Teachers in Trinidad & Tobago .. any good?

[Poser]

there was a time when students could brag about the education they received in school .. there was motivation to attend school .. to do assignments etc..
teaching was innovating … motivating .. facilitating and respectful…
would you say that teaching has become a much more complicated business?
would you say that teachers in Trinidad have become lazy?
Or is that teachers want to use the system to better themselves rather than teach ..
I don’t know ... I am trying to figure out why the teaching profession is in such a disarray.. are they being trained properly to become teachers ?

[BW]

lots of good teachers in t&t

[Poser]

lots of good teachers in t&t

please elaborate ....

is the perecentage of students graduating .. increasing ..

.

[letric]

In my day teaching was considered a vocation, now one teaches principally for financial reasons.

[Poser]

In my day teaching was considered a vocation, now one teaches principally for financial reasons.

that is the point i wanted to make ... thanks...

but ... is the outside world barging into that classroom ...like a beast devouring our children's attention and interest...
.

[sweetnezz]

they must be doing something right....almost everyone has a degree....

[Poser]

they must be doing something right....almost everyone has a degree....

who?

the teachers ..

[sweetnezz]

the teachers.....

[Poser]

teaching use to be about relationships between people .. hopes and dreams and about a future we can't even envision.....


now i don't know ..

[Solachica]

The primary and the secondary schools I attended still have good teachers.
So to does guyguy and BW secondary school.

[snowbird]

..... lots of good teachers in t&t ...... are there also lots of 'bad' teachers in T&T?
the reason why I ask is...the aim is to have 'all' (or most) good teachers.... not just 'lots'....No?

..... now one teaches principally for financial reasons..... not so, there are still teachers who are in the profession because of a 'calling'...someone very near and dear to my heart is one such teacher..... with his degrees and training.... he could make more money outside of teaching.... but he loves assisting in the process of molding young minds....for him the end result is very 'rewarding'.

....... is the outside world barging into that classroom ..... yes it is...but to some forward thinking teachers it is not viewed as an 'intrusion' but as a welcomed element to be incorporated into the teaching/learning process.... after all .... Isn't the role of a teacher to prepare the student to 'face that outside world...head-on'? He/she needs all they help they can get 'from the outside world'.

.... they must be doing something right....almost everyone has a degree.... the success isn't in having the degree (teacher or student)... it is what you do with it that is the true test....the degree is the beginning.. not the end.

..... secondary schools I attended still have good teachers..... until every child in Trinidad and Tobago can make that claim (within reason)....you've got a failed education system.... as long as some are being 'short changed' or adversely some are receiving a better education than others (all within the public school system)... then you do not have a 'universal education.

In that case, your country will always have a 'disparity' among it's citizens.... only this one is created by the 'system'.

[Poser]

Teaching has always been a demanding job …. children and adults don't learn simply because they are taught …. there isn't a parent or employer alive who doesn't know this ….. yet somehow we have this faith that just because teachers cover the subject children are learning it…… hmmmm …

[vaio]

lots of good teachers in t&t

agreed!

its easy for others outside the profession to cast judgements bec they don't know what teachers have to put up with. I know plenty teachers who genuinely care about the education of the kids they teach.

Sure, there are some who do it for financial reasons jus as the other professions, so why single out teachers?

Blame the parents for not instilling discipline in their kids, failure of the religious bodies, leaders in society, not the teachers

[snowbird]

P...trust me, I was one of those who was 'taught' that not all people learn in the same way ....so that any material being presented has to be done in such a way so that you meet the needs of the three different learning styles
...The Auditory Learner
....the Visual Learner ... and
.... the Tactile Learner

As a matter of fact it is now being considered that boys learn very differently to girls....so unless you have a teacher who is:

1. able to determine the learning style of each child (and that comes with training)

2. present the material in such a way that it meets the needs of all of the kids

...you are going to end up failing some of them.

I don't know about T&T, but right here in Canada....parents always question
....."Why do teachers need so much 'prep time', what is the big deal? you have the course outline...simply present the material"....

Well the answer to that is.... "the prep time is used to design a presentation that speaks to all of the learning styles, so that when the material is covered ....every one gets it".

If for some reason a teacher is just 'covering the subject' in one learning style (the one he/she learns in)...then the teacher will most definitely not be meeting the needs of some the class.... sadly in some cases he/she will be ...."trying to put a square peg ....into a round" hole.

[letric]

P...trust me, I was one of those who was 'taught' that not all people learn in the same way ....so that any material being presented has to be done in such a way so that you meet the needs of the three different learning styles
...The Auditory Learner
....the Visual Learner ... and
.... the Tactile Learner

As a matter of fact it is now being considered that boys learn very differently to girls....so unless you have a teacher who is:

1. able to determine the learning style of each child (and that comes with training)

2. present the material in such a way that it meets the needs of all of the kids

...you are going to end up failing some of them.

I don't know about T&T, but right here in Canada....parents always question
....."Why do teachers need so much 'prep time', what is the big deal? you have the course outline...simply present the material"....

Well the answer to that is.... "the prep time is used to design a presentation that speaks to all of the learning styles, so that when the material is covered ....every one gets it".

If for some reason a teacher is just 'covering the subject' in one learning style (the one he/she learns in)...then the teacher will most definitely not be meeting the needs of some the class.... sadly in some cases he/she will be ...."trying to put a square peg ....into a round" hole.

Therefore, it depends on the ability of the teacher to understand the learning needs of each child, and the willingness of the student to learn.

[snowbird]

Therefore, it depends on the ability of the teacher to understand the learning needs of each child, and the willingness of the student to learn.

exactly..... but you as the teacher has to first .... at least try to meet them halfway.... too often children with a willingness to learn are written off as .... dumb, distracted, not interested, bored..... simply because you are not teaching in a language they can identify with.

Someone mentioned about children not being disciplined as one of the challenges facing teachers ...and yes this is so in 'some cases'.... however, has it ever occurred to the teacher that the child might be 'acting up' out of frustration at not being able to understand what is being taught?
Children are naturally curious and their brains like 'sponges'..... but they need the right stimuli in order to respond and be receptive.

[Poser]

I agree that that TnT has brilliant teachers.... i have three sisters who were teachers .. one is ah school principal .. i have a cousin who is involved in setting the curriculum for teachers .. so we sit an discuss this .. but from them i sense frustration ... what it it that is making them so frustrated..

[Solachica]

All kinda thing frustrating them.

[letric]

exactly..... but you as the teacher has to first .... at least try to meet them halfway.... too often children with a willingness to learn are written off as .... dumb, distracted, not interested, bored..... simply because you are not teaching in a language they can identify with.

Someone mentioned about children not being disciplined as one of the challenges facing teachers ...and yes this is so in 'some cases'.... however, has it ever occurred to the teacher that the child might be 'acting up' out of frustration at not being able to understand what is being taught?
Children are naturally curious and their brains like 'sponges'..... but they need the right stimuli in order to respond and be receptive.

Agreed.

[Poser]

teaching is so much like coaching .. i coached many athletes in Trinidad and the similarities are there..

discovering the potential of the athlete
setting up a plan
working to achieve this potential
seeking to find the positives in every negative situation
don't put obstacles in your way by wearing blinders and always open and willing to listen to others' ideas
young people will see their future if you are a good role model
use creative and inspirational methods of teaching
be passionate about what you do
i am willing to learn from other teachers AND my students

etc.. etc..

.

[snowbird]

Poser.... I think the challenges teachers face is 'universal'.....classes are too big ..... and the teachers do not have enough time to engage each and every student .... and to meet those individual needs.... as a result.... some students fall by the way side.

In addition to being an instructor and mentor.... teachers are also called upon to be .... pyschologist..... social worker ..... parent ..... friend ...... police .... judge and jury. Teachers these days are simply overwhelmed with the demands placed upon them today.... not just by the student and their parents.... but by society as a whole.
When a child does well.... he is a wonderful and brilliant student.
...When the child does not.... it is the teacher and system (or as some who support teachers say... the parents) that has failed him... it is a difficult balancing act....and one that can only work when all of these elements work in tandem.

[Poser]

All kinda thing frustrating them.

like what?

.

[demented]

Blame the parents for not instilling discipline in their kids, failure of the religious bodies, leaders in society, not the teachers

indeed..it starts home

[letric]

teaching is so much like coaching .. i coached many athletes in Trinidad and the similarities are there..

discovering the potential of the athlete
setting up a plan
working to achieve this potential
seeking to find the positives in every negative situation
don't put obstacles in your way by wearing blinders and always open and willing to listen to others' ideas
young people will see their future if you are a good role model
use creative and inspirational methods of teaching
be passionate about what you do
i am willing to learn from other teachers AND my students

etc.. etc..

.

Excellent attitude ...

[Poser]

somtimes i felt i was not encouraging enough .... how ... I would like to go back and try a different approach again ... this time I would spend far more time looking for what the athletes did right and working to build on those strengths ... rather than pointing to weaknesses...

same thing in teaching