Teacher Comparison: The Good and the Bad (by William)

    South Shores Academy is a fantastic high school. Indeed, many students who have graduated from South Shores have gone on to successful careers. Despite the outstanding faculty, there is one teacher who brings shame to the profession – the botany instructor. This botany course is the whole reason why South Shores Academy is rated 4.9 stars out of 5. Reader, please do not enroll in Mr. Snodgrass’ course. However, there are teachers at South Shores Academy. Mrs. Marvelous teaches the pediatrics class, and like herself, her class is marvelous. What makes these two teachers so different? The main factors are their personalities, subject mastery, and control over their classrooms.

    Mr. Snodgrass is an utterly horrible teacher. Students and staff are baffled why he even teaches at South Shores Academy, ruining the magnet school’s reputation. He has a questionable personality, one that many deem unsuitable for teaching. Mr. Snodgrass is a lazy man, and doesn’t bother to grade student work: favored students receive “As”, everybody else – “Fs.” He hates the hard-working students because they expect teachers to teach! This lazy instructor favors only the high schoolers who kiss up to him. Many parents have emailed him about student grades, but he simply ignores their questions and concerns. Mr. Snodgrass is also extremely pessimistic. In a staff meeting, he expressed his completely bleak views of the academy and stood up to leave, leaving a shocked and disgusted union behind him. To add onto his indolence and internal misery, Mr. Snodgrass is racially biased. He scolded some Pacific Islander students during a lab exercise, assuming that they were supposed to be “good at math.” Mr. Snodgrass’ horrible personality renders him an unlikeable classroom failure.

    When it comes to his understanding of the subject, Mr. Snodgrass is nowhere near being a real botanist. He bumbles to class everyday on loose limbs and barely knows what he’s talking about. Explaining concepts clearly – a basic requirement of teaching is almost alien to the horrible teacher. One time when scolding a student, he said, “You can always get to the level of discipline when you never dance with three-headed squirrel monkeys!” After yelling this outlandish comment, he promptly went back to teaching the vague lesson, leaving everybody exceptionally puzzled. It is to no wonder why many graduates from his course say they didn’t learn a thing. Mr. Snodgrass shows little understanding of botany. He picked some Oregon Grape Vine and brought it to his classroom for his students to study. Promptly two hours later, an ambulance departed from South Shores Academy. The ambulance, headed to South Shore Hospital, carried five people poisoned by Poison Oak. Because of Mr. Snodgrass’ amateurism in botany, he put his students’ health at risk. Mr. Snodgrass fails to make his lessons relevant to life, which helps students realize the importance of acquired concepts. He thinks that lesson relevance has no good purpose, so Snodgrass simply doesn’t tie what students learn to real life. One of the most important traits to have as a good teacher is a sense of humor, but Mr. Snodgrass is about as funny as a rock. This may be why Chase Snodgrass has no friends among the faculty. He doesn’t like jokes, and certainly hates using funny literary devices in teaching. In summary, Mr. Snodgrass doesn’t have any mastery over his subject, and doesn’t care whether the students are learning valuable information from botany class.

    What may set Mr. Snodgrass aside from good teachers the most is his control over his classroom. Good teachers may be strict but kind in a classroom setting. Instead, he rules over his class in an authoritarian way, and is not at all kind to his students. On the first day of botany class, he made two students cry. On the second day, he made five people cry, and sent another to the principal’s office for not crying. One may clearly see why eight people transferred to Mr. Darwin’s ecology class on the third day of botany. Mr. Snodgrass is short-tempered and provoked easily. The students literally see steam blowing out of his ears as his face turns into a ripe apple. Mr. Snodgrass is not only authoritarianist, disrespectful, and hot-headed, he is also insensitive. When some of his students were poisoned by Poison Oak, he demanded that they stay in class instead of asking for immediate medical attention. Only when the students’ skin started swelling did he really note what he had done. To top all of this off, there have been rumors saying that Mr. Snodgrass didn’t really want to teach in the first place. He is currently 40 years old and was strongly advised to take the education path. He never wanted to teach but did anyways. In conclusion, Mr. Snodgrass is a horrible teacher with a miserable personality, little mastery over his subject, deteriorating control of his classroom, and no love for teaching high schoolers.

    On the other side of the life sciences building lies a heavenly classroom, headed by no other than Mrs. Marvelous. Mrs. Marvelous teaches the pediatrics course at South Shores Academy, and her class is, well…rather marvelous! She and Mr. Snodgrass are so different that one could have never imagined that they teach at the same school. She inspires her young pediatricians with her wondrous personality, mastery over her subject, and her amazing control of the classroom.

    Mrs. Marvelous is the best teacher in South Shores Academy. All the students and faculty are privileged to have her as a friend and guide. In opposition to Mr. Snodgrass’ questionable personality, Mrs. Marvelous’ personality is just brilliant. She is hard working and critically grades student work so that her students have a thorough understanding of the concepts which she is teaching. Unlike Mr. Snodgrass, she doesn’t play favoritism – plus, her least favorite people are the students who try to lick her boots. If a student isn’t happy about the grades, Mrs. Marvelous always invites him/her to discuss what could have been done better. The student learns how to improve and then implements the changes in his/her study habits. Mrs. Marvelous has an optimistic approach to every problem. At the same staff meeting where Mr. Snodgrass had shared his bleak opinions and stormed off, she had remarked on the tremendous improvements that South Shores Academy was making. Mrs. Marvelous has a different philosophy to tolerance. She believes that everybody has strengths and weaknesses, no matter their ethnicity, gender, or religious beliefs. She brings out student strengths and helps her young learners nourish their weak spots. Mrs. Marvelous doesn’t send people to the Principal because of their race – rather, she sends racist people to the Principal. She recently sent a kid to the principal’s office for teasing an Islamic classmate who fasted during lunch. Mrs. Marvelous’ reasonable and kind personality makes her popular among students, parents, and fellow teachers.

    Possessing a 15-year-long experience as a pediatrician, Mrs. Marvelous has the sufficient expertise in order to teach the course at South Shores. She bolts into her classroom every day, ready to begin a new day of learning with her students. Unlike her floundering counterpart, she truly feels ready for each new day at school. Her long years of experience as an outstanding physician enables her to convey complex topics to students in a clear manner. Many of her graduates come back to South Shores Academy to thank her and visit, while none of Mr. Snodgrass’ students ever stop by (not like Chase Snodgrass cares anyway). Mrs. Marvelous always has up-to-date materials and engaging labs. She has never ever mixed anything up, since she is not an amateur in her subject. “Mixing things up can be fatal for your child patient,” she commonly reiterates. She always ties her lessons into real life, as she thinks it is essential to developing a life-long grasp around biochemistry. Much to her students’ delight, she once brought in a whole bag of marshmallows and pretzel sticks, and told the students to model one of the biological macromolecules. She instructed students to build the model, examine it, and then destroy it (eat it). As for class engagement, she is usually “humerus.” In yesterday’s class, “Alright everybody! I aorta tell you how to measure blood concentration. I lobe how you guys are learning it, but this concept is as hard as enamel. The blood concentration may seem tough, but if you pay attention, you’ll find it tibia okay! Ready? Let’s bone!” All students groan and chuckle, but at least they find Mrs. Marvelous’ literary devices and humor to be helpful in memorization. In summary, Mrs. Marvelous masters her subject, and minds whether the students are learning valuable information from pediatrics class.

    Mrs. Marvelous has much better classroom control than her counterpart. She is strict with her students, but not overly strict like Mr. Snodgrass. She is kind to her students and understands how they may resent an overly authoritarian teacher. Julie Marvelous is respectful and listens to what her students have to say before offering her own point of view. Throughout her tenure at South Shores, she has never inadvertently or intentionally upset her students. Mrs. Marvelous is truly a great teacher to experience.

    So, reader, it is now your choice. Since science is a required course, will you take botany or pediatrics at South Shores Academy?

So...What's the Better Hunting Dog? (by William)

            Canis familiaris has been mankind’s friend for thousands of years. They protected us from dangerous predators for a share of food from hunts. Over time, wolf bred and evolved into many species of dog. The question is, which species should you get for a hunting dog? Will you pick the Cocker Spaniel or the Labrador Retriever? Let’s see the differences to make the decision easier.

            Cocker spaniels and Labrador retrievers are so different that one could even view them as polar opposites. Your choice on which dog to adopt may depend on appearance preference. If our customer prefers a small dog averaging about 14.5 inches tall, the cocker spaniel may be your choice. The cocker spaniel weighs an average of 25 pounds, and has long hair. The dog owner should be prepared for frequent grooming needs as well as lots of shedding. Made iconic in the 1995 Disney movie, Lady and the Tramp, most cocker spaniels are multicolored, making for a beautiful coat. Labrador retrievers are very different. They have a stately, commanding appearance, and their average height is 23 inches. Their stocky build with a normal weight of 67 pounds allows them to hound down a target. Labradors also shed a lot, so you may need to tolerate short fur all over couches and floor mats. Frequent grooming is recommended for this breed, similar to cocker spaniels. This active breed of dog usually is yellow, black, or brown. The coats are single-colored, unlike the stylish spaniels. Though spaniels may look cuter or prettier than Labrador Retrievers, their personalities can be quite ugly.

            Perhaps dog appearance doesn’t matter to you, the dog enthusiast. In this case, judge these dogs by their personalities, and find the right dog for yourself. The Cocker spaniel’s appearance certainly doesn’t match its disposition. They have a high-hat attitude which can often emit an arrogant aura. The intelligence of these dogs aren’t any better. Cocker spaniels are rated “average” on the intelligence scale. I’ve heard from some friends that misbehaving cocker spaniels like to pee all over the place, and attack you with their vicious bites. Speaking of bites, cocker spaniels have bad temperaments. They are easily provoked and can often bite. Plus, these cantankerous canines don’t only bite when angry – remember to not make them too excited, as they will also bite under these circumstances. Meanwhile, the Labrador retriever is a wonderful companion! These doggies are great for families, given their easy-going and mellow disposition. Their eyes glimmer with kindliness, and even get along (at least they try) with neighborhood dogs. They are fiercely loyal to owners and can even act as a guard dog. Labradors are extremely intelligent. According to a study, Labradors can learn and recognize up to two hundred and fifty visual or auditory signals. That is eighty-five more than a non-Lab! These dynamic dogs are able to adapt quickly into new environments, much faster than the high-strung cocker spaniels. To top these good signals off, the Labrador retriever rarely bites. Due to their compassionate nature, Labradors are friendly and perfect for hunting dogs. They don’t viciously bite you – they save their energy to ferociously assail prey.

            In conclusion, the cocker spaniels may be a prettier sporting dog. Labrador retrievers, however, make better hunting dogs in the long run due to their intelligence and attitude. Well, the choice is yours!

Why Art Education is Essential (by William)

        In Bob Ross’ fascinating career of painting scenes from nature, the famous artist once announced, “We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.” Art has evolved along with humans, and the concepts have reminded us many times of our past. Art doesn’t just teach us of our past, it also enriches our future. As Bob Ross found with painting little happy trees, art can teach humankind valuable lessons which we remember. Arts education is just as important as any other type of education because it teaches people life skills and augments exposure to world cultures.

        Like any other subject, art builds up a student’s life skills. If students are only limited to the core subjects, many won’t find their true passions until later in life. According to the Washington Post, “Colleges and universities across the country must help our students meet that expectation. For the sake of our students and the future of our country, we must reinvent ourselves to help students explore meaning and purpose.” Colleges shape teenagers into young adults, fit to handle the growing needs of our society. I students don’t even know what they want to become, they won’t know what to study. Arts education in elementary and middle schools opens new pathways for kids to explore. Some students may even become the world’s next Picasso if art education can be successfully implemented in elementary and junior high schools. Art also helps people to develop patience and perseverance. A DW German news article pointed out that, “Peter Freiherr von Braun commissioned Beethoven's ‘Fidelio.’ At its opening performance in 1805, critics panned his opera. Beethoven successfully reworked it, producing a third and fourth version of the score.” Fidelio was Beethoven’s only opera, and the first version was a failure. The final version of the opera took almost a decade to write. If Beethoven had given up and heaved the score into the trash, the world would have never known the wonders of Beethoven’s third and fourth versions of Fidelio. Ludwig van Beethoven couldn’t have written Fidelio without patience and perseverance – indeed, he couldn’t have written any of his master works. Young people will learn how to accept failure and begin again, as Beethoven and Picasso did. Patience and perseverance are two life skills essential to success in an increasingly competitive world. Critical thinking, however, ties all school subjects together. Math and science may seem as if they are distant from art, but they are intricately connected. Math requires problem solving skills, but so too does art. “Artistic creations are born through the solving of problems. How do I turn this clay into a sculpture? How do I portray a particular emotion through dance? How will my character react in this situation? Without even realizing it kids who participate in the arts are consistently being challenged to solve problems. All this practice in problem solving develops children’s skills in reasoning and understanding of complex problems – skills necessary for success in any career.” As math problems become more complex, students may be asked to draw diagrams to visualize the problems. Similarly, complicated paintings often require pin-point measurements using geometrical tools. Even in scientific careers, the need for basic art is undeniable. Art can provide a person with an easier way to solve a problem, and at least help with better visualization.

        Not only does art enhance life skills, it also broadens the views of world cultures. Mankind does not live alone on the planet; it is critical that we understand cultural differences and similarities so that we achieve greater harmony among our fellow human beings. Take Beijing opera as an example. “It has a long history and is thought of as a cultural treasure of China,” (Transparent Language 2). Beijing Opera differs significantly from classical European acting. One might think of western opera to have a grandiose approach, the singers’ voices soaring to unimaginable heights. Beijing Opera couldn’t be more different. Performers leap and twist, practicing martial arts and acrobatics while acting and singing. Intense acrobatics on stage are unconventional in European theater. Art helps humanity to appreciate the differences between different cultures. Art not only differentiates; it also connects different cultures. When we think of European art, we usually think of the Renaissance and Italy. However, “The invention and use of the printing press in Europe was important for the Renaissance because it allowed new ideas and worldviews to spread across the continent more easily” (History Crunch, 10). The Renaissance in art and literature didn’t just stay in Italy; it spread to nearby Spain, Germany, France, and Poland-Lithuania. Da Vinci’s painting style would have been entirely different if not for the Renaissance. This important event undoubtedly shaped world history, and made for the similarities of European art as a whole. Art has helped humanity make connections through the similarities of world cultures.

        In conclusion, art education is important because it helps us build life skills and realize true passions; it also helps us understand and tolerate our world better.