Re: [K12OSN] 8th Grader suspended for NET SEND

[anthony baldwin <anthonybaldwin snet net>]

Here's a letter I sent the writer of the article:

Hey, Dave,
	
	I have to agree that Richland Middle School's administration
overreacted to Mr. Grimmer's little DOS script.  I would hardly call
that hacking.  I'm a bit of a computer enthusiast myself.  I'd like to
see students get MORE opportunity to learn about computers, especially
beyond manipulating one vendor's office software.
	I'm a 7th and 8th grade Language Arts teacher, myself.  I have
to agree
that experimentation is a part of learning, and will confess that when
students are eager to show what they've learned I am usually quite
impressed.  I was amused by Mr. Grimmer's little greeting.
	All the same, I also have to say, perhaps Grimmer was playing
around
sending messages when he was supposed to be focused on another task (not
that such merits suspension, but SHOULD be addressed).  Teachers are
increasingly under pressure to bring student's academic achievement and
performance to rigorous standards, which allow for little time wasted in
the classroom.  Encouraging students to "experiment and explore" when
they are intended to be focused elsewhere, although possibly fruitful in
some cases, would simply encourage students to be off-task, and
therefore undermine an atmosphere conducive to education in the vast
majority of cases.  I have to agree with Beverly that until you've
walked a mile or two in our shoes, you haven't a clue what we face
everyday.  Try keeping twently 12 year olds learning without being able 
to discipline them forbeing off-task!  I love teaching, but it is by far 
the most challenging, demanding and stressful job I have ever done.  I, 
personally, bring home about 20-30 hours worth of lesson planning, paper 
grading and research every week in addition to the hours I work at 
school.  I figure considering my salary that I make about $7.40/hour.  I 
spend my summers working other jobs to make up for the lack of income 
from the rest of the year, too, so you can forget about playing that 
card.  So, as far as paying for our salaries, well, the salaries that 
most teachers receive  are an insult when one considers the work we do, 
the hours we work, the expertise and the education we possess.  In any 
other industry, we could easily make twice the money with the same 
education, expertise and work ethic.  Additionally, I came to  teaching 
at the age of 33 after spending 15 years working in other  industries 
including the restaurant industry, retail, construction,  masonry and 
others, so I have plenty of "real world" experience outside  of the 
world of education to which I can compare teaching, too.  So,  until you 
pay us what we're worth, I figure you can keep your comments to 
yourself.  You're already getting way more than you pay for.


--
Anthony Baldwin

http://www.School-Library.net
Freedom to Learn!