Stack 'em Deep & Teach 'em Cheap
First edition 2022
Total Pages .... 232
Size ............ 6” x 9”
book price …. $24.95
My career in education spanned the following years and places:
Fall, 1966
Student Teaching at Dover Area Jr.-Sr. High School, Dover, PA
7th Grade Physical Science
January 1967 to June 1969
Weatherly Area Junior-Senior High School, Weatherly, PA
Grades 7 through 11: Math, Geography, Earth Science
September 1969 to June 1986
Tamaqua Area School District, Tamaqua, PA
September 1969 to June 1971
Tamaqua Area Junior High School, Tamaqua, Pennsylvania
7th Grade Life Science
September 1970 to June 1971
Taught a split schedule between Junior & Senior High Schools
7th Grade Life Science, 9th Grade Space Science
September 1971 to June 1986
Tamaqua Area Senior High School, Tamaqua, Pennsylvania
9th Grade Space Science and Oceanography, Grades 9 through 12 Science
mini-courses, Planetarium Director for grades K-12 and public
September 1993 to June 2001
Perry G. Keithley Middle School, Tacoma Washington
8th Grade Science (Life Science and Earth Science) and U. S. History
September 2001 to June 2012
Eatonville High School, Eatonville Washington
Grades 9 through 12: Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics
I taught science to students in grades seven through twelve for thirty-nine
years. At one time or another during my career, I taught all the sciences. I was
not a super-teacher (if such a thing exists), but I was a good teacher. That is
not stated out of egotism. Instead, I say it because of my achievements with my
students.
I learned a lot about public education in America and had many varied
experiences in and outside of the classroom. So I decided to share some of those
experiences in this book.
My experiences as an educator will provide many insights into the inner
workings of a public-school classroom. Parents, students, and new and future
teachers will find valuable information throughout these pages.
To help the reader envision the topics and create an organized approach, I
imagined the American educational system as a wheel supported by five spokes.
The spokes support the rim or the overall structure. If one spoke fails, the
system fails. Yet, at the same time, these spokes are interdependent and tied
together by the rim and the wheel’s hub.
I selected five spokes to better focus on each group of participants. For
example, I use the parents’ spoke to follow the parents’ viewpoints and roles in
the educational system. Then, I discuss their interactions with the other spokes
from their perspective. I followed the same approach in each of the other spokes
as well. I could have added a sixth spoke with the service staff, but I
considered their role more focused on maintaining the physical structures and
providing services to support education without playing a direct role in the
actual process. However, the custodial staff is an integral part of the five
spokes and an essential part of this book.
Since the student spoke is the reason the other four spokes exist, I placed
it at the front of this book. The teacher spoke is found at the back of this
book because they are the primary support spoke for the whole system and are
often given little credit for successes and the most blame for failures by the
three middle spokes.
The students must be active in the wheel for the system to work. I recount some
of the more memorable stories of interactions with my students. I must have
worked with up to 10,000 students during my career, both directly and
indirectly. There were happy times, sad times, and successes and failures.
The administration spoke is the second section of my book. I worked with
several different principals and superintendents. Unfortunately, my perception
of their performance was not always a kind one. Their roles are important, but
they often prefer to dictate rather than lead.
Parents, the third spoke discussed, must be involved in the process for it to
be successful. I enjoyed interacting with parents and tried to make them a part
of my educational program.
The fourth section of my book focuses on politicians, a shaky but necessary
spoke in the wheel. But unfortunately, this very important spoke of the wheel is
not always supportive of the process, and in many ways, they weaken the
educational system.
The fifth section focuses on teachers, people who exhibit the strengths and
weaknesses present in us all. I worked with many excellent teachers and
tolerated the few poor ones. Since my space is limited, I have given more
memorable examples of each in this book. Most teachers are dedicated and work
their asses off for little recognition and plenty of criticism. Spend some time
reading this section and getting to know some dedicated people.
This book is a candid look into the American educational system as it
functioned within four specific school districts over a thirty-nine-year period.
It is a book that will show daily events within the educational wheel.
Read on to enter my world and discover the many ways students interact with
each other and their teachers during the 180 days they are supposedly under the
system’s control.
Table of Contents
Time Line Page xi
Introduction Page xii
Prologue Page xiii
Section One: Students
Unit One: Grade Level Instructional Concerns
Chapter One- Page 1
The Middle School: Let’s Try to Keep the Lid On
Chapter Two- Page 5
Language: Middle School Potty Mouths
Chapter Three- Page 7
The High School: Puberty and Popularity
Chapter Four- Page 10
Educational Transitions: Elementary-Middle-High-College
Calamities
Part One: Page 11
Transition Elementary School to
Middle School: Mingling must be Prevented
Part Two: Page 11
Transition Middle School to High School: Screw Your
Self-Esteem (Welcome to the Big Leagues)
Part Three: Page 12
Transition High School to College: Leave Your Mommy at Home
Unit Two: Student Behaviors
Chapter One- Page 13
Naivete: Gullibility is a Student Trait
Chapter Two- Page 16
Sex in School: Blow Me
Chapter Three- Page 18
Lavatory: The Power Dump
Chapter Four- Page 20
Moronic Behaviors: You Can’t Tell Me What to Do
Chapter Five- Page 21
Bullying: Not All Schools Are Safe Havens
Chapter Six- Page 23
Sexual Harassment: Boys Will be Boys
Chapter Seven- Page 25
Treat Teachers Like Classmates: Hate You Today, Love You
Tomorrow
Chapter Eight- Page 26
Getting Even: Good Natured Revenge
Chapter Nine- Page 28
Smarter Than A Teacher: Ha Ha Ha
Chapter Ten- Page 30
Obey School Rules: Not All Rule Breakers Are Malignant Forces
Chapter Eleven- Page 33
Fighting Between Students: Lots of Witnesses but No Referees
Chapter Twelve- Page 35
Lunches: I Want My Pizza
Chapter Thirteen- Page 36
Classroom Positions to Be Filled: Class Clown, et. al.
Chapter Fourteen- Page 37
Student Rights: A Matter of Perspective
Chapter Fifteen - Page 38
Disciplining by Trickery: The Guilt Trip
Chapter Sixteen - Page 40
Graffiti: I Both Hate and Respect My Teacher
Chapter Seventeen - Page 40
Vulnerabilities: Innocence can Make a Fond Memory
Unit Three: Curriculum
Chapter One- Page 42
CAD Programs: What the Hell is Mechanical Drawing
Chapter Two- Page 46
Learn by Inductive Reasoning: Memorization Must be a Curse
Word and
Don’t Get Me Started on Outlining
Chapter Three- Page 48
Japanese Kids Are Smarter Than American Kids in Math: Who
Gives a S..t
Chapter Four- Page 51
The Math Bugaboo: The “I Can’t Do Math.” Whine
Chapter Five- Page 53
Sex Education in School: Abstinence Makes the Heart Grow
Fonder
Chapter Six- Page 56
Final Exams: A Waste of Time for All Except College Bound
Chapter Seven- Page 58
Forgotten Skills: Who Needs Them Anyway
Part One: Page 58
Printed Letters: Cursive Writing is Not Writing with Bad
Language
Part Two: Page 59
Clocks: It’s Hard to Tell Time by Mickey’s Hands
Part Three: Page 59
Practical Math: What’s So Practical About It
Chapter Eight- Page 60
Tracking of Students: Bluebirds vs. Cardinals but No Buzzards
Chapter Nine- Page 62
Academics Only: Goodbye Trade School Classes, Prepare for
College
Chapter Ten- Page 64
Student Work Deadlines: I’ll Turn Work in When I Get Around
to It
Chapter Eleven- Page 65
Physics is Fun: Let’s Get the Toys Out
Unit Four: Emotions
Chapter One- Page 67
Sad Times: Death Is an Unwelcome Visitor
Chapter Two- Page 68
Student Diversity: Racism is not Instinctual
Chapter Three- Page 70
Graduates Remember: The Good Old Days
Chapter Four- Page 72
Mobile Populations: Staying One Step Ahead of the Landlord
Means A
Loss of Continuity
Section Two: Administration
Unit One: District Concerns
Chapter One- Page 75
The Superintendent: The Spider at the Center of the Web
Chapter Two- Page 79
Technology: Censor the Devil Out of It and Find A Cheap Way
to Keep It
Going
Chapter Three- Page 81
Funding: The Tail Wags the Dog
Chapter Four- Page 82
Assistant Administrators: Everyone Gets an Assistant
Chapter Five- Page 85
Class Size: Stack ‘em Deep and Teach ‘em Cheap
Chapter Six- Page 87
Trends in Education: Out with the Old, In with the New
Chapter Seven- Page 89
Administrative Politics: A Good Appearance is More Important
Than
Student Learning
Chapter Eight- Page 91
The Modern Principal: No More Rubber Hoses Hanging on a Wall
Chapter Nine- Page 93
School Endowment or Gift: Money Disappearing Down a Rabbit
Hole
Unit Two: Staff Concerns
Chapter One- Page 94
The Administrator: Once a teacher, always a t… (I don’t think
so.)
Chapter Two- Page 96
The Everchanging Curriculum: Make Up Your Mind
Chapter Three- Page 98
Principal: I Got Your Back (Sometimes)
Chapter Four- Page 102
Teacher Observations: Dog and Pony Shows for the Principal
Chapter Five- Page 105
Tenure: Must the Bad Be Kept with the Good
Chapter Six- Page 106
Staff and Student Awards: Something of the Month
Chapter Seven- Page 107
Expectations of Staff: Your Ass is Mine
Chapter Eight- Page 110
Department Chairs: Teachers with Titles and Extra Work
Chapter Nine- Page 111
Open Door Policy: Some Principals Care About Their Teachers’
Thoughts
Chapter Ten- Page 113
The Teacher Salary Schedule: Everybody Gets Paid the Same
Chapter Eleven- Page 114
Teacher Work Sessions: Make the Principal Happy
Unit Three: Student Concerns
Chapter One- Page 115
Suspensions: Holidays for the Discipline Problems
Chapter Two- Page 116
Retention: Requires Student Parking Areas at the Middle
School
Section Three: Parents
Chapter One- Page 119
Parent Conferences: Do Not Schedule Them During Monday Night
Football
Chapter Two- Page 120
Parent Visitations: Keep Them Away from Me
Chapter Three- Page 121
Teamwork: Parents, Do Your Job
Chapter Four- Page 123
Students Reflect Their Homelife: The Apple Falls Close to the
Tree
Section Four: Politicians
Chapter One- Page 125
Our Public Schools Are Failing: An Easy Target to Get Votes
Chapter Two- Page 127
Standardized Testing Will Improve Schools: Let’s Test the
Crap Out of the
Little Guys
Chapter Three- Page 128
Overcrowding: Let’s Buy Some Portable Classrooms
Chapter Four- Page 129
Charter Schools and School Choice Will Improve Public
Schools: Public
Schools Take ‘Em All
Chapter Five-Page 130
Schools Receive Plenty of Funding: Taxpayers’ Money Feeds
Many Hogs at
the Trough
Section Five: Teachers
Unit One: The New Teacher
Chapter One- Page 133
Teacher Training: Preparing Fresh Meat for the Grinder
Chapter Two: Page 137
I Do Not Believe It
Part One: Page 137
The New Teacher: How the Hell Did I End Up Here
Part Two: Page 139
The New Teacher: What the Hell Am I Doing Here
Chapter Three- Page 140
The Real World: A Favored Expression
Chapter Four- Page 142
New Teacher Attrition: I Gotta Get Out of This Place
Chapter Five- Page 143
Out with the Old and in with the New: Throw Out the Baby with
the Bath
Water (Shove Your Old Lesson Plans, I Made New Ones That Are
Better)
Chapter Six- Page 145
Mentors: Lifeguards for the New Teachers
Chapter Seven- Page 147
The Salary Schedule: One Size Fits All
Chapter Eight- Page 148
Seniority: Class from Hell Goes to the New Teacher
Chapter Nine- Page 150
Old Teachers: They Don’t Just Die or Fade Away
Chapter Ten- Page 150
Anxiety: Many Teachers Suffer from Fear
Unit Two: The Teacher and The Classroom
Chapter One- Page 154
Turf Wars: These Are My Stomping Grounds
Chapter Two- Page 156
Multiple Roles: One Head with Many Hats
Chapter Three- Page 158
Classroom Structure: No Structure Equals No Learning
Chapter Four- Page 161
Animals in the Classroom: Students Are Not the Only Animals
in Some
Classrooms
Unit Three: Teaching as A Job
Chapter One- Page 164
Teaching is a Great Job with Summers Off and Lots of
Holidays: Days Not
Worked are Days Not Paid
Chapter Two- Page 167
The Teaching Contract: Let’s Make A Deal
Chapter Three- Page 168
How Teachers Are Hired: Ability Versus Nepotism
Chapter Four- Page 171
The Process of Teaching: Edutainment
Chapter Five- Page 173
Lesson Plans: Teach Five Different Classes and Have No Life
Chapter Six- Page 175
Extra Duties: Duty-Free Is at the Airport, Not the School
Chapter Seven- Page 178
Teacher Attire: Which One is the Teacher?
Chapter Eight- Page 181
Study Hall: A Utopian Fiction
Chapter Nine- Page 182
One Day in the Life of a Science Teacher
Unit Four: Teacher Relations
Chapter One- Page 184
Faculty Room: Where Is the Pinochle Game?
Chapter Two- Page 187
The Education Association: Is It A Union or A Professional
Organization?
Chapter Three- Page 189
The Guest or Substitute Teachers: They Come, and They Go
Chapter Four- Page 191
Middle School vs. High School: In This Corner of the Ring …
Chapter Five- Page 193
Support Staff: The Custodian is Your Best Friend
Chapter Six- Page 196
Cracks in the United Front: Why You and Not Me?
Unit Five: Teaching and the Community
Chapter One- Page 197
Competition with Local Businesses: Do Not Use My Own Tax
Money to
Put Me Out of Business
Chapter Two- Page 198
Pillar of the Community: An Adage Based Upon a Fictional
Character
Chapter Three- Page 201
Teachers are People Too: Joe
Unit Six: The Good: The Bad: The Ugly
Chapter One- Page 204
The Good Teacher: Good Teachers are Like Good News-
Not Newsworthy
Chapter Two- Page 208
The Bad Teacher: A Contradiction in Terms?
Chapter Three- Page 212
The Ugly Teacher: In Attitude, Not In Looks
Chapter Four- Page 213
Certification: Scamming the System
Unit Seven: Teacher-Student Relationships
Chapter One- Page 215
Technology: Computers and the Hell of Cell Phones
Chapter Two- Page 217
Discipline: Babysitting with No Authority (Touch Me and My
Mom Will
Sue Your Ass)
Chapter Three- Page 221
Teacher: Student Relations: Familiarity Trumps Discipline
Chapter Four- Page 223
Teacher- Student Relations: They Are Here for an Education,
Nothing Else
Chapter Five- Page 226
Teaching the Individual: Thirty at a Time
Chapter Six- Page 227
Honesty Toward Students: Liar Liar Pants on Fire
Chapter Seven- Page 225
Retesting: Studying for a Test is Passé
Chapter Eight- Page 230
Failures: Who Takes the Blame?
Finis: Page 232