Comments on: “Baby boom tsunami” of retiring teachers http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/04/07/baby-boom-tsunami-of-retiring-teachers/ Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:52:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: parent http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/04/07/baby-boom-tsunami-of-retiring-teachers/#comment-5911 parent Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:17:28 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/04/07/baby-boom-tsunami-of-retiring-teachers/#comment-5911 I will be glad if some of the older teachers in my son's school retire along with the principal. It is quite obvious that several of the long time teachers are no longer really interested in teaching. Hence my child (along with his class) is basically sitting and reading by himself most of the day or working on worksheets, no real teaching is taking place and he is receiving no feedback on his work. Maybe some younger teachers with fresh ideas and a willingness to actually teach and provide feedback is what the public school system needs. I will be glad if some of the older teachers in my son’s school retire along with the principal. It is quite obvious that several of the long time teachers are no longer really interested in teaching. Hence my child (along with his class) is basically sitting and reading by himself most of the day or working on worksheets, no real teaching is taking place and he is receiving no feedback on his work. Maybe some younger teachers with fresh ideas and a willingness to actually teach and provide feedback is what the public school system needs.

]]> By: janny226 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/04/07/baby-boom-tsunami-of-retiring-teachers/#comment-5894 janny226 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:14:47 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/04/07/baby-boom-tsunami-of-retiring-teachers/#comment-5894 Not to diss the many able and older teachers out there, but I disagree with Anonymous that the loss of older teachers is necessarily bad news for those of us with a special-needs child. My son has a diagnosis that is still new to many in the field --PDD/HFA -- and many older teachers have no experience with recognizing, let alone teaching, a child like him. (In fact their traditional methods could do more harm than good.) I'd prefer that they NOT be mentoring those who are coming up now. Not to diss the many able and older teachers out there, but I disagree with Anonymous that the loss of older teachers is necessarily bad news for those of us with a special-needs child.

My son has a diagnosis that is still new to many in the field –PDD/HFA — and many older teachers have no experience with recognizing, let alone teaching, a child like him. (In fact their traditional methods could do more harm than good.) I’d prefer that they NOT be mentoring those who are coming up now.

]]> By: Anonymous http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/04/07/baby-boom-tsunami-of-retiring-teachers/#comment-5893 Anonymous Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:03:54 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/04/07/baby-boom-tsunami-of-retiring-teachers/#comment-5893 For many of us who work with families of children with special needs, this can only be seen as very bad news. Many of these teachers should be supervising and mentoring the next generation of teachers, special education and general education, math and reading, science and art and music -- and perhaps if many of them had been treated better by their school systems, they would not feel the need to retire so young. I know teachers who have given so much since they were 22 and out of college who are so gifted but would not teach another minute in public schools once they could retire at 55. What a loss for the generation of school students and new teachers who would benefit from their wisdom and experience. For many of us who work with families of children with special needs, this can only be seen as very bad news. Many of these teachers should be supervising and mentoring the next generation of teachers, special education and general education, math and reading, science and art and music — and perhaps if many of them had been treated better by their school systems, they would not feel the need to retire so young. I know teachers who have given so much since they were 22 and out of college who are so gifted but would not teach another minute in public schools once they could retire at 55. What a loss for the generation of school students and new teachers who would benefit from their wisdom and experience.

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