Comments on: The Easiest Profession in the World by Tamas Lorincz http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2009/09/17/the-easiest-profession-in-the-world-by-tamas-lorincz/ Challenging Ourselves to Engage Our Students Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:23:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tamas Lorincz http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2009/09/17/the-easiest-profession-in-the-world-by-tamas-lorincz/comment-page-1/#comment-366 Tamas Lorincz Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:52:18 +0000 http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/?p=639#comment-366 Dear Paige Thanks for this comment. You are right, and this is exactly what I find most unsettling and upsetting. I have worked and lived in poor countries and I was happy to put up with major faults and gaps in the education system. But I find it very difficult to live and work for a country that has all the resources to create a 21st century education system, and still does disservice to its future generations (at least from my perspective). The latest post on my blog describes how the situation seems to be deteriorating further as the school-year is about to start. Thanks for the comment and congratulations on your blog. I really enjoy the way to discuss that are close to you. The design and layout is also very pleasing to the eye. Thanks again. BTW: was trying to fin out: are you on Twitter by any chance. Was trying to find you. Cheers Tamas Dear Paige
Thanks for this comment. You are right, and this is exactly what I find most unsettling and upsetting.
I have worked and lived in poor countries and I was happy to put up with major faults and gaps in the education system. But I find it very difficult to live and work for a country that has all the resources to create a 21st century education system, and still does disservice to its future generations (at least from my perspective). The latest post on my blog describes how the situation seems to be deteriorating further as the school-year is about to start.
Thanks for the comment and congratulations on your blog. I really enjoy the way to discuss that are close to you. The design and layout is also very pleasing to the eye.
Thanks again.
BTW: was trying to fin out: are you on Twitter by any chance. Was trying to find you.
Cheers
Tamas

]]> By: Paige http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2009/09/17/the-easiest-profession-in-the-world-by-tamas-lorincz/comment-page-1/#comment-365 Paige Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:47:12 +0000 http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/?p=639#comment-365 How disheartening to hear that things are no better in the education sector of a country that has so much money vs the U.S. How disheartening to hear that things are no better in the education sector of a country that has so much money vs the U.S.

]]> By: Patrick Jackson http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2009/09/17/the-easiest-profession-in-the-world-by-tamas-lorincz/comment-page-1/#comment-344 Patrick Jackson Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:41:59 +0000 http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/?p=639#comment-344 [riffly_video]C1D0B782A75111DE805DE33E17436622[/riffly_video] [riffly_video]C1D0B782A75111DE805DE33E17436622[/riffly_video]

]]> By: Shelly Terrell http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2009/09/17/the-easiest-profession-in-the-world-by-tamas-lorincz/comment-page-1/#comment-321 Shelly Terrell Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:16:35 +0000 http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/?p=639#comment-321 Thank you for everyone for your comments! Tamas' post is inspirational which is well reflected in your meaningful comments! Remember to check out his blog at http://tamaslorincz.edublogs.org/! Thank you for everyone for your comments! Tamas’ post is inspirational which is well reflected in your meaningful comments! Remember to check out his blog at http://tamaslorincz.edublogs.org/!

]]> By: Shelly Terrell http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2009/09/17/the-easiest-profession-in-the-world-by-tamas-lorincz/comment-page-1/#comment-320 Shelly Terrell Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:10:58 +0000 http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/?p=639#comment-320 Tamas, I love the post and video comment! Thank you for sharing your goal of integrating educational technology at your school. I think all educators can make this goal. If everyone in our PLN made this goal then we would really see a difference! Tamas,

I love the post and video comment! Thank you for sharing your goal of integrating educational technology at your school. I think all educators can make this goal. If everyone in our PLN made this goal then we would really see a difference!

]]> By: sjhannam http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2009/09/17/the-easiest-profession-in-the-world-by-tamas-lorincz/comment-page-1/#comment-316 sjhannam Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:07:19 +0000 http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/?p=639#comment-316 Tamas, Will really try to dig out that quote - I love it too. Get back to you on that. Sara Tamas,
Will really try to dig out that quote – I love it too. Get back to you on that. Sara

]]> By: Tamas Lorincz http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2009/09/17/the-easiest-profession-in-the-world-by-tamas-lorincz/comment-page-1/#comment-315 Tamas Lorincz Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:11:01 +0000 http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/?p=639#comment-315 [riffly_video]1D031912A50211DE8432E33E17436622[/riffly_video] [riffly_video]1D031912A50211DE8432E33E17436622[/riffly_video]

]]> By: Tamas Lorincz http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2009/09/17/the-easiest-profession-in-the-world-by-tamas-lorincz/comment-page-1/#comment-314 Tamas Lorincz Sat, 19 Sep 2009 09:51:13 +0000 http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/?p=639#comment-314 @sjhannam, I think you're right. As Neal also points it out below. There's no problem with the occassional long meeting, business trip, rain, snow, whatever.... I promise to keep an account of how this idea works out and will share my experiences. Loved the quote, would be interested to know where it is from. Thanks again Tamas @sjhannam,
I think you’re right. As Neal also points it out below. There’s no problem with the occassional long meeting, business trip, rain, snow, whatever….
I promise to keep an account of how this idea works out and will share my experiences.
Loved the quote, would be interested to know where it is from.
Thanks again
Tamas

]]> By: sjhannam http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2009/09/17/the-easiest-profession-in-the-world-by-tamas-lorincz/comment-page-1/#comment-313 sjhannam Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:53:27 +0000 http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/?p=639#comment-313 @Tamas Lorincz, glad this was helpful. As you point out, we all have to find our own balance in how we engage with people and build trust. Going into more depth is all about the way conversations are navigated I think and the skill is not to allow them to spiral downwards into too much detail - but to demonstrate understanding of exactly those different toleration levels you describe. It reminds me of a quote from a novel I read (but I cannot remember for the life of me which one) where the narrator says "the mistake human beings make is to think that other people's subjective experience is not as rich or interesting as their own". I think there is a real lesson in that - we all need to try to get inside someone else's world and then try to encourage change within what each person is capable of and within their understanding of the world. We also need to be open to them changing us or at finding out we are not the only one who is thinking about these things! Otherwise, as you said, we risk coming across as a little bit over-knowing. I would like to hear more about how things are going later down the line, so please come back and tell us and as I said, it will no doubt be clear to all those around you, as it was to us, that you come with the very best of intentions to improve things for everyone. Rain...well yes in Greece where I live any deviation in weather is usually a reason for students not to come to the university where I work (rain, snow, etc). TBH I kinda feel that is OK - they deserve an impromptu day off now and then. A teacher feeling happy about this does not indicate a flaw in their character or a propensity towards shirking work (well it might in some cases). We are all still children in our own little way, and the simple pleasure of knowing you have a day to yourself in an otherwise hectic life is often a nice suprise. So...I confess that I have felt happy before when this happens. But I don't think that discounts the other days of the year where I work really hard for my students to make their educational experience better. @Tamas Lorincz, glad this was helpful. As you point out, we all have to find our own balance in how we engage with people and build trust. Going into more depth is all about the way conversations are navigated I think and the skill is not to allow them to spiral downwards into too much detail – but to demonstrate understanding of exactly those different toleration levels you describe. It reminds me of a quote from a novel I read (but I cannot remember for the life of me which one) where the narrator says “the mistake human beings make is to think that other people’s subjective experience is not as rich or interesting as their own”. I think there is a real lesson in that – we all need to try to get inside someone else’s world and then try to encourage change within what each person is capable of and within their understanding of the world. We also need to be open to them changing us or at finding out we are not the only one who is thinking about these things! Otherwise, as you said, we risk coming across as a little bit over-knowing. I would like to hear more about how things are going later down the line, so please come back and tell us and as I said, it will no doubt be clear to all those around you, as it was to us, that you come with the very best of intentions to improve things for everyone. Rain…well yes in Greece where I live any deviation in weather is usually a reason for students not to come to the university where I work (rain, snow, etc). TBH I kinda feel that is OK – they deserve an impromptu day off now and then. A teacher feeling happy about this does not indicate a flaw in their character or a propensity towards shirking work (well it might in some cases). We are all still children in our own little way, and the simple pleasure of knowing you have a day to yourself in an otherwise hectic life is often a nice suprise. So…I confess that I have felt happy before when this happens. But I don’t think that discounts the other days of the year where I work really hard for my students to make their educational experience better.

]]> By: Tamas Lorincz http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2009/09/17/the-easiest-profession-in-the-world-by-tamas-lorincz/comment-page-1/#comment-312 Tamas Lorincz Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:42:42 +0000 http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/?p=639#comment-312 @sjhannam, Dear Sara Thanks for this insightful and encouraging comment. Let me start with the easiest: the rain. There is no problem with school, many teachers say, as long as there are no students. In this country, you get rain once or twice a year, but then it can be pretty tough. Students like to use heavy rain as an excuse for not going to school - and teachers don't mind that at all. Now for the heavier stuff. Yes, a constructive discussion of the reasons for their disillusionment, demotivation can be very useful. We often discuss this with my colleague, Jon, who also believes that letting them reflect on why they feel the way they do might be the first step to finding ways of overcoming them. This I only partly agree with. Of course, it is important to know the reasons but you can get entangled in the convoluted and complex web of reasons and start feeling that you have no right to impose and the situatrion is beyond repair. Finding the middle of the road between arrogance and helpless compassion is a major challenge for me. I find it very difficult to handle because everyone have a different threshold. Sometimes it's just a bit easier to be a bit arrogant. They know why I'm there and I just get on with my job. They too, find it easier to accept even the most outrageous suggestions, comments if they come from an 'outsider". On the whole, I do think that understanding the reasons and finding individual solutions is a key to a successful relationship with the trainees. Thanks for this great comment, I really enjoyed it. Tamas @sjhannam,
Dear Sara
Thanks for this insightful and encouraging comment.
Let me start with the easiest: the rain.
There is no problem with school, many teachers say, as long as there are no students. In this country, you get rain once or twice a year, but then it can be pretty tough. Students like to use heavy rain as an excuse for not going to school – and teachers don’t mind that at all.
Now for the heavier stuff.
Yes, a constructive discussion of the reasons for their disillusionment, demotivation can be very useful. We often discuss this with my colleague, Jon, who also believes that letting them reflect on why they feel the way they do might be the first step to finding ways of overcoming them.
This I only partly agree with.
Of course, it is important to know the reasons but you can get entangled in the convoluted and complex web of reasons and start feeling that you have no right to impose and the situatrion is beyond repair.
Finding the middle of the road between arrogance and helpless compassion is a major challenge for me. I find it very difficult to handle because everyone have a different threshold. Sometimes it’s just a bit easier to be a bit arrogant. They know why I’m there and I just get on with my job. They too, find it easier to accept even the most outrageous suggestions, comments if they come from an ‘outsider”. On the whole, I do think that understanding the reasons and finding individual solutions is a key to a successful relationship with the trainees.
Thanks for this great comment, I really enjoyed it.
Tamas

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