• Home
  • About the Book and Author
  • ENDORSEMENTS AND REVIEWS:
  • MEDIA LINKS
  • Upcoming Appearances
  • Buy the book: DOING THE RIGHT THING: A Teacher Speaks

DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing

~ A Teacher Speaks

DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing

Monthly Archives: June 2017

We have become too Permissive, not Progressive.

27 Tuesday Jun 2017

Posted by David Greene in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

images

Defined as granting or inclined to grant permission as in permissive parents; characterized by freedom of personal behavior or a disregard of social mores, the term was heavily used to describe the parenting practices of my generation of baby boomers. It was sparked by the changes of the 1960s and a revolt against the practices of their far stricter parents. As in every decision in life, there were intended and unintended consequences to this generational decision. Were the consequences of the acceptability of permissiveness the far-reaching social, economic, and political issues we face today in our wild and wacky society?

I am a proud independent, anti-authoritarian, libertarian, liberal and moderate progressive. (If you know me, pick your own label.) But folks, somehow we got things totally screwed up. I know what I am about to go on record saying may piss off a bunch of you but tough shit. See, I already did, but made George Carlin Proud.

Speaking of my comic hero, why is it that the most anti-authoritarian, independent, libertarian, liberal, progressives in our country today are comics (some not even citizens) like Samantha Bee, Lewis Black, Ronnie Chieng, Steven Colbert, Jordan Klepper, Desi Lydic, Bill Maher, Hasan Minaj, Seth Myers, Trevor Noah, John Oliver, John Stewart, Larry Wilmore, Michelle Wolf, and Roy Wood Jr. Sorry about the alphabetical listing Roy.

These comic pundits make more sense and are far more transparent than their “news” counterparts. Mort Sahl and Lenny Bruce would be proud.

Plus, I would sooner vote for them than most politicians running for office these days.

They don’t care if conservatives, moderates, or liberals commit the vulgarities of society. They just point them out, as will I.

PERMISSIVE actually means to permit.

Here is a short list of ways I believe our true values, norms and mores have been disregarded and destroyed.

WE NOW FREELY PERMIT, in no particular order:

  • Trolls. Yes, that means some of you.
  • An incredible lack of civility and the courage to restore it.
  • Censorship in the name of political correctness as the norm for liberal colleges.
  • Free Speech for me and not for Thee.
  • No real Gun control.
  • The rise of corporate power and wealth beyond anything in the past.
  • The destruction of the only protection workers EVER had – Unions.
  • The extermination and incarceration of black males.
  • Turning immigration into a bad word.
  • Wage slavery especially for typically women’s jobs like health care, day care, and retail workers.
  • Parents to opt out of vaccinating their kids.
  • The destruction of our once proud public education system.
  • The ignoring of the failures of our education system to pick up on the distinct needs of male students as it did the needs for females.
  • Only 43% of college enrollees are male and 140 women will graduate with a college degree at some level this year for every 100 men.
  • BUT, on the other hand… female college grads earn about $8,000 less than heir male counterparts.
  • Republicans to get away with obstruction of just government for years.
  • Too many Democrats with no courage.
  • The resulting ineptitude of governments to improve conditions in this country.
  • The likes of Ryan, McConnell, Cruz to control Congress.

I think George would smile at this list.

And of course we have permitted…Donald Trump.

Need I say more?

Advertisement

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Tumblr
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

21st Century Reforms Need to Look Back in Time

14 Wednesday Jun 2017

Posted by David Greene in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Guest Writer: Bernie KellerIMG_0268

As the demands to “change” education to “fit the 21st century” paradigm swirl about us, I want to ask you to do something for me. I want you to close your eyes and think back to your third grade class.

For all of the “new”, innovative “21st century education” ideas being tossed around, what I see being proposed doesn’t seem to be adding anything to the mix. A lot of money is being spent, a lot of books and materials are being created, but I’m having a hard time seeing any benefit.

When I think back to my third grade class, I remember sitting in rows and quietly walking in pairs. I remember learning the times table. I remember being given, (and doing) homework in every subject, reading books in class and carrying them back and forth from school to home, and I remember learning to spell words correctly.

I have two degrees and 40 years of teaching experience on my ledger and I live in the 21st century. Since people frequently engage my services to edit their work, teach writing and speaking techniques, prepare for the S.A.T., etc., I’d have to argue that many, if not most of the non-21st century techniques and skills I possess work very well, in the 21st century!

My 1960’s -70’s education taught me discipline. It taught me responsibility. I was given a book for each subject and it was my responsibility to cover it, bring it to school and home, to come prepared with paper, a pen and a pencil, prepared to take notes and ask questions when I didn’t understand.

It taught me that I didn’t have to like you to learn from you, and that sometimes there actually are people who know more than you.

It taught me that for all of the changes the “experts” purport are so vital and necessary if we are to succeed in the 21st century, in this new millennium, what was always true, will still be true, and what has always worked, will still work.

In the end, English is still English. A verb is still a verb, an action word, whether you write it on a chalkboard or a Smart Board, whether you read it in a book or on a Kindle.

Smart Board, no board, chalkboard, computer-learning program, in the end, math is still math. Three squared is still nine, and you still succeed at math through learning the processes and the theories, and through replication and application.

It taught me that any successful education system, school, classroom or teacher would provide students with:

Structure- an organized, method to accomplish a goal.

Self discipline- order, control, training and instruction.

Knowledge – information students will need in order to have at least a basic foundation to negotiate the issues/challenges life will present to them.

Replication/Application- the opportunity to process and sharpen the skills they have learned.

When you look at things in this way, it is very hard to understand why there is so much chaos clouding the education issue. The reality is actually so simple that a third grader can figure it out.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Tumblr
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Archives

  • April 2022
  • February 2022
  • September 2021
  • May 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • September 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • February 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014

Blogs I Follow

  • HE COULD MAKE WORDS SING
  • stopcommoncorenys
  • Momentary Lapse Of Sanity
  • Education Opportunity Network
  • deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider's Blog
  • Seattle Education
  • Crazy Normal - the Classroom Exposé
  • BustED Pencils
  • With A Brooklyn Accent
  • EduShyster
  • Living in Dialogue
  • Washington Post
  • Jersey Jazzman
  • CURMUDGUCATION
  • Diane Ravitch's blog
  • Badass Teachers Association Blog
  • Schools of Thought Hudson Valley, NY
  • Deborah Meier on Education
  • Teacher Under Construction
  • Failing Schools

Profile

David Greene has spent 58 of his 66 years in Public Schools. He taught high school social studies and coached football for 38 years. He was an adjunct and field supervisor for Fordham University mentoring new teachers in the Bronx and formertreasurer of Save Our Schools. He is presently a program consultant for WISE Services. David Greene’s book, DOING THE RIGHT THING: A Teacher Speaks is a result of his experiences and his desire to pay forward what he has learned over the years as he continues to fight for students and quality education in PUBLIC schools. His essays have appeared in Diane Ravitch's website, Education Weekly, US News and World Report, and the Washington Post. He wrote the most responded-to Sunday Dialogue letter in the New York Times entitled, “A Talent For Teaching”. He has appeared on radio, local TV, Lo-Hud newspaper articles, and has given several talks about Common Core, APPR, TFA, teacher preparation, the teaching profession, and other issues regarding education. Most recently he appeared on: The growing movement against Teach For America, December 11, 2014 11:00PM ET, by Lisa Binns & Christof Putzel He is presently a contributor to Ed Circuit: Powering The Global Education Conversation.

Dave Greene

Dave Greene

Upcoming Events

No upcoming events

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

POSTS

June 2017
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
« May   Jul »

Categories

Blog at WordPress.com.

HE COULD MAKE WORDS SING

An Ordinary Man During Extraordinary Times

stopcommoncorenys

Helping parents and teachers end common core.

Momentary Lapse Of Sanity

Education Opportunity Network

deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider's Blog

Mostly Education; a Smattering of Politics & Pinch of Personal

Seattle Education

For the news and views you might have missed

Crazy Normal - the Classroom Exposé

An insider's look at education, teaching, parenting and coming of age.

BustED Pencils

With A Brooklyn Accent

A Teacher Speaks

EduShyster

Living in Dialogue

hosted by Anthony Cody

Washington Post

A Teacher Speaks

Jersey Jazzman

A Teacher Speaks

CURMUDGUCATION

A Teacher Speaks

Diane Ravitch's blog

A site to discuss better education for all

Badass Teachers Association Blog

A Teacher Speaks

Schools of Thought Hudson Valley, NY

Where Education, Law, Psychology, Politics, Parenting and Sarcasm collide.

Deborah Meier on Education

Views on Education

Teacher Under Construction

Failing Schools

Are schools failing, or are they being failed?

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing
    • Join 123 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: