[olug] Teachers are the obstacle between the classroom and

[Craig Wolf]

I have sat back quietly and thought about this thread before replying.  Considering I work "in the school system" I will finally put in my 2 cents.  

I am a geek, but I can work within the social aspects of the world, fairly well.  I enjoy people and can relate well.  I am also a pretty damn good tech.  Not an expert but good at what I do.

There are a number of teachers in the school district that I support that still are not completely sure how to use a mouse.  Yes in 2008.  There are also teachers cranking out Cisco certified high school students as well as Java and .Net programmers that are not too bad...  I have the pleasure of working with some absolutely bright, articulate, inspiring teachers who could care less about how a computer works or why.  Those same people are putting the love of reading in my daughter.  Those same people have kids who are devoted to helping that teacher succeed at their job while learning all kinds of wonderful things about this world or how 2+2=4 and why.  I can teach people how to use computers but I am in NO way a teacher.  It takes a special ind of person to WANT to become a teacher knowing how they can be ridiculed, not "getting rich quick" like some other jobs.  

How many of you can look back at your childhood and see one teacher that made an impact on your life?  I can!  And he was a shop teacher.  Nicest, smartest man I have ever met that taught me a lot more than how to hammer a nail.  He was the first person I met that I ever respected, and I was a Junior in high school for that to happen.

I know people that lump all "computer geeks" into "Can't function in public", "unclean", "glasses wearing", "rude",  and even "speaks gibberish or down to others".  Are you any of those things Luke?  You may or may not be BUT I will not lump you into a group like myself because I am unique, like most of the "teachers" you slammed earlier.  I make a point to show people that not all "geeks" are what I wrote above.  I take care in explaining things to people at a level that they understand, not below them or talking above their heads so that I can move on quickly to something more interesting.  THIS is a trait that more techs need to have!  Take the time to help a user understand something, if they so desire, to make them a smarter user so you DON'T have to spend your time fixing the stupid problems.

If I seem preachy, Luke hit a nerve.  I am not yelling at anyone.  I am not telling someone their idea is stupid but your generalization is wrong and it did bother me.  I will get off my soapbox now...sorry if I offended anyone but I felt this had to be said.  I will go back to lurking.  8)

Craig Wolf sends...
Just a Tech

>>> "Bill Brush" <bbrush at gmail.com> 12/10/08 5:38 PM >>>
Easy guys.

I don't think anyone thinks that "all" teachers are idiots, or even
like the one mentioned.  Everyone has had good teachers, and everyone
has had ones that made you wonder how they made it out of the house
that day.

I former teacher once told me, "The word teacher is the only one-word
oxymoron in the English language."  There's also the old saw that
"Those who can't do, teach."  This isn't a new stereotype, and like
all stereotypes it's not universally or even generally true, however
there are examples that reinforce the stereotype.

Something that we as I.T./technical people forget, is that not
everyone thinks like us.  Hard to believe but it's true. Most
technical people can pick up a book and learn on their own.  That is
not a universal skill.  However, most I.T./technical guys are not
skilled practitioners in other areas.  For myself, music and most
visual arts are complete mysteries.  Social skills is noted as a
particular weakness for us.  Are there computer guys who are good at
social situations?  Sure, but there are also a lot of them that most
decidedly are not.

Bill


On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 5:02 PM, Kevin <sharpestmarble at gmail.com> wrote:
> There are also teachers on the opposite end of the spectrum than the
> one mentioned in the blog. One of the teachers I had at ITT was an
> excellent one who was making an excellent living as a consultant, and
> was the image of professionality. If I have a question about whether
> it would be professional, I have only to ask myself "What would Larry
> Patrick Johnson do?" Yet he gave up the consulting gig so that he
> could teach because he loved to do so. He has been promoted out of the
> teaching job into one where he is in a direct position to influence
> other teachers. I am considering going on in school just so I can work
> for him during the evenings.
>
> On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 16:48, Obi-Wan <obiwan at jedi.com> wrote:
>>> Luke, for your comment "Where did you get *that* idea?" about "I thought
>>> teachers were supposed to be smart people?" you should be ashamed.  There
>>> are many very good, very intelligent teachers who are working for a lower
>>> salary than they could get in the corporate world because they enjoy helping
>>> others learn.
>>
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