Our 24-year old granddaughter is in her third year teaching fourth grade. Her experience to date has been a mixed bag. Before I continue, I do acknowledge the possibility of a bias; although I stand on my perceptions.
The granddaughter's teaching evaluations each year are considered top of the scale. She, however appears to be in a philosophical standoff with her principal regarding disciplinary measures. The granddaughter apparently sends students to the office if they are unresponsive to repeated directives. The principal, agitated with this method, suggests the granddaughter could use 'other' measures to resolve the classroom disruption; the granddaughter feels too much class time used addressing misbehaving students will rob good students of learning. (You readers HAVE noticed parents stopped sending well-behaved, respectful and disciplined kids to school several years ago.)
Several weeks ago, the principal suggested that perhaps the young teacher needed a more 'caring' attitude; she should explore ways to make those problem students 'like' her. I find it so interesting how society wishes for teachers and police to do their respective jobs but don't bruise any feelings or hurt anyone in the charge.
Our granddaughter took her therapy dog to the local hospital two days ago, as she often does. By chance happening, one of the forty patients she and her dog visited was the grandmother of one of her behavior problem students. The teacher and pup spent time with the student and siblings while family visited the gravely-ill grandmother. The grandmother passed the next day.
Count the number of 24- year old single girls whom you know that spent money and time to train and certify a therapy dog and then give up Sunday nights visiting nursing homes and hospitals. How many of them would you judge 'caring?' How's that; you don't know any?
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