Teaching as an Act of Love: Thoughts and Recollections of a Former Teacher, Principal and Kid

246 Pages·2007·0.66 MB·English

by  Richard Lakin

Teaching
as an
Act of Love

Teaching
as an
Act of Love
Thoughts and Recollections of a
Former Teacher, Principal and Kid
Richard Lakin
iUniverse, Inc.
New York Lincoln Shanghai
Teaching as an Act of Love
Thoughts and Recollections of a Former Teacher, Principal and Kid
Copyright © 2007 by Richard Lakin
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www.thanks2teachers.com
ISBN: 978-0-595-46155-4 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-595-90455-6 (ebk)
Printed in the United States of America
TO KAREN

My source of encouragement and inspiration for the
past 45 years and the devoted, sensitive and loving
mother of our two grown-up children, Micah and
Manya, who continuously bring joy into our lives.

Contents
Acknowledgements xi
IntroductIon xiii
loVIng teAcHers 1
teaching as an Act of love 2
“don’t You Just love …?” 5
kids, teachers and curriculum 8
If You can read this 9
letter from leroy 10
A miracle in the kindergarten 12
tHe sense of sImplIcItY 17
discovery of a sixth grader 18
“sagging up” in math class 20
the secret of “sagging up” 25
Another simple solution 26
sent down 27
1949 : sheridan and miss mildred walker 27
the late 1960s 29
on tHe lIgHter sIde 31
substitute teacher 31
to Intervene or not to Intervene 33
vii
viii Teaching as an Act of Love
the christmas rooster 37
where is michael Young? 43
A rabbit on trial 49
sent down—AgAIn 54
where to Begin? 54
grant clark 59
letters to mr. l. 64
group problem solving and conflict resolution 67
encourAgIng cHIldren to loVe leArnIng 73
J. k. rowling, meet Irma conwell 74
A principal’s 11 tips: How not to encourage
children to read 78
expanding choices and Alternatives for children 80
tIme out for trIButes 89
patsy smith and the rock and roller 89
A portrait of cecil kittle 97
Helen 99
testIng 104
testing Absurdities 105
teacher work day 108
Announcement of Vacancy 111
tHe Ins And outs of tHe scHool offIce 114
the first day 114
A taiwanese student Visits our school 120
Richard Lakin ix
saved by my secretary! 122
A minute of silence, please! 123
drills! 127
on cleaning out a principal’s desk drawer 132
BureAucrAcY 136
Breaking Barriers 137
Quiet: Bureaucrats at work! 142
only a daydream 145
Binding Bureaucracy 146
A teacher’s plea! 149
memo mania 152
would You let monkeys run the Zoo? 154
scHool clImAte 156
calming the chaos on the playground and in the
lunchroom 157
A welcoming and welcome day 165
“who owns the school, Anyway?” 168
staff decision making 171
BuIldIng A Home-scHool pArtnersHIp 174
Breaking the Barrier of distrust 175
when teachers listen to parents and parents listen to
teachers 181
exploring parent Involvement and parent
participation 185