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A question about grades 6-12.

KevinKohler

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Something that's been stuck in my mind lately....why, from grade 1-5, kids have one teacher....but then, from grade 6 on, you have a different teacher per subject?
 
the classes get more specialized

some could teach entire gamut....others not so much

can you imagine a history major trying to teach trig in high school?

or a math teacher trying to relate to a humanities class?
 
Something that's been stuck in my mind lately....why, from grade 1-5, kids have one teacher....but then, from grade 6 on, you have a different teacher per subject?

I think that depends on the schools. Because the elementary school I went to had different teachers for different subjects while some the elementary schools my sisters went to had 1 teacher to teach all subjects.
 
I think that depends on the schools. Because the elementary school I went to had different teachers for different subjects while some the elementary schools my sisters went to had 1 teacher to teach all subjects.

I kinda figured that would be the case...but one thing is constant, by grade 6, there is a teacher per subject.
 
the classes get more specialized

some could teach entire gamut....others not so much

can you imagine a history major trying to teach trig in high school?

or a math teacher trying to relate to a humanities class?

Yet a kid is expected to learn it all?
 
Yet a kid is expected to learn it all?

we want our students exposed to as much as possible wihout overloading....imo

broadening the mind, and teaching them that the 25 miles nearest their house doesnt encompass the rest of the world

not all kids are made for all subjects....and not kids are college material

doesnt mean we dont want them exposed to it....how do you know what you love/like/dislike without some exposure to it

my first experience with coffee was not so great, and yet it has become one of the loves of my life....

i am sure everyone has tales like that....expose them to everything, let them sort it out
 
we want our students exposed to as much as possible wihout overloading....imo

broadening the mind, and teaching them that the 25 miles nearest their house doesnt encompass the rest of the world

not all kids are made for all subjects....and not kids are college material

doesnt mean we dont want them exposed to it....how do you know what you love/like/dislike without some exposure to it

my first experience with coffee was not so great, and yet it has become one of the loves of my life....

i am sure everyone has tales like that....expose them to everything, let them sort it out

I totally understand that. But does it not seem just a bit hypocritical to expect a 12 year old to learn all of the math, social studies, and English that takes 3 different people knowledge to teach?

I mean, on the one hand, we say, wouldn't want the math teacher trying to teach English, or vice versa. Because, they might not be able to understand both subjects. Yet, we demand that their students come away with an understanding of both.

Not saying this to attack, just thinking theirs gotta be a better way.

I mean, put it this way....how many high school teachers would score as well on the SATs as their students.
 
I totally understand that. But does it not seem just a bit hypocritical to expect a 12 year old to learn all of the math, social studies, and English that takes 3 different people knowledge to teach?

I mean, on the one hand, we say, wouldn't want the math teacher trying to teach English, or vice versa. Because, they might not be able to understand both subjects. Yet, we demand that their students come away with an understanding of both.

Not saying this to attack, just thinking theirs gotta be a better way.

I mean, put it this way....how many high school teachers would score as well on the SATs as their students.

You might be conflating the ability to understand a subject with the ability to teach a subject well.
 
and English that takes 3 different people knowledge to teach?

I mean, on the one hand, we say, wouldn't want the math teacher trying to teach English, .

English teachers, other than for the history of literature, etc know virtually nothing about the English language/grammar. Those aspects of English are a total waste of time for students and teachers.
 
Something that's been stuck in my mind lately....why, from grade 1-5, kids have one teacher....but then, from grade 6 on, you have a different teacher per subject?

It's because a lot of the teachers in America are largely unintelligent.... math becomes too difficult for half the teachers in middle school.... so they have it specialized.

The major in which has the lowest IQ candidates in colleges are the education majors.
 
Something that's been stuck in my mind lately....why, from grade 1-5, kids have one teacher....but then, from grade 6 on, you have a different teacher per subject?

At first I could teach the kids all they need to learn. As they learn more, I could only no longer add value except in areas of my expertise and at first the related areas. Later still the related areasbecome more detailed than I need for my work and I could only help in a narrower specialization. The further the kids progress, the more specialized must be the teacher.
 
I kinda figured that would be the case...but one thing is constant, by grade 6, there is a teacher per subject.
Subjects are probably harder and therefore require more specialized teachers. Although in my highschool some of the coaches were also the art teachers, drafting teachers,drivers ed teachers and I think even sociology teachers.
 
Subjects are probably harder and therefore require more specialized teachers. Although in my highschool some of the coaches were also the art teachers, drafting teachers,drivers ed teachers and I think even sociology teachers.
Right. And my point is, we expect more of our kids (to have a solid understanding of all subjects) than we do our teachers.
 
The classes get more specialized so that you can get more knowledge. And not everyone is a polymath.
 
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