- The critical determinant of growth in achievement is not how smart you are but how motivated you are and how you study . . . Finding ways to motivate students and teaching them study skills may be a critical way to help them progress in math and other subjects.” ~ Kou Murayama, University of California
- “I was an unmotivated student. I was just not engaged, and I did not respect these people’s [teachers] life’s work. It bothers me as I look back. The other part is what I experienced about how tough the job is and the commitment it takes. One teacher told me, ‘Nowadays you have to be so many things to these kids.’ You’re not just a teacher. You’re a mother, father, sister, brother, best friend, therapist, nemesis, everything.” ~ Tony Danza, actor, author, one one-year teacher
- “The one thing that will preserve our sanity is to never forget the core values that our parents and teachers taught us as children. I was raised by a single parent. My mom worked at a minimum wage job in a mill for nearly 40 years. She was a proud woman who valued her independence and refused to take welfare or handouts. She taught my sister an me the value of hard work and getting an education. We could read before we entered school. Our teachers were all women until I entered the 8th grade, and they were wonderful to us to the point that I planned to become an educator. They became my role models. I still contend that most teachers still enjoy what they do, but parents have dropped the ball and society as a whole has dumped too much on teachers’ shoulders, and administrators have failed to give them the support necessary to maintain order and standards. However, this does not give teachers’ unions the right to trash anyone who denigrates them .Their mantra is always, ‘We need more money and job security.’ How often have you heard that a teacher was fired or let go for either inappropriate behavior of just poor quality performance? Almost never. Something is wrong and the unions will not concede an inch. It is out of our control. Sorry for the rant, but I fear for the future of this country.” ~ Dan Hilliard, subscriber
- “Field trips are absolutely suffering. We are seeing it more and more, especially with the financial crisis and budget cuts. Students who need field trips the most aren’t getting them. To me, that the exact opposite of what needs to be happening.” ~ Mike Kaspar, National Education Association
