A lesson in teaching

**Bitsy Griffin** · 02-10-2005, 09:15 PM

I'm at a convention that began Wed night and ends Friday. It's local, so I can go back and forth. I signed up for a six hour conference to get a CEU credit. The thing I've learned is that the conference leader is an entertainer and not a teacher. I've learned quite a bit about him. I know his wife's name, his kids names and ages, trials and tribulations from his career. I know that he won the pinewood derby in the 5th grade. He spent a weekend with his brother in Cooperstown. I could go on.

The thing is that after 4 hours, I know precious little about the topic.

In an effort to connect with his audience, this teacher (he calls himself a teacher) has relegated his subject matter to the bottom of the heap. Now we have a whole year to get to know the kids and they us. BUT I do see a few teachers who are soooooo trying to be liked. Makes me wonder if this happens in classrooms too.

**wag** · 02-10-2005, 09:31 PM

That's too bad. Do you get to evaluate him later?

I have seen this happen in the classroom. Pretty soon it starts to catch up with them. Classroom management starts to go because the kids do not see the line between teacher and pal. then the learning process decreases as they learn to "work this system". It's too bad.