tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3997838873455865285.post3911332259169815975..comments2023-12-30T01:08:45.828-05:00Comments on Learning in Maine: Adult Education in MaineJim Burkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12683223394880936587noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3997838873455865285.post-23825631952938249372007-09-15T19:03:00.000-04:002007-09-15T19:03:00.000-04:00A few years ago, I was teaching at my regular Free...A few years ago, I was teaching at my regular Freeport H.S. job days and also had a night job as a GED tutor for Freeport Adult Education. One day, a FHS freshman asked me, "Which do you like better, teaching high school students or adults?"<BR/><BR/>I answered, "It's very different. In high school, if a student doesn't do well on an assignment, he or she is likely to say, 'this class stinks,' or 'this teacher stinks,' or 'this book stinks.' " In adult education, if an adult student doesn't do well, he or she is more likely to say, 'I stink. I can't do this. This is why I never finished high school. I should probably just forget about this.' At that point, I ask adult students to remember what their goals were for coming to GED class, why they want their high school diploma. Then they get right back down to business."<BR/><BR/>The point was made.<BR/><BR/>(In case you're wondering, the students at my H.S. don't say "stink" in lieu of its more colorful substitute. They're normal. I'm just trying to maintain a little professional decorum here!)<BR/><BR/>I actually intended to tell this story as a comment under "Character Series: Perseverance," but I'm finding it hard to blog during the week now that school's back in session and that post is long gone by. Apparently everyone else is too; I noticed that the whole first week of school went by and every posting on this blog had "0 comments"! Hmmm, wasn't there a posting here about teacher time at one point? :) Even though we're all busier now, I hope this blog will endure; it has great potential!Diane Whitmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08287453202089024991noreply@blogger.com