Half Time Cyberteacher

How to solve the shortage of teachers. Some school subjects such as math practise, might be cut in half using a  computer as the supervising teacher. Same with homework. When it comes to quizzes, memory tests, and writing work all might be checked by a computer with results sent to the instructional teacher.  It would free the student to do such work at home rather than attending a school building. Teachers are there to consult in a student's education,  instructing and conselling young people. Practice in a mechanical way, doesn't require an instructor. I think of one teacher who persists in demanding that students do a list of algebra questions every night as homework. That doesn't make sense to me when the student rebels with "I know how to do this, why do I have to take my time going over and over it". Overcrowded schools and lack of  teachers might also be helped in this manner. It is not a bizarre suggestion. How much of a teacher's time is spent in actual instruction and how much in monitoring quizzes and supervising students who are writing only or reading material or filling in blanks or doing work sheets? Sometimes, a computer testing is less threatening for some students who would benefit it done by a computer. Computer progams have an objective way of correcting student errors and in a non threatening way, re-teaching until the student gets it right. Sounds odd,  but in my teaching career I found that certain students work better with a computer than in a busy classroom where social issues might interfere. A teacher in this situation, would be available when the student needed to consult or question. It would allow one teacher to attend a larger number of students, therefore. While it may be argued by some, to be non-education, we all know perfectly well, that students learn a great deal on their electronic devices because we are creatures whose brains are memory banks in themselves and they learn best in images as well as symbols such as letters of the alphabet and certainly by repetition. Time away from mechanical practise would be better spent in the arts for example: graphics, musicl, dance, performance etc. Parent and student would make a personal choice outside,  instead of having it happen within schools. The teachers who trained for these subjects in the the arts, could then become paid business persons in their artistic  subjects rather then under school district oversight. Those parents who couldn't afford the arts sessions, would be assessed to be government subsidised. Arts teacher talents would become private business. It would mean,  back to the future in the public schools once again: places for "reading, writing, and arithmetic".  Just a thought. 

Have Fun Rod

 Rod taught in a residential school situated in our seaside district, and when it closed, he continued in the public school system teaching in his light hearted ways. Teaching was his love and he was a fine man, who was a great father to many children of his own and he was very well regarded in our small town.  It hurt him to hear about the tragic downside of residential schools, and when the same children came to the public school where he worked after, he  listened to those affected so deeply. Sometimes, we forget that latterly regular teachers were employed in those schools as well. They were good people, very saddened. I found Rod's name in our retired teachers' magazine on the obituary page. Rod was a small man in stature but never in character. To me he was tall as a professional and fellow teacher. I called him not long before I read of his passing and regretted that I had not called him again later on. We spoke only briefly due to what sounded like an illness that had found him in his later years. I am no older than he, but am fortunate in my health at ninety. Rod was part of the school in which I was librarian and as a team of caring teachers, he contributed as well as knowledge, common sense and humour. My son was in his Grade Six class. I was told by my son, also gone now, that Rod was one of his favorite teachers. Rod  had a light hearted style that made students happy to be in class. The classes were composed of both Aborigine and all other races of kids and our principal, Mr. Reid, saw to it that the space we shared on the lands of our Aborigines, was respected and its history included in our school lessons, We worked along side as fellow staff members the people who lived on the beautiful ocean Reserve. I have to say, I loved working with my aborigine pals and being on the same grounds: theirs.  It was a beautiful place to live because we seemed to be all together with no enmity and sometimes celebrated together on those shores and waters. My son, to earn post grad education, along with his fellow loggers, found the aboriginal people strong and very capable as he worked on on their crews. They taught him ground level logging and how to be safe while doing it. Always, there was always a good sense of humor included. I live in another town now, but I miss that place and time. Farewell Rod, and if it's possible have fun. You deserve it!

Final Test

I was happy to see that a new idea on testing is about to be tested. Gone will be the days when students study intensely for one aspect of their year's courses before final exams only to find that a different question is on the test. The new idea, as I read it, is to interview the student in some manner, not written, to see what their knowledge and understanding of the subject is. Of course it will take up the instructor time but both student and teacher will come out of it with an insight on both the learning, retention and creative thought regarding the subject. To me, that is true depth in the education process.  Also, this should be done with written exams in which essays are witnessed in the process and assessed by discussion in the same way. Teachers will scream " I don't have the time". Yes, you do and you should take the time because you will learn how well you have taught. You will learn how you have relayed the subject to this particular student and how well your student has grasped it. It's called being an educator, not a marker who  assigns a percent or letter grade in a solitary venue that disallows questioning the student's motives and creativite ability in the  answering.  Personal interviewing also helps  nervous young persons who fail, not due to knowledge but of the fear of the traditional kinds of tests. This fear is  a very real stumbling block in some students to true assessment of their understanding.  This style of grading will also prevent cheating with the use of AI or other means. It makes perfect human sense rather than slapping on a couple of digits to a student's twelve years of being "educated" which is basically a test of memory not critical understanding. I call the new testing idea, a vertical rather than horizontal reading of what a person knows.  

Phony Phones

 A phone was invented as communication. That made sense, and for decades did just that. And, to me, that make perfect sense. I don't need to take photographs of everything around me, including me and/or whatever I stand next to. Who needs that? Really? Used to be, you took a photo of something you wanted keep other than in your memory. When slides came along, those who travelled insisted upon boring you with every Hawaiian sunset they holidayed on for three weeks. I lost a lot of friends  due to falling asleep after the first few oohs and ahhs. When computers came along, I adored them because I like playing games, games with computers because I can be a good sport when I play with them. I do swear at the ones who beat me, but they don't mind. Next someone thought how much fun it would be to shrink down the computer into what it is now. A cell phone and you're in the cell. These things worth a few thousand bucks, live in your pocket or your hand and do everything - almost.  Young couples used to hold hands in the past. Now they hold their phones and text each other standing a foot away. The spoken word or spelled one, died long ago. I have a cell phone a few years old which makes my friends shriek - you don't get a new one each sale? they yell. I hear also, I called you and you didn't answer; where were you? Why do they care? No matter how many times I remind them that I do not want to lug a phone around all day, in my own home, they don't get it. With email, I have time to consider what I say back and furthermore have hands free to squeeze the tomatoes when I shop. I have no interest in hearing what anyone did in the last hour. What's a land line? they gasp. Yup, and that is the one I like and don't tell me how old fashioned I am. I am new fashioned because  the world is realizing the downside of becoming enslaved by technology other than the opposite. Anyway, when anyone texts now, there is AI. You don't have to speak or think. Just hum.  However, if you don't hum the right key, you might find yourself ghosted or trolled, when your long false acrylic nails hit a wrong button. No worry, you can find someone else just as addicted, among the millions online. 

The Old Levy Blues

So you are on a fixed income and you consider buying into the new expensive towers that are rising like stalagmites all over. Of course, in these small unit establishments, you find the latest in marble counters and gas stoves, jazzy sink taps and downstairs, gyms no one uses much, a pool to entertain the grandkids and in some, even, a bowling alley. But these cost far too much for an average retiree who hasn't just sold his big house. The ones who have are lucky. The fixed incomers over seventy and worry about rising costs, sold out long ago and live in the old condos. They don't get much media attention because the media worries more about the thirty year olds still living at home. "Oh my, they can't buy a house with a yard."  Lost in the dust of it all, are the countless, quiet, very old seniors on fixed incomes who can barely afford the monthly fees to live in their aging buildings. But they keep quiet because they aren't used to complaining. They, as always, "make do".  Now their pensions are in danger. Due to future repair costs in their self owned old condo buildings, the three or four storey wood frame kind, that have large and interesting floor plans are falling apart. Along with the monthly  maintenance fees and taxes that go up every year, roofs and elevators need replacing. A band of inspectors, consultants, planners, and experts of every kind tell them that this or that or the other thing must be redone.  The roof and the pipes have to go. The costs to redo them at present labour and material expense, are enormous. One couple over seventy, is up for a levy bill of forty thousand dollars. They don't have it. They cannot find a place they can pay for and no one wants to buy their condo anyway because of the upcoming levies. Are these and hundreds of other elderly people, going to be out on the street in tents? Their savings are gone and soon they will be, too. To get into a "home" is out of the question because that would break most of them at six thousand dollars a month. That's no solution. What to do? What to do? What to do?