On a somewhat more serious note...does anyone know what century we're living in? Because if this is actually medieval Europe during the dark ages, I've been horribly misinformed.
Posts: 3852 | Registered: Feb 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Sigh. As a means of convincing people that teacher's unions do more harm than good, this kind of thing is about negative 15 on a usefulness scale from 0 to 10. I hope there's more to it than the magic trick thing, the article hints at it.
Posts: 10645 | Registered: Jul 2004
| IP: Logged |
quote:Tampa Bay's 10 talked to the assistant superintendent with the Pasco County School District who said it wasn't just the wizardry and that Picular had other performance issues, including "not following lesson plans" and allowing students to play on unapproved computers."
Well, there are potentially other issues.
quote:As a substitute teacher, the Pasco County School District considers Piculas to be an "at will employee." That means the district doesn't need to have cause for not bringing him back at all.
That's my understanding of how substitute teaching works. They can choose not to bring you back if they don't like the color of your hair. There is no need to have cause. So, if one parent complained about the magic trick, that may be enough reason to not bring him back.
I'm not thinking it was hordes of parents with pitchforks and torches clamoring for his head. I suspect it was one complaint, but with substituting, often one complaint is enough.
One has to think - if he's performing magic tricks instead of following lesson plans - then hey, that IS cause in my book.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Belle: One has to think - if he's performing magic tricks instead of following lesson plans - then hey, that IS cause in my book.
Context definitely needs to be established. If he was using the trick to demonstrate a point, then I have no problem with it. If he was just goofing off, that may be reason enough to let him go.
But I also think it's a problem if he was indeed accused of "wizardry"...not necessarily a problem with his firing, but a problem with certain Floridians' wizard-phobia.
Posts: 3852 | Registered: Feb 2002
| IP: Logged |
quote:One has to think - if he's performing magic tricks instead of following lesson plans - then hey, that IS cause in my book.
I don't think that "wasting" 30 seconds of class time is cause at all. I'm not sure I've ever been in a class which didn't have at least 30 seconds of something other than following the lesson plan.
Posts: 16551 | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Most of the best subs I had as a child spent a few minutes putting us at ease and getting us on their side before they started in the teaching (to prevent us refusing to cooperate-- which we had actual coordinated scenarios planned out for. We were little demons.)
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
(Not that I'm saying that not doing actual teaching of the lesson plan is okay. Just addressing the issue of doing things not on it for a few minutes.)
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
| IP: Logged |
quote:"I said, 'Well Pat, can you explain this to me?' 'You've been accused of wizardry,' [he said]. Wizardry?" he asked.
Now if there are other issues, and they used this magic trick as the final reason to remove him from class, then that is fine.
If, as this line implies, one of the students, or their families, complained that a heathen "Wizard" was teaching their children, then the whole situation is wrong. If the school went on to make several vague accusations of other problems to cover up their "wizardly" fears, that is even worse.
Unfortunately this is just a "laugh" article, designed to get the reader to go "Oh wow" and no follow up will be done.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Just the kind of analysis I'd expect from another wizard....
My 5th/6th grade teacher, in addition to being an excellent teacher in many ways, was a professional magician. And he taught a class in magic on Wednesdays after school, but only for kids who were doing well in class. I thought it was really cool, as well as a pretty decent motivator for some. Things sure have changed since I was a kid (you know, back when kids were allowed to play evil and violent games like "tag").
Posts: 6213 | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I can't help but think of my poor 6th grade Social Studies teacher, who got the class immediately after recess and who always spent a good deal more than thirty seconds each class just to get his students to calm down, quiet down, and pay attention.
If a thirty second magic trick gets your students engaged and paying attention, I think that's great. And while they might have the right to fire "at will", it doesn't necessarily mean they're right to do so, or that it sets a good example.
Posts: 3826 | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
In grade school, I always felt like substitute teachers were basically just keeping us in check for a day or two until the regular teacher came back.
We spent as much time as possible trying to get away with things, complaining that "this isn't the way the teacher does it" and being generally disruptive, and we were the "good" kids.
Any substitute who can keep the class in their seats and learning ANYTHING is a good substitute in my book.
Somewhat ironically, he can probably make a better living as a magician than a substitute teacher.
Posts: 3950 | Registered: Mar 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
It's amazing to me that there is so much concern over the quality of substitute teachers these days... I mean seriously, if they were any good, would they be worried about keeping a subbing job?
I had one sub in elementary school in the early 90's who was a rapid cycling bipolar. He used to come in with ripped genes and a large white t-shirt that looked like a dress. He would scream abuse at us, then cry and tell us he loved us and we were keeping him alive inside...
And he was not fired for at least 3 years, because I had him once in the 8th grade as well.
Posts: 9912 | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Yeah, substitutes are generally considered glorified babysitters, and aren't paid much more than babysitters either.
Except long-term subs, which are supposed to be certified teachers (though perhaps they're subbing out of field), and are employees of the board and paid pretty well. Long-term subbing is a good way to work until you find a permanent teaching job, so many new teacher college grads sign up as long-term subs around here. I've been told by several people to put in my long-term sub application while I'm looking for a job so I have a fall back if I don't find a position.
Day-to-day subs are usually moms, around here. They have to pass a background check, but that's pretty much it. No degree required, no real experience required.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Huh. In the SD I grew up in, subs had to have at least emergency certification, most had a full credential, and there were specific lists for elementary, middle, and high schools that rarely got mixed. The high school subs would even usually have a degree in the subject they were teaching.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm pretty sure the same is true in the school district I grew up in. Many of the subs were moms, but they were moms with teaching credentials who had taken time off to raise families and hadn't gone back to full time yet. (My mom was one of them for a few years.)
Posts: 9866 | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Maybe it's because we're in such a teacher shortage around here? There's no way anyone with a teaching credential would take just a regular sub job, they'd at least be a long-term sub with a contract through the board. Unless, like you say, it's someone who doesn't want to work every day.
I just checked the substitute checklist for the Jefferson County Board of Ed.
There is a bit more required than I thought:
quote:1. Recommendation Form (to be signed by school principal) 2. Copy of Alabama Driver’s License 3. Copy of Social Security Card 4. Proof of Education (A copy of your high school diploma or GED, or a copy of college diploma or transcript) 5. Results of a Tuberculin Skin Test or results of a chest X-ray 6. Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Form – top portion) 7. Tax Forms – Federal and State 8. New Hire Form 9. Authorization for Direct Deposit Form and Voided Check 10. $20.00 Money Order (for Substitute Teacher’s License) or a copy of a valid Alabama Teacher’s Certificate 11. Background Information Check – all employees are required to submit to a background check for criminal history which includes a fingerprint check by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The required nonrefundable fee of $49.00 is the responsibility of the employee and may be paid by money order, Visa, or MasterCard. 12. Workshop Attendance (Applicants will be notified of date and time once the substitute application file is complete.)
So, if you can get a letter of recommendation, don't have TB, have a high school diploma, a clear background check and $79 for your background check and license fee, you can sub in Alabama after attending a one-day workshop.
I know at least five moms who sub who do not have teaching credentials (some of them don't even have any college).
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Wow, that amazes me. All subs in the district I grew up in (which we now live next door to) ARE contracted to the district. In fact, there's a waiting list to be a sub in that district (it's considered a really good district to teach in, and subbing in it first gives you a leg up when a full-time position becomes available.)
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
A horrible toothpick trick gets you called a wizard?? That is a grandpa trick! POOR REAL WIZARDS... to be lumped in with this scam artist
Posts: 204 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
kq, sounds to me like you have more teachers than you have jobs. Not the case here.
Many people get hired to teach in Alabama before they even complete their degrees - in other words, if you go the 5th year route, you can often get hired before you've completed your master's, and you can do your "student teaching" on the job. I have a couple friends who've done that. In math and science you can definitely be hired before you graduate, but it's even possible in English. It didn't used to be - but we're actually having a shortage of qualified English teachers here, which is good for me!
Subs fill out an application, turn in all that stuff on the checklist I posted, then they can go online and check job availabilities. Their names are also on a list for teachers to call when they need a sub. In my experience, the teachers all have subs they like to use, and will have a short-list of subs they want to call when they need someone. When I did my observations, I listened to teachers discuss "good" subs, and the number one thing they wanted in a sub was someone who would do what the teacher asked. In other words, if they left instructions, they wanted somebody who would follow those instructions to the letter. So that's why when I read that this "wizard" is being let go for "not following lesson plans," I get the impression he didn't do what the teachers wanted done.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Well, all the teachers want to work in that district...
Now, go over one district, to the LAUSD, and they have a bit of a shortage, because no one wants to work in some of their schools.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
*nod* Definitely the case here too. The inner city schools have a problem staffing, more so than the suburban ones. However, the suburban schools pay less than the Birmingham City Schools generally, a friend of mine left a teaching position in a city school for a suburban one and took a pretty decent hit in the salary department.
Sadly, it was worth it to her, because the working conditions in the other school were so bad. The parents were abusive to her, the facilities were terrible (she fought a losing battle with cockroaches all year - they had nested in the HVAC ducts), and the administration gave little to no support to its teachers.
What's sad, is that while teachers can leave that district and find other jobs, the kids can't leave so easily. And with a teaching shortage, teachers can find other jobs, and at some point, even offering them more money to teach in inner city schools isn't enough and they leave.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
