Monday 10 June 2013
'Fighter' Mandela remains in hospital
'Fighter' Mandela remains in hospital: Former president Nelson Mandela has spent a third night in hospital, with no official word on his condition, but his daughter Zindzi has said he's "a fighter".
Sunday 9 June 2013
Students skin 12 week old kitten
Absolutely horrifying and disgusting!
Students skin 12 week old kitten: Two students at Monash SA campus in Roodepoort have allegedly skinned a kitten while it was still alive, The Citizen reports.
Students skin 12 week old kitten: Two students at Monash SA campus in Roodepoort have allegedly skinned a kitten while it was still alive, The Citizen reports.
What are we teaching our children?
Here I am on the next section about the discipline of children.
I was brought up on the idea that you never talk back to an your parents, you never scream, roll your eyes, sigh, or ignore them.
However, I find that children of today lack the element of respect, they do not respect their parents, they do not respect their teachers, or any elders for that fact, and mostly, they do not respect themselves.
Lets for a minute focus on schools, teachers and students. Many teachers will tell you that in today's world they are finding it a lot more difficult to control students. So firstly, lets take into account that classes have grown, which mean teachers have more students than they used to, and for new teachers a class with forty students, can be quite daunting, thus, they never have control or gain control. Secondly, lets look at the teachers, most teachers no longer have the passion to teach, they've become bitter, angry and have no drive, and who would blame them, a basic teacher salary in South Africa starts from R12 000, who wouldn't become disheartened with that, all that hard work, shaping the minds of the future and for a lousy salary, but when you enter the teaching field, you should already know that you are not entering this qualification for the money, their should definitely be other reasons, whatever they may be. And lastly, lets take a look at the school systems and communities, parents go from one extreme to the next, they are either way too involved or there is no involvement at all, they expect the teachers to play the role of both teacher and parent, thus, if children aren't receiving the right attention at home, they expect it at school from a sour, disheartened teacher, whose main concern is to get the syllabus done. And that's when lack of respect between all involved is created.
As a future teacher, I find this disheartening, I am not expecting every student to like me, which is fine, I am not going to miss sleep over that fact, however, there is a difference with not liking a teacher and then disrespecting a teacher. I find there is a thin line that children cross often.
Then I ask myself, well where does it all start, and the answer is...at home. Parents are either too busy, too tired, or feel its in the hands of their school. They do not check children have done their homework, they have not made sure their children have studied for the upcoming test, or prepared the project they've had for a month, but when their child fails, or is reprimanded at school, who should take the blame?
Children think they are able to speak to their teachers, in whatever way they want, where do they learn this? If parents don't respect the school systems and teachers, how are the children expected too?
Manners, discipline, morals, values and respect all start within the closest community, and that's home life. I really don't care if you are too busy, it is your child, your responsibility. I may have not had all the riches growing up, but one think I did have was the values instilled in me, the manners learnt through my parents, morals developed as I grew and constant discipline in which I learn't to respect, not only myself, my family, my elders, my teachers, my community and the world I live in.
I was brought up on the idea that you never talk back to an your parents, you never scream, roll your eyes, sigh, or ignore them.
However, I find that children of today lack the element of respect, they do not respect their parents, they do not respect their teachers, or any elders for that fact, and mostly, they do not respect themselves.
Lets for a minute focus on schools, teachers and students. Many teachers will tell you that in today's world they are finding it a lot more difficult to control students. So firstly, lets take into account that classes have grown, which mean teachers have more students than they used to, and for new teachers a class with forty students, can be quite daunting, thus, they never have control or gain control. Secondly, lets look at the teachers, most teachers no longer have the passion to teach, they've become bitter, angry and have no drive, and who would blame them, a basic teacher salary in South Africa starts from R12 000, who wouldn't become disheartened with that, all that hard work, shaping the minds of the future and for a lousy salary, but when you enter the teaching field, you should already know that you are not entering this qualification for the money, their should definitely be other reasons, whatever they may be. And lastly, lets take a look at the school systems and communities, parents go from one extreme to the next, they are either way too involved or there is no involvement at all, they expect the teachers to play the role of both teacher and parent, thus, if children aren't receiving the right attention at home, they expect it at school from a sour, disheartened teacher, whose main concern is to get the syllabus done. And that's when lack of respect between all involved is created.
As a future teacher, I find this disheartening, I am not expecting every student to like me, which is fine, I am not going to miss sleep over that fact, however, there is a difference with not liking a teacher and then disrespecting a teacher. I find there is a thin line that children cross often.
Then I ask myself, well where does it all start, and the answer is...at home. Parents are either too busy, too tired, or feel its in the hands of their school. They do not check children have done their homework, they have not made sure their children have studied for the upcoming test, or prepared the project they've had for a month, but when their child fails, or is reprimanded at school, who should take the blame?
Children think they are able to speak to their teachers, in whatever way they want, where do they learn this? If parents don't respect the school systems and teachers, how are the children expected too?
Manners, discipline, morals, values and respect all start within the closest community, and that's home life. I really don't care if you are too busy, it is your child, your responsibility. I may have not had all the riches growing up, but one think I did have was the values instilled in me, the manners learnt through my parents, morals developed as I grew and constant discipline in which I learn't to respect, not only myself, my family, my elders, my teachers, my community and the world I live in.
Wednesday 5 June 2013
Is it just me???
Part 1
I don't want to sound like one of those annoying people who constantly refer to the phrase, "back in my day" but at this point in my life I feel it is necessary to bring up a subject quite dear to me...the discipline of children.
Is it just me, or do other people feel as if parents have given up on the entire concept of discipline? Not only do I teach children, I look after them too, and I find that that they lack many qualities of discipline that I had "back in my day",
firstly, I have found that kids do not know how to behave in a restuarant. No, it is not cool that little Johnny has made the point of staring at strangers, whilst picking his nose, and NO, I would prefer it if I didn't have your offspring run through the tables, and spill over my glass of wine or constantly bump my table whilst screaming "bloody mary". I make a point of not going to restaurants where I know there will be a high influx of children-unless I have one of my 15 nieces or nephews- so please don't make it a point of bringing your children to a restaurant where they will easily bore, and if you decide to, then ensure that these are the rules followed: 1. Once seated, remain seated, unless you go to the bathroom or are leaving. 2. Parents ensure that you MAKE your kids bring some form of quiet entertainment. 3. Yes, I might find your kid cute but I do not want to stare at it the entire night, and lastly, it is your child, your responsibility, so please if he or she is either screaming, banging plates or making a point of disturbing my night, instead of smiling at me and nudging your shoulders as, "what can I do" look, get your child to stop or else I will.
I remember when I went to a restaurant with my family( a family of 6), we knew what we were allowed to do and not allowed to do as restaurant etiquette. And if we ever misbehaved, we knew from a very young age that their would be consequences.
Although I am not a parent yet, I do not allow my nieces or nephews to run riot wherever we go, I was brought up to respect the other people trying to enjoy their meal and I know that is what I will instill in my children, nieces, nephews grandchildren and if necessary even strangers
Dani
xxx
I don't want to sound like one of those annoying people who constantly refer to the phrase, "back in my day" but at this point in my life I feel it is necessary to bring up a subject quite dear to me...the discipline of children.
Is it just me, or do other people feel as if parents have given up on the entire concept of discipline? Not only do I teach children, I look after them too, and I find that that they lack many qualities of discipline that I had "back in my day",
firstly, I have found that kids do not know how to behave in a restuarant. No, it is not cool that little Johnny has made the point of staring at strangers, whilst picking his nose, and NO, I would prefer it if I didn't have your offspring run through the tables, and spill over my glass of wine or constantly bump my table whilst screaming "bloody mary". I make a point of not going to restaurants where I know there will be a high influx of children-unless I have one of my 15 nieces or nephews- so please don't make it a point of bringing your children to a restaurant where they will easily bore, and if you decide to, then ensure that these are the rules followed: 1. Once seated, remain seated, unless you go to the bathroom or are leaving. 2. Parents ensure that you MAKE your kids bring some form of quiet entertainment. 3. Yes, I might find your kid cute but I do not want to stare at it the entire night, and lastly, it is your child, your responsibility, so please if he or she is either screaming, banging plates or making a point of disturbing my night, instead of smiling at me and nudging your shoulders as, "what can I do" look, get your child to stop or else I will.
I remember when I went to a restaurant with my family( a family of 6), we knew what we were allowed to do and not allowed to do as restaurant etiquette. And if we ever misbehaved, we knew from a very young age that their would be consequences.
Although I am not a parent yet, I do not allow my nieces or nephews to run riot wherever we go, I was brought up to respect the other people trying to enjoy their meal and I know that is what I will instill in my children, nieces, nephews grandchildren and if necessary even strangers
Dani
xxx
When does it become too personal?
Whilst attending school, I never had good relationships with my teachers, it wasn't as if I hated them, I was just one who didn't believe that teachers and students should have a conversation based on more than the school content being taught.
I am in varsity, and am next year will be my final year, although I know my lecturers, its in the form of needing to understand why I received such a mark, or for the purpose that I was sick and would like to book an appointment in which I can find out what I missed. It frightens me to when I witness students who go out of their way to create a relationship with their lecturers, where they email them on a constant basis, where they feel the need to have a conversation with them before and after every lecture. I myself have needed to ask a question but I also feel I need to use some common sense.
It worries me, when I become a teacher in the next couple years, do I need to formulate those types of relationships?(I am not speaking about relationships of the intimate type) I do believe that its vital to learn about my students, to formulate a connection with them, and I believe that its vital for me to show my students some "human" qualities about myself, as the students then see me in a different light, my question I am posing is, when does it become too personal?
In South Africa, classroom sizes range from 16 to 45 students, it all depends on the type of school. How does one teacher create a personal relationship with each individual student? I very much want to be that teacher where a student can come to me with any sort of problem, even though I myself never felt I could do that with any of my teachers.
It wont be easy, and I will constantly ask myself the above questions, so that I may become the type of teacher that has a connection with all my students, but will keep in mind that I am after all their teacher, not their friend, not their confidant, but rather, someone who will enrich their minds, will spark their creativity and love for English, whether it be poetry, or literature or even the idea of creating a piece of writing where they are able to get lost in their imaginations.
That will be my goal.
I am in varsity, and am next year will be my final year, although I know my lecturers, its in the form of needing to understand why I received such a mark, or for the purpose that I was sick and would like to book an appointment in which I can find out what I missed. It frightens me to when I witness students who go out of their way to create a relationship with their lecturers, where they email them on a constant basis, where they feel the need to have a conversation with them before and after every lecture. I myself have needed to ask a question but I also feel I need to use some common sense.
It worries me, when I become a teacher in the next couple years, do I need to formulate those types of relationships?(I am not speaking about relationships of the intimate type) I do believe that its vital to learn about my students, to formulate a connection with them, and I believe that its vital for me to show my students some "human" qualities about myself, as the students then see me in a different light, my question I am posing is, when does it become too personal?
In South Africa, classroom sizes range from 16 to 45 students, it all depends on the type of school. How does one teacher create a personal relationship with each individual student? I very much want to be that teacher where a student can come to me with any sort of problem, even though I myself never felt I could do that with any of my teachers.
It wont be easy, and I will constantly ask myself the above questions, so that I may become the type of teacher that has a connection with all my students, but will keep in mind that I am after all their teacher, not their friend, not their confidant, but rather, someone who will enrich their minds, will spark their creativity and love for English, whether it be poetry, or literature or even the idea of creating a piece of writing where they are able to get lost in their imaginations.
That will be my goal.
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