[lbo-talk] More "school reform" nonsense

[Carrol Cox]

One of the two monthly meetings of the llocal DBSAG (Depressive &
Bipolare Support Group) is devoted to 'rap' sessions, which wander
widely whatever the topic that begins them. Only a couple rules. One of
them is that we do not discuss particular psychiatrists or therapists.
The reason is that "competence" there is a relationship, not a 'quality'
of the particular person. Hence there is no such thing as the
psychiatrrist who is equally 'competent' in relation to different
patients. There is not a psychiatrist in town who is not superb for
SOMEONE. There is not a psychiatrist in town who is not the shits for
SOMEONE.

Carrol

123hop at comcast.net wrote:
> 
> Gail writes:
> 
> "I have yet to find anyone who could really balance out all the different teaching strengths and weaknesses, including what kinds of students they reach, what strengths they help the students with, how much trouble they cause the administration (hint -- social status of the parents is not excluded from consideration), and so on.  So I find any merit system an exercise in delusion.  However, my experiences with bad doctors and dentists leave me believing that there is a level of incompetence and professional neglect that colleagues have a responsibility to address."
> 
> It is hard to define good teaching, especially because there are different styles of teaching and teachers can be good in different ways.
> 
> But some things come to mind: the teacher
> 
> -- knows her subject well
> 
> -- understands how to convey difficult concepts 
> 
> -- instills a life-long appreciation or love for the subject
> 
> -- creates a space in which the student can learn and develop
> 
> Probably many other things too.
> 
> One other thing. Sometimes it takes years before the effects of good teaching manifest themselves. So, a little survey at the end of class is not enough.
> 
> Joanna
> 
>       
> ___________________________________
> http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk
> 
> ___________________________________
> http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk