tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7039733351133043001.post3224897863860624740..comments2022-02-26T08:58:41.550-08:00Comments on My Public Education: (18) Social CapitalSabine da Silvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05048016738767741058noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7039733351133043001.post-82773054292181345432010-05-08T21:15:59.391-07:002010-05-08T21:15:59.391-07:00Now you be careful, I've got a reputation to l...Now you be careful, I've got a reputation to live down to! Thanks for the kind comparison, though, he was always one of my favorites.Gorges Smythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08777621500611603786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7039733351133043001.post-76175256292175947622010-05-07T18:40:33.600-07:002010-05-07T18:40:33.600-07:00@ Lauren Thanks for adding the work factor. It'...@ Lauren Thanks for adding the work factor. It's an important point to remember.<br /><br />@ Julie Welcome and thank you so much for sharing your story. I look forward to hearing more about your teaching experiences.<br /><br />@ Gorges You may be many things, but I've read your blog and unfortunately, I have to say, you are not an old red-necked country boy. Well, if you are, then so was Samuel Clemens.Sabine da Silvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05048016738767741058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7039733351133043001.post-36578791006440808052010-05-07T18:07:50.549-07:002010-05-07T18:07:50.549-07:00You, as a teacher who cared about her students, sa...You, as a teacher who cared about her students, saw the need for parental involvement. In West Virginia, I believe the real reason for consolidation has been the attempt on the part of many school boards or higher-level administrators to deliberately thwart parental involvement, so they can get their way about things. That's especially true in school boards that are more interested in social agendas than education. Unfortunately, the effect was surprisingly similar to what you experienced in the inner-city, though for different reasons. I'm just an old red-necked country boy, though: I'm sure many folks would disagree with me.Gorges Smythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08777621500611603786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7039733351133043001.post-16676357450148747352010-05-07T14:53:10.994-07:002010-05-07T14:53:10.994-07:00I just read your blog posts straight through since...I just read your blog posts straight through since I just became aware of your blog today. So much of what you write I can relate to. I started teaching in Portland (OR) Public Schools in 1994 and although I was 42 years old, I was a brand new teacher and placed in a low-achieving school in a high poverty neighborhood. My teacher preparation was woefully inadequate for the immediate needs of the students. They ate me alive. The administrators were overwhelmed and not often seen in the classrooms. The parents were disconnected from the school community for a variety of the usual reasons. I've known more than my share of Ms Pretisses, and why is it they are always involved with the union?<br /><br />I survived, but like you, left that school for another. Since I was old enough and had been with the district for 15 years, I took early retirement last June. I was pretty burned out.<br /><br />Before my last year of teaching started, I thought of writing a blog or a keeping a journal about each and every day - sort of a "year in the life of a teacher", but time prevented me from keeping up with it. I admire your writing this blog and I'll look forward to more posts.Julie Blackmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7039733351133043001.post-18855802631989360952010-05-07T13:21:32.156-07:002010-05-07T13:21:32.156-07:00Thanks for sharing this. Parents are criticized fo...Thanks for sharing this. Parents are criticized for not caring about their child's education, but sometimes they are not sure how to help and others are just tired from working two or three jobs!Laurennoreply@blogger.com