Sunday 16 September 2012

Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater. (Gail Godwin)

We are about to embark on the fifth and final AL (Actualización Lingüística) course, and I should like to share the following quotes with you:
If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job.  (Donald D. Quinn)  
Most teachers have little control over school policy or curriculum or choice of texts or special placement of students, but most have a great deal of autonomy inside the classroom.  To a degree shared by only a few other occupations, such as police work, public education rests precariously on the skill and virtue of the people at the bottom of the institutional pyramid.  (Tracy Kidder)
The only reason I always try to meet and know the parents better is because it helps me to forgive their children.  (Louis Johannot) 

2 comments:

crcobano said...

What a pity the third statement is not applicable to university! It would help me too quite a lot!!! :)

nina said...

Well hello, crcobano, long time no hear! How are things in the world of higher education? Are you feeling the pinch from the cuts? Have your hours been increased and your salary reduced? Let us know all the "good news".