Comments on: Duncan started as the tutor’s kid http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/01/duncan-started-as-the-tutors-kid/ Thinking and Linking by Joanne Jacobs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:51:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: CATILDA http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/01/duncan-started-as-the-tutors-kid/#comment-43168 CATILDA Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:47:34 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7240#comment-43168 There are many times people believe that kids are exceptional. They are; if they are placed into the right environment. Well any environment you put a child in they will automatically act accordingly. They are children and at a tender age they grasps, and retain the most. If they have conscious guides to groom them ialong the way through to adulthood, they will become exceptional people. Duncan's cases is very similar so it is nothing to really marvel about but to encourage in every child. There are many times people believe that kids are exceptional. They are; if they are placed into the right environment. Well any environment you put a child in they will automatically act accordingly. They are children and at a tender age they grasps, and retain the most. If they have conscious guides to groom them ialong the way through to adulthood, they will become exceptional people. Duncan’s cases is very similar so it is nothing to really marvel about but to encourage in every child.

]]> By: Lightly Seasoned http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/01/duncan-started-as-the-tutors-kid/#comment-43167 Lightly Seasoned Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:02:01 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7240#comment-43167 I'm reading some fairly negative things about Duncan -- none of them mention his status as a non-teacher. I'm not sure why media outlets aren't looking at his actual record with the Chicago schools instead of focusing on trivial information. I’m reading some fairly negative things about Duncan — none of them mention his status as a non-teacher. I’m not sure why media outlets aren’t looking at his actual record with the Chicago schools instead of focusing on trivial information.

]]> By: Margo/Mom http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/01/duncan-started-as-the-tutors-kid/#comment-43166 Margo/Mom Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:31:00 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=7240#comment-43166 Sometimes I wonder if the "you haven't taught in a classroom" issue isn't something of a red herring. I heard many variations of it from "you haven't taught in a classroom," to "you've never been in MY classroom," to "you just don't know OUR kids." What this frequently comes down to is a way to dismiss the experience of anyone who disagrees (as if all classroom teachers agree with one another). I could throw out a few of my own, such as "you've never lived in this neighborhood," or "you've never been here after dark," or "you've never been inside the homes of most of your students," or "you've never had to get your kids to daycare on the bus before you go to work in the morning." The reality is that citing my hours of classroom time has never convinced anyone that they should agree with me--particularly about the things that I have concluded based on my experiences OUTSIDE the classroom. I still have a wait and see attitude about Arne Duncan. But it isn't based on my perception that his experiences are not valid. Sometimes I wonder if the “you haven’t taught in a classroom” issue isn’t something of a red herring. I heard many variations of it from “you haven’t taught in a classroom,” to “you’ve never been in MY classroom,” to “you just don’t know OUR kids.”

What this frequently comes down to is a way to dismiss the experience of anyone who disagrees (as if all classroom teachers agree with one another). I could throw out a few of my own, such as “you’ve never lived in this neighborhood,” or “you’ve never been here after dark,” or “you’ve never been inside the homes of most of your students,” or “you’ve never had to get your kids to daycare on the bus before you go to work in the morning.”

The reality is that citing my hours of classroom time has never convinced anyone that they should agree with me–particularly about the things that I have concluded based on my experiences OUTSIDE the classroom. I still have a wait and see attitude about Arne Duncan. But it isn’t based on my perception that his experiences are not valid.

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