Crazy teachers

[BOSOX78250]

It's always tough to understand when you wake from a soft bed and sit in a soft chair, turn on your t.v., not having to think about how someone might flatten your house with a tank.

That is very true. I do wake up in a soft bed, and sit in a soft chair while watching tv. My life is very different than many others. This complicates things when trying to understand why other cultures do the things they do.

The thing is, blowing up innocent children is not going to stop that tank. It is going to make it come faster and harder. No organized goverment is going to waiver to terrorism. That has been shown time and time again (excluding spain). If these people really want to get thier point across they need to find another means of delivering thier message. Thier means of delivery only isolates them as radicals and they are not taken seriously. Thier message is lost in thier brutality.

I respect the differences in other cultures. I am the product of Portugues immigrants. I have also moved around the world as a military brat. I have seen many cultures and beliefs, and though did not always agree with them I could respect them. These beliefs I am afraid I can never understand nor respect.

 

[Les Kern]

Most people don't realize what teachers go through everyday in their classrooms. Half these kids are little punks, and deserve to have their mouths washed out with soap.

Nobody gives teachers enough credit. They just rag on them when their students fail or are disciplined. While writing an apology in blood was probably a bit excessive, the kid deserved some kind of punishment.

Public education is going down the crapper because nobody wants to raise their own children anymore, and expects for teachers and schools to do it for them. We need to take responsibility for our own children, and not depend on our public institutions to do our jobs.

Viewing this from working in edu, here-here. As for the gentleman who said he'd slash the teachers throat, I could only imagine what world he lives in now.

 

[Les Kern]

No, infact, it's not. Ever hear of a little known war called World War II? Do you know what the Japanese did during WWII? They killed them self in order to kill 10X as many Americans.

This is one of the reasons why Americans are hated around the world. They are so closed minded.

The first sentence and the analysis in the second don't jive, and neither have anything to do with the quote you were responding to. Could you clarify that a bit?
Did you know what WE did during WWII? The Germans? The Soviets? The human family is all black sheep, and we have to try hard to rise above it.
But then you have to accept the theory of a universal good; a base-line morality. It does not exist, really.
And I believe you might be partially right on why we are hated around the world. But we never really were until recently, that is, until the current crop of neo-conservatives took over. As a child of the early 70's and having lived and travelled the world, trust me when I tell you that the American PEOPLE are (or, arguably, WERE) actually loved. Our country was looked at as a mecca, as refuge from the chaos. And in many ways it still is, and that's the reason INS is still a busy, busy institution.
For some reason this story affects some folks here. I am unmoved. I'd rather spend my time thinking about the REAL dangers in this world. Put it on the pages of the National Inquirer where it belongs.
(A bit rambling here, but I'm in a hurry!) Later....

 

[flyfish29]

Most people don't realize what teachers go through everyday in their classrooms. \Public education is going down the crapper because nobody wants to raise their own children anymore, and expects for teachers and schools to do it for them. We need to take responsibility for our own children, and not depend on our public institutions to do our jobs.

True. To clarify the last two sentences of your post: Parents expect schools to turn out good if not great adult citizens but don't let them teach the children the things their parents are not teaching them like morals, responsibility, respect, etc.

Although it is not just the parents fault here. Society has created so many chemicals that are in our bodies that are affecting children and their ability to learn. (ie. lead paint is directly linked to brain damage and learning disorders, Jet fuel is being found in children and pregnant women in CA, etc.) There are perfectly good if not great parents who are dealing with severe disorders and are not able to control thier child not because they are inadequate parents, but the child is almost uncontrollable in society today.

Schools are the only group of organizations (besides the gov't- and we all know how well that is working) where everyone in society has a say in what happens inside the walls. Educators are not allowed to do their jobs- and please don't say something like well, look at this article and see how educators teach. That doesn't fly because as a society we pay people far more money to care for our motherboards and hard drives than we do our children. What does that say about the importance of education?!?!

In fact, as teacher I could have left and received a $8,000 pay raise to work as an assistant manager at McDonalds. Now lets see...I have 230 college credits, two undergrad degrees, two teaching certificates and working on my Masters degree. To get that asst. managers position I would need a HS diploma. Wow, society needs to get priorities in order.

 

[MongoTheGeek]

I don't think that I will ever understand these idiots who strap themselves with bombs and blow up busses with groups of children on them. I don't care if they are doing it for thier family or themselves.

Either way it is barbaric and inhumane. If anything they are shaming thier families and I HOPE are going to hell.

It doesn't dishonor the family when the community holds massive funerals and celebrates the terrorists, when respected world leaders send large checks to support the family. That is part of the incentive for the terrorists. They are like made men in the mafia. No matter what they are remembered with honor and their family is taken care of.

 

[Makosuke]

More on topic, here's an alternate, and quite possible, scenereo for this story (suggested by my wife, who's Japanese): Slacker kid falls asleep in class, the teacher hauls him off for some punishment time, and in a misguided attempt to get through to the hardcase tells him he should write an apology in blood, then leaves him to stew for a while.

The kid, despite knowing full well the teacher didn't expect him to actually do it and not feeling any remorse for what he did, actually does cut himself and write out the apology, precicely because he knows how much trouble it'll get the teacher in.

This could of course be blaming the victim, and the teacher was still making an unacceptable suggestion, but frankly based on some of the kids I know, I'd believe it. That might be why the teacher wasn't fired, though apparently it takes more than an incident like this to get a public school teacher fired unless the kid's parents are quite influential.

Then again, my wife also has some harrowing stories of her teachers suggesting similar kinds of punishment, and having to stop the kids when they tried to actually do it. That was 30 years ago and with much younger kids, though, so it doesn't directly equate.

You might want to learn about Shinto. While most people in Japan do not strictly adhere to Shinto or Buddhism, their values are part of any Japanese's life. It's not ancestor worship but a religion which has a strong point in respect for ancestors. This type of thing has deteriorated in many respects, i.e., few people commit suicide these days, even compared to 20 years ago.

I'm familiar with both Shinto and Buddhism, and I'm well aware that family honor was an overriding concept both within and external to religion in Japan's past. But in my experience, that focus on family honor has deteriorated to the point that it's functionally nonexistant among Japanese youth, even if it does linger in the collective subconcious and among older people--hence my comment that "the only people that I know with any traditional values left were born before WWII".

That's why I asked why you guessed this incident was honor-related; not that I don't understand the system, merely that I have my doubts it means enough to most people that age that it's a likely reason for this incident.

 

[MongoTheGeek]

The kid, despite knowing full well the teacher didn't expect him to actually do it and not feeling any remorse for what he did, actually does cut himself and write out the apology, precicely because he knows how much trouble it'll get the teacher in.

I would have done it. I figure my son might do it, he's more squemish. I know a bunch of people who would as well. I also know people who would cut them selves out of boredom.

As I tell the scout troop when they start whining, if you're not bleeding, you're not having fun. (Most of them are first aid trained, we've always placed well at meets and I would never allow them harm or to not be treated. It makes a good joke. "Excuse me sir, Billy fell down and is having fun.")

 

[bousozoku]

More on topic, here's an alternate, and quite possible, scenereo for this story (suggested by my wife, who's Japanese): Slacker kid falls asleep in class, the teacher hauls him off for some punishment time, and in a misguided attempt to get through to the hardcase tells him he should write an apology in blood, then leaves him to stew for a while.

The kid, despite knowing full well the teacher didn't expect him to actually do it and not feeling any remorse for what he did, actually does cut himself and write out the apology, precicely because he knows how much trouble it'll get the teacher in
...
That's why I asked why you guessed this incident was honor-related; not that I don't understand the system, merely that I have my doubts it means enough to most people that age that it's a likely reason for this incident.

It's certainly possible that he was willing to make trouble for the instructor. I would not be surprised from what I've seen in the last five years or so.

You're also right that people have changed, which goes with my point that suicides are lower these days. I was just thinking that noble families are somewhat stricter than others. Also, the fact that the parents were willing to continue as if nothing happened. It's only my feeling, but it's a strong feeling.

 

[benguru]

That's All?

That's all, one apology in blood? At our school they would make us write 100 apolgies in blood, then rip it up.

 

[applebum]

And I believe you might be partially right on why we are hated around the world. But we never really were until recently, that is, until the current crop of neo-conservatives took over.

I am not quite sure about the logic here. I can remember at least 3 terrorist attacks during Clinton - 1 of which was the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993, also spearheaded by Bin Laden (supposedly). There was also the bombing of the US Embassy in Africa, and the attack on the USS Cole. I certainly wouldn't call Clinton a neo-conservative. I think the reasons why terrorists hate the US go much deeper than who our leader is. I think it has much more to do with our lifestyle as a people and our prosperity more than anything else.

 

[G4scott]

So yeah, about apologies written in blood and teachers, before this thread gets put in the political discussion area with all the other crap and mindless bantering...

My parents are (well, actually, were) both teachers, and they've been rather lucky, being able to get in positions that pay more than normal teacher salaries, but they had to put up with so much crap, it wasn't even funny. My dad had to stay home from school for 3 days while they cleared up accusations that he assaulted a student when he grabbed his shoulder to lead him out of the music area, because the kid was being a complete idiot, and was skipping class. The kid's parent's filed a lawsuit, and the rest of the student's were cheated, because they didn't have their teacher for 3 days. They should've had the truancy court on this kid's a**, and locked him up in juvenile detention. He already had a record, and his parent's attempt at a lawsuit was thrown out the door, but its dumb that they would even think of doing something like that. If that was my kid I would've beat his sorry little a** for skipping, and then again for not listening to a teacher. You can call it child abuse these days, but I got spanked plenty of times as a kid for misbehaving, and I am undoubtedly a better person now because of it. We don't need these "children's rights" wackos preaching that hitting children is an unspeakable thing to do. Yes, some children are being abused, and that should be stopped, but there are children out there who could stand to be abused, or get a good whooping to put them in their place. Your kid isn't an independent person the day he turns 13, and as long as he's under 18, or you're paying for his expenses, you should be able to make decisions in his life, like curfews, where he can go, and things like that. Too many weirdos think it's alright to set their kids free the day they can walk and talk, but most kids turn into rotten brats with little or no morals. Parent's need to take responsibility, and do their jobs, which isn't what they get paid to do, but to raise their children properly. Too many children are being raised with no parental guidance or support, and it's detrimental to the children of upcoming generations. While some children turn out fine, most don't, and only contribute to the problems in society we already have today. This is my rant, and I'll stick with it. Parent's need to do more to raise their children properly, and not expect schools or social programs to raise their children for them. This isn't solviet russia. In America, you raise your own children...

 

[broken_keyboard]

If that kid didn't immediately commit hari kiri upon waking and realizing he had fallen asleep in class, well then he is so low to not even deserve the teachers attention long enough to punish him. The teacher truly gave him an honor he didn't deserve.

I will not waste any further characters on the matter, as I have already dishonoured my ancestors simply by participating in the discussion of the antics of such a dog.

In fact the only reason I don't commit suicide right now in apology to my ancestors is that such an act would be incredibly presumptious, carrying with it as it does the implication that my worthless life is of value to them. To be so bold would be uncivilized.

*snicker*

 

[bousozoku]

If that kid didn't immediately commit hari kiri upon waking and realizing he had fallen asleep in class, well then he is so low to not even deserve the teachers attention long enough to punish him. The teacher truly gave him an honor he didn't deserve.

I will not waste any further characters on the matter, as I have already dishonoured my ancestors simply by participating in the discussion of the antics of such a dog.

In fact the only reason I don't commit suicide right now in apology to my ancestors is that such an act would be incredibly presumptious, carrying with it as it does the implication that my worthless life is of value to them. To be so bold would be uncivilized.

*snicker*

It's hara kiri and you're not at all funny.

 

[CubaTBird]

you know, its funny

At my high school, in certain classes, there are teachers who don't care if students sleep. And the interesting thing is that those students get B's and A's and not C's and F's as many would think. Now you may say "o, its because the stuff they are learning isn't challenging enough". Well to tell you the truth, when you have learned how to do one problem, you know how to do the other 566 examples...

 

[sushi]

In Japan, it's 95 percent black and white and 5 percent gray. In the U.S.A., it's 95 percent gray and 5 percent black and white. Is there any wonder it's difficult for people to understand those in the other country?

Well put!

Just the other day, my wife and I were having a discussion. And I was having trouble understanding the concept we were discussing. Already forgot what it was...oh oh. But what I remember is her smiling and saying, "Yes means no and no means yes!" Got to love her!

Sushi

 

[sushi]

But in my experience, that focus on family honor has deteriorated to the point that it's functionally nonexistant among Japanese youth, even if it does linger in the collective subconcious and among older people--hence my comment that "the only people that I know with any traditional values left were born before WWII".

Trying to understand your point of view.

What youth have you had experience with? Here in Japan or visiting the states?

What age groups are you referring to? Grade School, Junior High, High School, College?

Thanks!

Sushi