The current generation of teachers is totally different from the generation that I trained and began with.
We were there for the students, not the test scores.
We had the freedom to plan our own lessons and to schedule them.
The lessons were designed to fit our personality and that of the class. Lesson plans and pacing plans did not come from publishers, they came from teachers, experienced teachers who were there to prepare students for the next grade and for life, teachers who cared about educating the students and who were not forced to care only about test scores.
We had sufficient time to remediate. An early principal of mine used to say, “Bring the students up to grade level and introduce them to grade level skills.”
We had ample opportunities to challenge and to enrich the students.
We had time for teachable moments.
We had time for fun!
We were not forced to stay within the system. We went beyond to help the students.