Comments for Vague Thoughts http://vaguest.wordpress.com Children, mostly, and other stuff that might get on my nerves. Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:38:15 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Teachers on Strike? Again? by vaguest http://vaguest.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/teachers-on-strike-again/#comment-31 vaguest Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:38:15 +0000 http://vaguest.wordpress.com/?p=10#comment-31 Well, I might be exaggerating a little, but I truly believe there are many teachers out there who probably do operate like that. Having had a brief look at your website, I would say you are the other kind of teacher: a good one. Like my father, who was also a teacher who didn't believe in striking. Who loved the questions children asked. Who didn't mind being corrected if he got something wrong. ("Ahah, you've spotted today's first deliberate mistake! Well done!" ) There are probably a lot of teachers who don't like the way education is run these days, but my point is that they go along with it, they don't stand up and say, "This is wrong!" They sit in their classes of 30 or fewer children with their classroom assistant (at least one) and dish out the brain-washing pap that is so much of National Curriculum today. They even want to stop teaching them facts! Who needs a graduate of Geography to teach a non-fact-based geography curriculum? Even I could teach that! I won't correct your spelling mistake because it would open me wide up to comments on my own spelling and grammar, lol. ;-) Well, I might be exaggerating a little, but I truly believe there are many teachers out there who probably do operate like that. Having had a brief look at your website, I would say you are the other kind of teacher: a good one. Like my father, who was also a teacher who didn’t believe in striking. Who loved the questions children asked. Who didn’t mind being corrected if he got something wrong. (“Ahah, you’ve spotted today’s first deliberate mistake! Well done!” )
There are probably a lot of teachers who don’t like the way education is run these days, but my point is that they go along with it, they don’t stand up and say, “This is wrong!” They sit in their classes of 30 or fewer children with their classroom assistant (at least one) and dish out the brain-washing pap that is so much of National Curriculum today. They even want to stop teaching them facts! Who needs a graduate of Geography to teach a non-fact-based geography curriculum? Even I could teach that!
I won’t correct your spelling mistake because it would open me wide up to comments on my own spelling and grammar, lol. ;-)

]]> Comment on Teachers on Strike? Again? by drpezz http://vaguest.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/teachers-on-strike-again/#comment-30 drpezz Sat, 23 Aug 2008 22:05:41 +0000 http://vaguest.wordpress.com/?p=10#comment-30 Sounds like you have some poor models for teachers. I think your lesson in a can comment is probably a bit of hyperbole, but that is exactly the sort of thing teachers fight against behind the scenes. Kids don't all learn the same way, so having a national curriculum can be a detriment because it curtails originality and effectiveness. It is exactly the sort of thing that lessons teachers' impact and degrades the profession. I hope your teachers, the union, and the state figured it out. Sounds like you have some poor models for teachers. I think your lesson in a can comment is probably a bit of hyperbole, but that is exactly the sort of thing teachers fight against behind the scenes. Kids don’t all learn the same way, so having a national curriculum can be a detriment because it curtails originality and effectiveness. It is exactly the sort of thing that lessons teachers’ impact and degrades the profession.

I hope your teachers, the union, and the state figured it out.

]]> Comment on Without Hope by vaguest http://vaguest.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/without-hope/#comment-27 vaguest Sat, 31 May 2008 07:48:52 +0000 http://vaguest.wordpress.com/?p=36#comment-27 On the same subject, a short story I was shown, which went something like this: I was talking to Yesterday when Today came up, arms laden with gifts and goodies. I had quite a lot to go through with Yesterday so I asked Today if he could wait a minute. It took quite some time to deal with Yesterday, but finally I finished. I was just turning to Today when Tomorrow came rushing over with something important. It being Tomorrow, I needed to make sure everything was properly in order so that I could spend time with Today with a clear conscience. It took more time dealing with Tomorrow than Yesterday had taken but in the end it was done. But when I turned round, Today had gone. I know a lot of people are feeling like this at the minute. It seems universal. Maybe there is something in the air... On the same subject, a short story I was shown, which went something like this: I was talking to Yesterday when Today came up, arms laden with gifts and goodies. I had quite a lot to go through with Yesterday so I asked Today if he could wait a minute. It took quite some time to deal with Yesterday, but finally I finished. I was just turning to Today when Tomorrow came rushing over with something important. It being Tomorrow, I needed to make sure everything was properly in order so that I could spend time with Today with a clear conscience. It took more time dealing with Tomorrow than Yesterday had taken but in the end it was done. But when I turned round, Today had gone.

I know a lot of people are feeling like this at the minute. It seems universal. Maybe there is something in the air…

]]> Comment on Without Hope by furmatte http://vaguest.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/without-hope/#comment-26 furmatte Fri, 30 May 2008 21:21:19 +0000 http://vaguest.wordpress.com/?p=36#comment-26 I know exactly how you feel. I've been spending the past God-knows-how-many years working towards some Golden Day when I'll be able to forget about the housework and the car and all the important bits and pieces that I always need to do and I'll be able to play with my children and build model aeroplanes and knit sweaters and aimlessly throw a baseball at a wall like Steve McQueen in The Great Escape, but I have recently realised that I'm missing out right now. My children are growing up, and before I get a chance to play with them they will have all left home and started their own families. It's a bit like the song "Cat's in the Cradle". Yes, there are things that need doing *now*, but I've got to start focusing on the things that I won't be able to do in the future, and which I should enjoy while I can. It can get extremely depressing. On the plus side, at least I know you're going through the same thing - remember, a problem shared is a problem halved... :) I know exactly how you feel. I’ve been spending the past God-knows-how-many years working towards some Golden Day when I’ll be able to forget about the housework and the car and all the important bits and pieces that I always need to do and I’ll be able to play with my children and build model aeroplanes and knit sweaters and aimlessly throw a baseball at a wall like Steve McQueen in The Great Escape, but I have recently realised that I’m missing out right now. My children are growing up, and before I get a chance to play with them they will have all left home and started their own families. It’s a bit like the song “Cat’s in the Cradle”.

Yes, there are things that need doing *now*, but I’ve got to start focusing on the things that I won’t be able to do in the future, and which I should enjoy while I can.

It can get extremely depressing. On the plus side, at least I know you’re going through the same thing – remember, a problem shared is a problem halved…

:)

]]> Comment on Had a Thought! by vaguest http://vaguest.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/had-a-thought/#comment-13 vaguest Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:37:37 +0000 http://vaguest.wordpress.com/?p=26#comment-13 Thankyou for your comment about comments. I expect most people are like me and don't really know what to say. I suppose I just like to know stuff, the competitive streak in me wants to know that I'm getting it right, lol. Ah, well, maybe I should try and get a little "rate this site" thingy if I'm going to be that worried about it ;-) Thankyou for your comment about comments. I expect most people are like me and don’t really know what to say. I suppose I just like to know stuff, the competitive streak in me wants to know that I’m getting it right, lol. Ah, well, maybe I should try and get a little “rate this site” thingy if I’m going to be that worried about it ;-)

]]> Comment on Had a Thought! by furmatte http://vaguest.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/had-a-thought/#comment-12 furmatte Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:44:30 +0000 http://vaguest.wordpress.com/?p=26#comment-12 I'm glad that you are able to find something positive out of all the hoo-hah - your last post seemed a bit glum. Being positive is very important (not that I'm an especially good role model in that respect, as anyone who has read my blog knows!). Don't get too upset by people not leaving comments, though. I've had about 1000 hits on my blog but only around 25 comments. And most of those were by the same three people (one of whom is you!). I've been surfing the blogosphere for the past couple of years, and the first time I ever left a comment on the page of someone I didn't know personally was yesterday. It can be quite daunting putting up a comment on someone's blog... Peace :) I’m glad that you are able to find something positive out of all the hoo-hah – your last post seemed a bit glum. Being positive is very important (not that I’m an especially good role model in that respect, as anyone who has read my blog knows!).

Don’t get too upset by people not leaving comments, though. I’ve had about 1000 hits on my blog but only around 25 comments. And most of those were by the same three people (one of whom is you!). I’ve been surfing the blogosphere for the past couple of years, and the first time I ever left a comment on the page of someone I didn’t know personally was yesterday. It can be quite daunting putting up a comment on someone’s blog…

Peace :)

]]> Comment on So It’s Asperger’s Syndrome by vaguest http://vaguest.wordpress.com/2008/04/23/so-its-aspergers-syndrome/#comment-11 vaguest Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:40:58 +0000 http://vaguest.wordpress.com/?p=25#comment-11 It is of course always possible that #2 is just weird!! :D But at least that thought has cheered me up a bit. I think I just expected to feel a bit happier to have a diagnosis than I do. Ah well, life goes on.... It is of course always possible that #2 is just weird!! :D But at least that thought has cheered me up a bit. I think I just expected to feel a bit happier to have a diagnosis than I do. Ah well, life goes on….

]]> Comment on Disheartened by furmatte http://vaguest.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/disheartened/#comment-10 furmatte Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:56:00 +0000 http://vaguest.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-10 Trust me, it's even worse if your child hates school when *you* used to hate school too! If your child moans about going then it's a bit two-faced to say, "oh, come on - you'll have a great time. School's such fun!" if you don't actually believe it. I end up saying things like, "I know, I hated school as well, but I had to go whether I liked it or not," which doesn't really make them very enthusiastic for it. Sometimes I think homeschooling would be a blessing... Trust me, it’s even worse if your child hates school when *you* used to hate school too! If your child moans about going then it’s a bit two-faced to say, “oh, come on – you’ll have a great time. School’s such fun!” if you don’t actually believe it. I end up saying things like, “I know, I hated school as well, but I had to go whether I liked it or not,” which doesn’t really make them very enthusiastic for it.

Sometimes I think homeschooling would be a blessing…

]]> Comment on So It’s Asperger’s Syndrome by furmatte http://vaguest.wordpress.com/2008/04/23/so-its-aspergers-syndrome/#comment-9 furmatte Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:52:40 +0000 http://vaguest.wordpress.com/?p=25#comment-9 On the plus side it's nice to have some kind of diagnosis (even if it is a bit wooly). If you know roughly what the problem is then it can make it easier to deal with and treat, or help, or accomodate, or whatever. You can have a virus or an infection with the same type of symptoms, but the treatments differ - neither treatment will help the other's symptoms. Once you know whether it's a virus or a bacterium you can treat it accordingly. If you know that child 2 is on the "autistic spectrum" then you can try out things that help autistics to learn, whereas these same techniques might be of no use whatsoever - and hence a total waste of time, if nothing else - to a child who, for example, is just plain weird (not to suggest that child 2 is "weird", of course :) ). So it's not all bad ;) On the plus side it’s nice to have some kind of diagnosis (even if it is a bit wooly). If you know roughly what the problem is then it can make it easier to deal with and treat, or help, or accomodate, or whatever. You can have a virus or an infection with the same type of symptoms, but the treatments differ – neither treatment will help the other’s symptoms. Once you know whether it’s a virus or a bacterium you can treat it accordingly.

If you know that child 2 is on the “autistic spectrum” then you can try out things that help autistics to learn, whereas these same techniques might be of no use whatsoever – and hence a total waste of time, if nothing else – to a child who, for example, is just plain weird (not to suggest that child 2 is “weird”, of course :) ).

So it’s not all bad ;)

]]> Comment on School Joys and Woes by Senior and Adult Day Care » Blog Archive » School Joys and Woes http://vaguest.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/school-joys-and-woes/#comment-8 Senior and Adult Day Care » Blog Archive » School Joys and Woes Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:59:14 +0000 http://vaguest.wordpress.com/?p=22#comment-8 [...] vaguest ’s site is fantastic! I thought I’d share the latest post on the site which grabbed my attention: School Joys and Woes [...] [...] vaguest ’s site is fantastic! I thought I’d share the latest post on the site which grabbed my attention: School Joys and Woes [...]

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