I Thought The Goal Was To Educate?
"We don't need no education...
We don't need no thought control...
No dark sarcasm, in the classroom
Hey, teacher, leave those kids alone...
All in all, its just another brick in the wall."
Roger Watters from Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 2--Pink Floyd--The Wall
You really want to know why some people find trouble by being teachers? Look no further than this:
“BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (AP) -- A 17-year-old high school student said he was humiliated when a teacher made him sit on the floor during a midterm exam in his ethnicity class -- for wearing a Denver Broncos jersey.
The teacher, John Kelly, forced Joshua Vannoy to sit on the floor and take the test Friday -- two days before the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Broncos 34-17 in the AFC championship game. Kelly also made other students throw crumpled up paper at Vannoy, whom he called a "stinking Denver fan," Vannoy told The Associated Press on Monday.
Kelly said Vannoy, a junior at Beaver Area Senior High School, just didn't get the joke.
"If he felt uncomfortable, then that's a lesson; that's what (the class) is designed to do," Kelly told The Denver Post. "It was silly fun. I can't believe he was upset."
Vannoy was wearing a No. 7 Broncos jersey on Friday, because he is a fan of John Elway, the Broncos' retired Hall of Fame quarterback.
Vannoy said he was so unnerved he left at least 20 questions blank on the 60-question test, and just wants out of Kelly's class because he's afraid the teacher won't treat him fairly now that the story reached the media.
"I'm going to have to deal with him for two more nine weeks (school quarters) and he's going to want revenge somehow," Vannoy said Monday. "I took the test. I'm shaking. I'm furious. I didn't know what to do."
Kelly, who wore a Ben Roethlisberger jersey Friday, and his principal, Thomas Karczewski, didn't immediately return messages left on their school voice mail Monday.
Big Beaver Falls Area School District Superintendent Donna Nugent said she was aware of the situation, but said confidentiality rules prevent her from commenting specifically.
"We'll take whatever action we need to in order for the student to feel comfortable," Nugent said.”
What a moron on so many levels is John Kelly. He breaks the first rule of student/teacher relationship—you cannot humiliate a kid. I "get" the joke and I "get" the point of the class, I think. I also understand that the kid may be using this incident for pull, but here's the clue, Mr. Kelly--do not put yourself in this foolish situation.
I make bets with my Packer Backer students—usually a “Wear a Jersey” for a day—although one year I had to wear a cheesehead all day. These are fun for the kids and for me, and we have equal opportunities to win.
What Kelly did is not perceived as playful teasing, and one can argue that there is no equal ground.
Here is the major complaint: a test is a graded criteria and can adversely affect the outcome of success in the course. To take the student out of his/her element defeats the purpose of the test—that is to check retention of knowledge. A teacher should offer the optimum opportunity for success. One may have to rethink making the student sit on the floor and have others throw objects at him when considering the optimum atmosphere for taking a test. I think “distraction” is more than likely the real outcome.
Follow that up with the comment “Its for an ethnicity class—that’s what we do.” Honestly, what does that even mean? I understand the kids sign a waiver that states that they will be ridiculed for the "feeling" of it, but things like that can becomed carried away. Besides, Kelly also states he did it to a ninth grader the week before. Ouch! Play with fire enough times, one will find burn marks, Mr. Kelly. Besides, Mr. Kelly, you put yourself in a bad situation because all teachers know when a kid does not "get" the grade he or she wishes, they look for other reasons. Congrats, Mr. Kelly, you gift-wrapped one for him.
In “ethnicity” class, I wonder if it is the best policy to insult those who are different? Do the African Americans kids sit on the floor, or the Jewish kids, or the Muslim kids or the Latin American kids? Are they called them a "stinking (insert your favorite racial commentary here)?" It makes no sense. I would have thought the lesson would be acceptance and tolerance (you know, like diversity), not insults and humiliation in an "ethnicity" class.
Kelly also notes that the kid did not complain and that he laughed. Mr. Kelly knows that the kid can think back on it later and whine, especially after friends tease later in the day and the like. Simply pput, don't put the kid in the situation. Further, you have set yourself up for a kid believing he/she is more likely to face further “lessons”…uh, I’m sorry...humiliation if he/she says a word.
We are not talking about a kid who lips off to a teacher and forces the teacher to react. The teacher in this scenario instigated the incident and punished a kid for an inane reason—wearing a Broncos jersey. Granted, not the crime of the century, but a crime that can be easily avoided.
Now comes the critics--many would fire the teacher as soon as possible. Many more would have the parents sue the daylights out of the guy and the district if they retain him.
The usual “this is a private matter” quotes prevailed, but the administration will honestly consider doing away with a teacher who feels diversity and humiliation are the same thing. The board will demand something, the press has been outlandish and critical, and the school will have no choice but to do away with this teacher.
And guess what, it is the teacher's fault.
We don't need no thought control...
No dark sarcasm, in the classroom
Hey, teacher, leave those kids alone...
All in all, its just another brick in the wall."
Roger Watters from Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 2--Pink Floyd--The Wall
You really want to know why some people find trouble by being teachers? Look no further than this:
“BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (AP) -- A 17-year-old high school student said he was humiliated when a teacher made him sit on the floor during a midterm exam in his ethnicity class -- for wearing a Denver Broncos jersey.
The teacher, John Kelly, forced Joshua Vannoy to sit on the floor and take the test Friday -- two days before the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Broncos 34-17 in the AFC championship game. Kelly also made other students throw crumpled up paper at Vannoy, whom he called a "stinking Denver fan," Vannoy told The Associated Press on Monday.
Kelly said Vannoy, a junior at Beaver Area Senior High School, just didn't get the joke.
"If he felt uncomfortable, then that's a lesson; that's what (the class) is designed to do," Kelly told The Denver Post. "It was silly fun. I can't believe he was upset."
Vannoy was wearing a No. 7 Broncos jersey on Friday, because he is a fan of John Elway, the Broncos' retired Hall of Fame quarterback.
Vannoy said he was so unnerved he left at least 20 questions blank on the 60-question test, and just wants out of Kelly's class because he's afraid the teacher won't treat him fairly now that the story reached the media.
"I'm going to have to deal with him for two more nine weeks (school quarters) and he's going to want revenge somehow," Vannoy said Monday. "I took the test. I'm shaking. I'm furious. I didn't know what to do."
Kelly, who wore a Ben Roethlisberger jersey Friday, and his principal, Thomas Karczewski, didn't immediately return messages left on their school voice mail Monday.
Big Beaver Falls Area School District Superintendent Donna Nugent said she was aware of the situation, but said confidentiality rules prevent her from commenting specifically.
"We'll take whatever action we need to in order for the student to feel comfortable," Nugent said.”
What a moron on so many levels is John Kelly. He breaks the first rule of student/teacher relationship—you cannot humiliate a kid. I "get" the joke and I "get" the point of the class, I think. I also understand that the kid may be using this incident for pull, but here's the clue, Mr. Kelly--do not put yourself in this foolish situation.
I make bets with my Packer Backer students—usually a “Wear a Jersey” for a day—although one year I had to wear a cheesehead all day. These are fun for the kids and for me, and we have equal opportunities to win.
What Kelly did is not perceived as playful teasing, and one can argue that there is no equal ground.
Here is the major complaint: a test is a graded criteria and can adversely affect the outcome of success in the course. To take the student out of his/her element defeats the purpose of the test—that is to check retention of knowledge. A teacher should offer the optimum opportunity for success. One may have to rethink making the student sit on the floor and have others throw objects at him when considering the optimum atmosphere for taking a test. I think “distraction” is more than likely the real outcome.
Follow that up with the comment “Its for an ethnicity class—that’s what we do.” Honestly, what does that even mean? I understand the kids sign a waiver that states that they will be ridiculed for the "feeling" of it, but things like that can becomed carried away. Besides, Kelly also states he did it to a ninth grader the week before. Ouch! Play with fire enough times, one will find burn marks, Mr. Kelly. Besides, Mr. Kelly, you put yourself in a bad situation because all teachers know when a kid does not "get" the grade he or she wishes, they look for other reasons. Congrats, Mr. Kelly, you gift-wrapped one for him.
In “ethnicity” class, I wonder if it is the best policy to insult those who are different? Do the African Americans kids sit on the floor, or the Jewish kids, or the Muslim kids or the Latin American kids? Are they called them a "stinking (insert your favorite racial commentary here)?" It makes no sense. I would have thought the lesson would be acceptance and tolerance (you know, like diversity), not insults and humiliation in an "ethnicity" class.
Kelly also notes that the kid did not complain and that he laughed. Mr. Kelly knows that the kid can think back on it later and whine, especially after friends tease later in the day and the like. Simply pput, don't put the kid in the situation. Further, you have set yourself up for a kid believing he/she is more likely to face further “lessons”…uh, I’m sorry...humiliation if he/she says a word.
We are not talking about a kid who lips off to a teacher and forces the teacher to react. The teacher in this scenario instigated the incident and punished a kid for an inane reason—wearing a Broncos jersey. Granted, not the crime of the century, but a crime that can be easily avoided.
Now comes the critics--many would fire the teacher as soon as possible. Many more would have the parents sue the daylights out of the guy and the district if they retain him.
The usual “this is a private matter” quotes prevailed, but the administration will honestly consider doing away with a teacher who feels diversity and humiliation are the same thing. The board will demand something, the press has been outlandish and critical, and the school will have no choice but to do away with this teacher.
And guess what, it is the teacher's fault.
posted by Eric Sweetwood at 2:53 PM
1 Comments:
Kelly probably went to his union's representative and told him to fix it. After all, that's what he pays his dues for.
This is one of those cases when you want to say, "You idiot. You brought this on yourself by doing something stupid. What were you thinking?"
We have had to help out some of our colleagues who have reacted out of anger or stupidity. But, my feeling is there is only so much we can do for the fools.
If Kelly is tenured, he probably got a reprimand in his file if he is lucky. If not, he had better start reading the papers for a new job. Let's hope that Kelly finds another career far away from students of any age.
Lou
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