In this film, veteran educator George McKenna ruminates on the fundamental ingredients of effective teaching making direct connections with students, never giving up on them, and embracing teaching as a high calling.
In this film, veteran educator George McKenna ruminates on the fundamental ingredients of effective teaching making direct connections with students, never giving up on them, and embracing teaching as a high calling.
I am a now fifty year old mother of two teenagers. Mr. McKenna's comment about telling your children (students) that you love them is vital for academic and social viability. If you do not have self-love and self-worth, success will be extremely elusive. It is critically important that we let our children know that they are worthy. It is also necessary that our school administrators and parents are visible and visit classrooms frequently. Awareness and reflection are the solutions for all.
angelena1961 2 weeks ago
I agree that attitudes are so very important for our children. We had a trig teacher spring of 1979 that failed a class of high achieving college bound students except one--who was assigned a "D." I am sure Mr. McKenna's advocacy may have partially stemed from an awareness of that type of obscene disregard for students by many teachers in those days. My salvation was my mother and a college counselor who took the extra step to ensure that we did not miss out on opportunities.
angelena1961 2 weeks ago
George McKenna arrived spring semester 1979 on our campus. I can't say that our school was riddled with gang violence--maybe I missed it because I was in class. I never felt Mr. McKenna connected with our class. I applaud his intensity. The posturing, skewed history(perpetuated by a flawed fact-free movie) and tactless comments made by Mr. McKenna (at our 10-year reunion for instance) make it difficult to view his impact as positive for the 1979 graduates of Washington High School.
angelena1961 2 weeks ago
Tonight I saw a video on a speech that Dr. McKenna gave in 1987 and he was inspiring. Thank you for posting.
MissPerivale 6 months ago