POSTED RESPONSES TO A COLUMN IN THE TORONTO GLOBE AND MAIL
Apart from the instances where the noise comes from the street, most of this is the result of the teachers' own inadequate efforts.
It is a shameful fact that so many teachers are incapable of controlling their own classrooms.
We know really skilled teachers do control their classrooms. This can be observed.
So what in God's name do they even teach in teachers' college if it isn't helpful techniques and proven practices?
There certainly is little academic content in teacher-college courses.
Some teachers apparently have taken to using microphones - a la country and western performers. What an admission of failure.
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The Bubble and Chrissy Simon,
The very fact you need an explanation does not say good things about our schools.
That classes should be relatively quiet is a simple matter of civility and consideration for others - concepts teachers should be re-inforcing every day to develop better citizens - apart from making room for the words of teachers and providing an atmosphere for thinking and proper discussion.
Noise is not tolerated in libraries. It certainly isn't welcome at a concert. And any seminar speaker welcomes questions, not noise. See how many ministers welcome noise in their congregations.
Adding a new level of noise with microphones in a closed space only makes the classroom a still more bizarre place and frankly, with all the other noise, likely poses a long-term danger to health of students' hearing.
Oh how silly our schools have become.
And all that great fairy tale-teller, McGuinty, has done to improve education is to throw money at teachers.
