hand list for you and me. These are only in the order I read them and do not indicate any preference. The Open Door * Frederica Mathewes-Green The Children of Hurin * J.R.R. Tolkien The Omnivore's Dilemma * Michael Pollan Agrarianism and the Good Society: Land, Culture, Conflict, and Hope * Eric T. Freyfogle Wonderful Fool * Shusaku Endo Up the Rouge: Paddling Detroit's Hidden River * Joel Thurtell and Patricia Beck Johnny Cash and the Great American Contradiction: Christianity and the Battle for the Soul of a Nation * Rodney Clapp (I started the following in December, but I haven't finished them--so far they are excellent: Love and Hate in Jamestown * David A. Price and The Picture of Dorian Gray * Oscar Wilde) Try one of these--let me know.

Worth Quoting

There are but three social arrangements which can replace Capitalism: Slavery, Socialism, and Property.                                                                                                 --Hilaire Belloc                                                   ...

The Completely Unsexy Adventures of Constructing a Driveway

Yesterday marked the third phase in our attempt to create a homestead at the Martin Hollow.  We now have a gravel driveway.  Does this mean wild bacchanalia there?  In a word: no.  It simply saves me about 400 feet in walking when I'm carrying various tools designed to destroy decontextualized organisms, e.g. autumn olive and garlic mustard.  It is also the beginning of our footprint on the land and it helps us to visualize where the house and garage will eventually be placed.  The above are two views of the approach from our road which ends in a cul-de-sac (and a large pond just beyond that) to my right (north).  Here's a closer view after the gravel has been added (above).  This view is from the road facing south.  Notice the culvert next the shovel?  I told you this wouldn't be sexy.   Just below is another view from the road looking northwest.  You can see the bobcat tractor in the distance.  This (to the left)...