All Others Do Because Teachers Teach
Dr. Robert Wallace
10-08-31
DR. WALLACE: I'm writing in response to Rick from Ada,
Okla., who didn't like the fact that his math teacher kept
him after school every day for 20 minutes to tutor him. Rick
should consider himself blessed to have a teacher who cares
enough about his education to take the time out to tutor him
in math — for free!
A long time ago, I was "Rick," an above-average eighth
grade student who had some problems with math. Because I did
not have a good math teacher during that year of school, I
didn't learn the basics of math as I should have. Throughout
high school and college, I struggled through my math courses
and developed a severe case of math anxiety. I grew to hate
anything that involved numbers. Before I got married, it was
a major undertaking just to balance my checkbook.
Luckily, my husband has a love for all things scientific
and mathematical; he is passing this love on to me by
teaching me what I should have learned long ago. Knowledge
of math is an essential element of many careers, such as
medicine, computers, finance and business. It is important
that students learn all the mathematics they can and learn
it well. Although today I am a successful attorney, I feel
that because of my great fear of mathematical equations, my
career choices were limited.
So, to Rick's teacher: You exemplify what teaching is all
about and my hat goes off to you! To Rick: When you become
an adult, you will look back on your "20 minutes a day" with
great appreciation, not anger. I wish I could have had your
teacher when I was in the eighth grade! — Nameless, DeKalb,
Ill.
NAMELESS: The dedicated teachers of the world thank you
for speaking your mind. It reminds me of a parent who was
upset with a teacher when I was the principal. Her final
words to me were, "Teachers teach while all others do." My
reply was, "All others do because teachers teach."
I GET SUPERIOR GRADES BUT HAVE NO SOCIAL LIFE
DR. WALLACE: I am what you would call a "super kid." I
have a high IQ and get superior grades. I should be a happy
teenager, but I'm not because I don't have any kind of a
social life. I'm always too busy doing homework to go out
with friends. I'm never invited to parties, but I couldn't
go if I were invited.
Other students look down on kids like us because they
think we're freaks. We always have the right answers when a
teacher asks a question. Students don't want to be in
classes with us because we raise the grading curve. The
competition with other "super kids" is enormous. The only
grade that is acceptable is an "A," and we would go to any
length to get it. A "B" would be disastrous.
Then comes the pressure put on by parents. Nothing short
of being valedictorian will be accepted. I'm not so sure all
of this is 100 percent positive. I see intelligent students
who support an A-minus average and have a well-rounded
social life, including participation in student activities.
And I think to myself, "They are the really intelligent ones
and I'm the dummy!" I've never been on a date and doubt if I
ever will! — Amy, Ontario, Calif.
AMY: As a former high school principal, I understand
where you are coming from. Grades are important, but there
should also be time for teens to enjoy a social life. All
work and no play makes for a very unhappy teen.
Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers.
Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually,
he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail
him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr.
Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate
writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate
website at www.creators.com.
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