Teacher- 'His dreams of being a scientist is a waste of time, ridiculous"

LOL

...and I ain't got no Nobel Prize.

But "dreams is" aint. And one doesn't capitalize (capitolize?) Specialize and Biologist. Sniff.

though, if it was, it doesn't turn up in the article now. The school report doesn't say it, certainly. As for the capitalisation, it may have been influenced by it being a school report, with 'Biological' being the adjective for the subject under discussion, and 'Scientist' and 'Specialist' seen almost as formal job titles. It was over 60 years ago, and that may also make a difference.

In other countries, like UK, this is not unusual. I received reports like this (well, not like this, but written out in longhand) as a child, and they were very specific as to my potential as well as my performance AND behavior in the classroom. The professors I had never ranked us, though--that 18/18 business is just cruel, like a military promotion board!

That schoolmaster was spectacularly wrong, though, wasn't he? Unless he was extraordinarily youthful, it's probable that the poor man isn't around to have his nose rubbed in his inability to see his student's potential!

This particular science teacher blew it way back when, but oftentimes the essay forces the teacher to pay attention to the child--it helps the teacher focus on the kid's strengths/weaknesses, because they know they'll have to pony up some meaningful, individualized words. When you focus on the kid, you focus on the learning style--it's helpful all round, I think.

and in my time (1980s). Whether it's still typical now, I'm not sure. But surely American schools have done it for ages, and still do - I see GPAs and "straight A student" talked about all the time on DU, and that is also ranking the students.

I went to very small school for a time with British/Irish teachers. We were not ranked. We were in multi-grade classrooms (often there would only be one child in a particular grade) and the children simply worked to their ability--the standard lecture was geared to the smartest kid in the room, the rest of the children simply did the best they could and allowances were made. Children who were confused were taken aside and tutored individually for a bit, then tossed back in the class. There was a great deal of repetitive learning, of lecture/repeat, with the children filling in the blanks (and the professor would toss a book at anyone sleeping and they would be made to stand at the back).

Our report cards were several pages long, with detailed discussions about our strengths/weaknesses (and even the most perfect child was assigned a few weaknesses, so they wouldn't get puffed up!).

for all of us who have had naysayers trying to convince us to not believe in ourselves.

Ichingcarpenter

I guess he got the last word in the matter.. Not the principal, but John Gurdon...

And I suspect, it is good for everyone else.

But then again, Albert Einstein was not exactly a great study himself.. And was maybe one of the greatest mind of his age..

Diclotican

K&R!

for ya.

was a returned Mormon Missionary who was teaching Freshman composition at Weber State College in Ogden, Utah in 1965. I knew there was going to be a problem on the first day of class when many of the students started calling him "Brother". It wasn't difficult for him to figure out that I wasn't his fucking brother. As time went on, he said my writing was immature and wasn't college level work. It was all bullshit but I eventually had to withdraw from his class so I wouldn't receive a failing grade. Don't get me wrong, many Mormons are decent enough people but many more are vile, disgusting dickheads who think they are better than everyone else. Yes, Mitt Romney is one of the dickhead Mormons.

You should post your experience in a separate thread... I know there are a lot of DUers that love reading first hand accounts such as this.



YM

so he can eat his words.

I love stories like this! Never let them kill your spirit and passion!

against teachers. I had many good teachers when I came through school. The most effective were those that let (and inspired) students explore on their own. I had a few excellent teachers who stand out 50 years later as shining examples of their profession, as well as a few rotten ones who should have never been granted a license to teach. Please don't dismiss the efforts of one of our most noble professions so easily.

The teacher who gave this budding scientist such a bad report card was a real stickler for playing by the rules. I'll bet he loved those students who sat up straight, recited upon command, and brought him an apple every day.

then were kind enough to head for a classroom and impart their wisdom. Mike Dukakis can do. Al Gore can do. Both are or have been professors.

There are bad teachers out there. They get all the notice and the blame. The good ones don't get much thanks because we're so used to good ones that we consider them "the norm."

I know from experience, my drafting teacher told me to take wood shop, cause id never learn to draft.
I've been drawing for over 30 years now......lol

His long ago "present course" of not memorizing changed somewhere in his time and this old note has become ancient history, thankfully.

My H.S. drafting teacher expected his students to conform to his method of doing things. Since I was a natural non-conformist I received a failing grade in one of his classes. I persisted and went on to take drafting in college and I later utilized my drafting skills for more than forty years as an industrial designer!