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| Written by Scott Hurban / For the Tracy Press / | |
| Friday, 16 May 2008 | |
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Scott Hurban says that saving a life sometimes simply takes a touch of effort and a little kindness. EDITOR, A few months back, I had the distinct privilege of speaking to Debbie Phillips on the phone. She is the aunt of Rachel Scott, who was one of the students killed at Columbine High School. She told me that the killers, Dylan Kleybold and Eric Harris, had been bullied on campus for three months prior to their murder rampage. If their fellow students had spoken to them with love and respect, there would not have been a Columbine. This is not to justify what they did, but to show that words have consequences. I once had a young girl work for me when I managed a restaurant. She was quiet and spoke only with her boyfriend. I never got to know her or acknowledge her as a person of value. The day after her boyfriend broke up with her, she committed suicide. When he left her, she felt no one cared. Since her death haunts me, I always try to tell my students I love them. One day I told one of my classes about that girl. I told them that I would miss them terribly if anything ever happened. A week later, I got a note from a young girl who told me my words saved her life and that she would have killed herself if she had not heard those words. If you want to make our schools and community a safer place, start teaching your children to respect and care for others and practice what you preach. This does not require a tax increase or professional committee. Scott Hurban, Tracy
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(28)
 written by Melissa Lea , May 17, 2008
It also teaches the children in your class to value others as well. My daughter was bullied in school and made fun of to the point of making her sick to her stomach every day. Every time I approached the school about the situation they did nothing. I have been homeschooling my daughter and now my son and the difference in her self esteem has been amazing. I fear for children whose parents cannot make the choice we did if the school responds with nothing.
 written by scott hurban , May 17, 2008
Melissa,
It is an admirable thing to homeschool your kids. In fact I plan to write on that very topic next. It is a loving relationship that creates an environment for learning. What could be a better arrangement than to learn from your parents the way God intended it. Try as I may, I could never substitute for a parent's love. I have them one hour a day for five days for one year. I can save a few, but never can I do for them what you can do. God bless you for demonstrating agape love to them.  written by Mark Davis , May 17, 2008
It's interesting that California public schools are, in fact, teaching essential skills in empathy and respect for others. Scott can perhaps tell when that began as part of the general "character education" initiative. I actually think the schools play an essential role (in loco parentis) in helping to overcome the limitations of parents who lack essential elements in their own moral and ethical education due to religious bias, ethnic and racial antipathy, homophobia, or just general lack of good upbringing to regard others with fairness and kindness.
written by scott hurban , May 17, 2008
Some schools do a good job and some don't. Since there is little accountability, parents will do well to see that they teach essential skills in character themselves . I'm doing what I can , but not all teachers do. Don't think that just because something is mandated by the state it happens. In our classrooms the teachers are sovereign. Each can teach what they think what is right in their own eyes within limitations of course, but not much.
An evaluation of a teacher every two years by an administrator does not guarantee much. A good many teachers love their students, but too many it is just a job. The kids know the difference.  written by k.l .vosburg , May 18, 2008
Sometimes Scott I can't understand your particular curriculum.
Forgive the soundbite image but I can't help but think (maybe it's your paticular style on the keyboard which), comes across as sounding kind-a wierd. For example, let's recapitulate, "It's an admirable thing to home school your kids (no problem there), it's a loving relationship which creates an environment for learning." "What could be a better arrangement than to learn from your parents the way God intended it." (?) (Shouldn't that be a hypothetical supposition and end with a question-mark; Punctuation?)(Or are you quoting Biblical again)? Moreover, "Try as I may, I could never substitute for a parents love." (Why would you..? You're supposed to be there simply in a model of a teacher? Is this more love in the Biblical sense?) "I'm doing what I can, but not all teachers do..." "In our classrooms the teachers are sovereign." So I don't get it. You're making the claim that reviews by an administrater every two years, "yet each can teach in their own eys what is right within limitations of course, but not much." So, Scott this entails you as an advocate for "homeschooling" and what's all that love business? Creepy, dude! (Answer: Likely to turn around by suggesting me -for questioning his own thoughts and writings)!!! written by scott hurban , May 18, 2008
K.L. Vosburg
I won't waste my time with you. I get commendable ratings from my administrators and my kids love me and I have the respect of my fellow teachers. You don't understand love or you would never be so puzzled. As I said, I plan to write on this next time. Perhaps you'll get it, perhaps you won't. In your particular case, I don't care. written by k.l .vosburg , May 18, 2008
Right...
The frail and bitter juxtaposition to rationalize your accomodations from a group whose mandates and sincerities you admittedly question. While you say, "you don't care;" It's the reality that perhaps this is your only thread to self-importance? Hope everything works out. written by Mark Davis , May 18, 2008
KL does have a valid point mixed in there: which is more likely to be effective? (a) A broad exhortation to love stuff or (b) A curriculum combined with continued in-service training for educational professionals that:
...shall endeavor to impress upon the minds of the pupils the principles of morality, truth, justice, patriotism, and a true comprehension of the rights, duties, and dignity of American citizenship, and the meaning of equality and human dignity, including the promotion of harmonious relations, kindness toward domestic pets and the humane treatment of living creatures... The latter does actually require "professional committee In any case, I am happier having those guidelines in the public schools (and the impact I've seen them have) than not having them. written by scott hurban , May 18, 2008
k.lvosburg,
Again you appear not to grasp the point. This isn't about my need for self-worth, but what is best for others. This is the point of the letter. Instead of building ourselves up by tearing others down, we should consider what is best for those who have are under our care. Yes, this is a biblical principle. You seem to have an issue with me loving my students. To me being a good teacher requires establishing a love relationship ( parent to kids) of understanding and trust. Without this, there is no teaching. I was saying that many teachers lack this perspective and do not see teaching as a caliing, but merely as a paycheck. This love relationship has nothing to do with mandates, but something far more basic that parents ought to have for their kids and is the reason why parents often have far better results teaching their children than school teachers whose time is devided among 130 students in my case. I don't have a problem with most teachers or principals, but with the public school institution and its structure. I question the institution and not those dedicated people who serve within it. written by Melissa Lea , May 18, 2008
Scott, almost every teacher my children have had are paycheck teachers. I'm not meaning to say they don't deserve to be paid for their time, but that's all teaching is to them. Teaching children should be something you are called to do just like becoming a nurse or doctor. You can tell when you have a doctor who was obviously called to be one. Their bedside manner is much more personal. They will remember that you don't have insurance and do all they can to make sure you have what you need to get well no matter what. The same goes for those teachers who were called to teach. You can see the difference in their classrooms as opposed to the "paycheck" teacher. It is hard to be a teacher today. The pay isn't good and it can be very trying in a town like ours where so many families have both parents who commute out of town and leave their children to their own devices before and after school. I can see how a teacher can start out with the best of intentions and end up just doing their job. I don't think teachers realize how important they are to the children they are given. Their future could very well depend on you. If you are a teacher who only gives what they are required and nothing more those kids whose futures you hold in your hands may never reach their potential because you didn't take the time to show them love. I praise you Scott for your willingness to go above and beyond. To K.L. Vosburg: a teacher isn't going to be infallible. They will make grammer, math, science, etc. mistakes. I don't understand how people can expect teachers to be perfect. They aren't and that's ok if they are giving the best education they can to our children and showing them love as well.
written by scott hurban , May 18, 2008
Melissa, you are far more articulate than I in getting my point across. Thank you. K.L. Vosburg, I saw a bonifide miracle in my church today and it brought me under conviction. I shouldn't have answered you in such harsh replies. I'm sorry for that. I hope Melissa made clear what I apparently did not.
written by scott hurban , May 18, 2008
Sorry for some of my grammar errors. I avoid them at school, but, in the passion of the moment, I often do not proof my writing when blogging.
written by scott hurban , May 19, 2008
Mark you are sadly mistaken if you think these guidelines assure that they are taught moral precepts. They should be, but are often ignored depending upon the principal or teacher. There is no real consequent for just ignoring the mandate. This is the problem with government monopoly in general. People think passing a law will fix the problem. Often there are far worse unattended consequences.
written by Mark Davis , May 19, 2008
Scott: I don't think your comment is really relevant (and I don't think any certainty exists). The choice is whether to have said protocols or not. If you don't regulate circus rides then you get circus ride accidents. If you do regulate circus rides, you may also get circus accidents and too few inspectors or poor inspection protocols, but the rates of accidents decreases over time. A broad-brush generalization concerning government and monopolies trivializes actual policymaking (as always).
In terms of the character education mandate, it remains an empirical question as to whether or not it decreases some of the problems that you allude to, but that question could never be evaluated without the effort. On average, most teachers are marginally better educated than the general public and, on average, better able to process curricula into classroom practice. written by k.l .vosburg , May 19, 2008
Scott; Thanks for replying. I know now you "really do care!"
I'm suggesting only that it may be your particular style of writing which makes you susceptable towards criticism. -Much like me or anybody else, for that matter. Unfortunately I grew-up within a very dysfunctional household and whenever someone mentions "love and children" in a systemic context, (for me) it conjures up a physical image of manipulation and abuse. That's not your fault... written by scott hurban , May 19, 2008
Thanks for you reply K.L. Mark I am not against them passing a resolution in favor of character development. I, too, would prefer to have it than not. What I am saying is there is no guarantee that this will lead to any particular school doing it as there are little to no consequences if they don't. All schools ought to do this for sure, but don't be naive and think that the mere passing of a resolution guarantees anything. It is certainly better than nothing, but, in many cases, not much.
written by scott hurban , May 19, 2008
Teachers, according to research, are on the bottom 20% of graduating classes in general and a good number of them, especially at the elementary level, have not majored in any discipline other than pedagogy. Most are very dedicated but lack real world experience as they spend all their lives in the public sector insulated from most market forces. Mark, I have come to enjoy your put downs. I consider them a badge of honor.
 written by ConcernedParents , May 19, 2008
In agreement with Scott and Debbie Phillips, the Aunt of the Columbine student. Time and time again bullying has produced deadly results when these students were harassed and tortured by their fellow students until they snapped. Obviously they over-retaliated in a violent and fatal manner but the fact remains if the school faculty and administration had followed the "Zero Tolerance" policy and stopped the ridicule to begin with many of the students that were killed would be alive today. Classes in compassion and understanding are in order, if the staff behaves with kindness from a place of caring perhaps the students will too. Kids who torture other kids are certainly not learning the "golden rule" at home. What used to be called boys being boys may now be the first seed of a murdering rampage.
written by Mark Davis , May 19, 2008
Scott: Put-downs? You certainly seem to have nurtured a very thin skin!
But back to the issue at hand, most elementary schools have implemented some sort of program driven by that mandate. It is an improvement (as you seem to agree after great hemming and hawing about market forces and whatnot) over doing nothing at all. And, I would argue, it is the realistic policy-based counterpart to the emotional and affective aspects of your suggestion in the original letter. written by scott hurban , May 20, 2008
Yawn! Are you finished Mark? Love is not about emotion. It is about commitment. Sometimes my kids make me angry and I don't like them very much. Still I would die for them. Don't confuse emotion with love. This is your problem and the psychological need you have to argue with everything I say.
Let's try it one more time, shall we? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This is a foundation of good teaching. Mandates are nice, but are for the most part just to placate the public, because they have no teeth or enforcement apparatus. I know this because I am in the public schools and you are not. Everyone else seems to get, but you. I think the horse is dead! written by Melissa Lea , May 20, 2008
Your point is valid, Scott. Love is a choice. I have 4 kids and there are days when I absolutely have to choose to be loving. But I do. No mandate can make teachers choose to love a child who is difficult to love. An example is my oldest who seemed to be the one interrupting class. She'd end up separated from the class so she wouldn't have to be "dealt" with. We're strict and she's always been great at following the rules, which didn't make her popular since she didn't cuss or treat other kids badly. She didn't have friends because she wouldn't break the rules. So she'd act up in class to get attention from other kids. All she wanted was to be accepted, but she wouldn't go against our rules at home because the consequences weren't worth it. They enrolled my daughter in conflict management classes. Why her? She wasn't the problem. She wasn't the kid whose parents let her run amock unsupervised. She was on the honor roll consistently despite the issues with other kids. A lot of parents will stand up for their kids saying it isn't their fault no matter what. I always try to be objective because it's better for my kids if I help them work through their issues. I say this because I know people who comment on this site will come back and say I'm biased because she's my child. My daughter wasn't at fault for what happened to her in school, nor was I. The teachers and principal were well aware of what she went through and they did nothing. After I threatened to pull her out of school completely they switched her classroom. In the 6 years she was in school that was the only teacher who didn't tell me she had ADD and dismiss what she went through. She doesn't have ADD. She'll be in pre AP courses next year in high school. She's beautiful, honorable and deserved better from the administration than what she got. I'm thankful I could homeschool her. I hope high school doesn't fail her like elementary school did before.
written by Mark Davis , May 20, 2008
Scott: And yet again we have the patented hostility reinforced by irrationality! Sure, commitment is really cool and it would be really neat if all the teachers and parents were super-committed and overflowing with goodness (and I disagree that commitment is not driven by emotion--of course it is, at least partially!). But the goal of a mandated program that is followed-through by actual school effort (which I assert I see at the elementary level, at least, in my contact experience) is to overcome the limitations of parents to transfer those principles, empathy, etc. to their children. The schools have to act in loco parentis because parentis in absentia.
I guess I am perplexed why you fight so irrationally to deny such simple ideas, then agree with them, then lash out again? I am absolutely certain that anti-bullying is a critical component of several local elementary schools (combined with empathy education). That is really cool and shows that the mandate does work at least as a pedagogical tool. Yawn... written by Mark Davis , May 20, 2008
Just to reinforce my point concerning the effectiveness being a matter for empirical study, here is a site that took 10 seconds to find:
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/rep...ion/topic/ and here is a tabular meta-analysis of the potentially good programs concerning character education: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/rep...tabfig.asp Neat stuff, mandates and monopolies or not :-) written by scott hurban , May 20, 2008
Mak, Are you finished now? It's going to be alright Mark. Just take a few breaths. Perhaps another personal insult will make you feel better. We're on your side. Were your friends. Breath in and breath out.
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