One day, teachers all woke up
Aug. 19th, 2003 09:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
serafina20And decided to be more afraid of being sued than teaching children. Because that's the way it happened, you know. One day, all the principals and school boards and teachers in the U.S. woke up and said, "Huh. You know what? Screw teaching kids things like reading and writing and self-defense. Let's be more afraid that some parent somewhere is going to sue us." And that is why we don't teach some things in schools today.
Where does this come from? My mom listens to the radio in the morning and because its in the kitchen, I do to. One of the disc jockeys, the women, Leanne, is one of the most moronic air heads in the world. Today somehow they got on the subject of teaching self-defense in school and, once again, she was able to show what an idiot she is.
Let me preface by saying that I think that teaching self-defense in school is a good idea. It's unfeasible and can't happen, but, theoretically, it's not a bad idea. However, who's going to teach it? Teachers? First you have to train them, which would take years because not only to they have to learn the basics, but then they need to learn how to teach it. Outside instructors? Where's the money going to come from? Yes, some districts have the money, but even they could probably use it on something better, like an arts program or something.
So, 1. We don't have anyone to teach self-defense on a regular basis. Which brings us to point #2: you cannot teach children self-defense sporadically. Adults, yes. There are some basic self-defense techniques that can be taught that don't need reinforcements (or, rather, they do but adults are less likely to try and demonstrate what they learned on the playground to their kids). P.E. in elementary school is a sporadic activity at best. Teachers are trying to prepare for tests, etc. and don't always get out to do it. So, lets say that I start teaching my kids self-defense. My first lesson is, I don't know, it's been awhile, breaking free when someone grabs you from the front. I show a move, the kids practice it, and I tell them you only do this in an emergency, etc. and not to do it on the playground or anywhere else.
Seventy-five percent of the students might listen to me. The rest are going to go beat each other up. Depending on where I live, the parents either won't care, or will sue.
But the parents will have to sign a waiver! Leanne protests, appalled at my stupidity.
Yes, but the waiver only is for me teaching the students, not the students beating each other up. If my students start beating each other up, it looks like I am negligent and am teaching the students to hurt each other, not defend myself.
But football is dangerous too! Leanne tells me, shaking her head at the fact I am more interested in saving my butt than teaching her child to save his.
Yes, but football doesn't teach you how to become a weapon.
It's your job! she tells me
No. My job is to teach your children reading, writing, 'rithmetic, math, and how to take care of their bodies (physical fitness and health). It's not to teach them how to fight or defend themselves. That's the parents job.
God, you're the worst teacher in the world. You're insane, lady. I can't believe you're so worried about being sued instead of teaching kids! Leanne finally says.
I can't even hug my students. Hold their hands, touch them for more than three seconds. It's not *my* fault I'm afraid of getting sued. It's the litigious society we live in. People get sued all the time, and schools don't have a lot of money. They certainly don't have enough money to pay for the training needed to give adequate instruction in martial arts/self defense AND cover the cost of being sued once your kid comes home with a split lip.
I will teach your children to say no. I will teach them that it's okay to tell someone if an adult or child touches them, or tries to take them away. I will tell them they have the right to fight back if someone is trying to kidnap them (maybe). But until my principal trains me, I will not teach your child to use his body as a weapon. It's not my job. It's yours.
Where does this come from? My mom listens to the radio in the morning and because its in the kitchen, I do to. One of the disc jockeys, the women, Leanne, is one of the most moronic air heads in the world. Today somehow they got on the subject of teaching self-defense in school and, once again, she was able to show what an idiot she is.
Let me preface by saying that I think that teaching self-defense in school is a good idea. It's unfeasible and can't happen, but, theoretically, it's not a bad idea. However, who's going to teach it? Teachers? First you have to train them, which would take years because not only to they have to learn the basics, but then they need to learn how to teach it. Outside instructors? Where's the money going to come from? Yes, some districts have the money, but even they could probably use it on something better, like an arts program or something.
So, 1. We don't have anyone to teach self-defense on a regular basis. Which brings us to point #2: you cannot teach children self-defense sporadically. Adults, yes. There are some basic self-defense techniques that can be taught that don't need reinforcements (or, rather, they do but adults are less likely to try and demonstrate what they learned on the playground to their kids). P.E. in elementary school is a sporadic activity at best. Teachers are trying to prepare for tests, etc. and don't always get out to do it. So, lets say that I start teaching my kids self-defense. My first lesson is, I don't know, it's been awhile, breaking free when someone grabs you from the front. I show a move, the kids practice it, and I tell them you only do this in an emergency, etc. and not to do it on the playground or anywhere else.
Seventy-five percent of the students might listen to me. The rest are going to go beat each other up. Depending on where I live, the parents either won't care, or will sue.
But the parents will have to sign a waiver! Leanne protests, appalled at my stupidity.
Yes, but the waiver only is for me teaching the students, not the students beating each other up. If my students start beating each other up, it looks like I am negligent and am teaching the students to hurt each other, not defend myself.
But football is dangerous too! Leanne tells me, shaking her head at the fact I am more interested in saving my butt than teaching her child to save his.
Yes, but football doesn't teach you how to become a weapon.
It's your job! she tells me
No. My job is to teach your children reading, writing, 'rithmetic, math, and how to take care of their bodies (physical fitness and health). It's not to teach them how to fight or defend themselves. That's the parents job.
God, you're the worst teacher in the world. You're insane, lady. I can't believe you're so worried about being sued instead of teaching kids! Leanne finally says.
I can't even hug my students. Hold their hands, touch them for more than three seconds. It's not *my* fault I'm afraid of getting sued. It's the litigious society we live in. People get sued all the time, and schools don't have a lot of money. They certainly don't have enough money to pay for the training needed to give adequate instruction in martial arts/self defense AND cover the cost of being sued once your kid comes home with a split lip.
I will teach your children to say no. I will teach them that it's okay to tell someone if an adult or child touches them, or tries to take them away. I will tell them they have the right to fight back if someone is trying to kidnap them (maybe). But until my principal trains me, I will not teach your child to use his body as a weapon. It's not my job. It's yours.
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no subject
Date: 2003-08-19 10:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-20 09:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-19 10:21 am (UTC)I can't even hug my students. Hold their hands, touch them for more than three seconds.
WORD. I taught tennis for years, and when occasionally I'd have only one student show up for group lessons I'd feel seriously nervous. No one else around, no parents, no witnesses to say I didn't act improperly.
And occasionally when a kid would trip or get a cut or something, I'd be the one to clean and bandage the wound, possibly call the parents. And wow, even that was really nerve-racking. What if it was a girl that got a cut high up on her thigh? What if I had to hold a cold pack to it? What if she was five years old and bawling? Should I try to comfort her, or would that just get me sued? Should I just let her cry then?
I mean, this may seem like a fairly ridiculous thing to worry about, but I had some very odd, aggressive parents who dropped their kids off for lessons a block away from the courts, and yet when they found out their child fell down and I put on a band-aid would go ballistic. How dare I touch their child?! How dare I let their child get hurt in the first place?!
This from people with either no common sense whatsoever, or simply little concern for the safety of their children. You don't drop your six year old off a city block away from the tennis courts in a rough part of town when it would take you thirty extra seconds to bring them directly to me. Gah.
Oops. Sorry. Didn't mean to rant. lol
no subject
Date: 2003-08-20 09:10 am (UTC)And you're right: anger managment or mediation would be better.
no subject
Date: 2003-08-19 10:45 am (UTC)I was an elementary ed major, and the husband of one of my teachers nearly was fired for stopping one of his students (a large boy) from assaulting another (a small girl). The boy's mother asked if any of the teachers had touched him that day, and the boy answered the letter of her question, rather than the spirit.
no subject
Date: 2003-08-19 11:31 am (UTC)Also, it's crazy that schools have to take it upon themselves to teach things like manners and basic social skills. Parents should be doing it, but they don't, and teachers bear the brunt of it. I went to school in a lower-middle class neighborhood and there were lots of kids who didn't know the basics like hygiene. The teachers took time out of their lesson plans to teach us that stuff, and they didn't have to. They shouldn't have to, but the parents of these kids think that they're sending their children off to surrogate parents instead of a learning institution.
no subject
Date: 2003-08-20 09:13 am (UTC)It is crazy. But, unfortunatly, it has to be done. A lot of parents, not just lower middle class, think it's the schools responsiblity to do everything but, the moment they "mess up", they get sued or blamed for a whole host of problems that should have been taken care of by the parents.