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It depends on the teacher. Is she phoning it in at this point? Sure, but on the other hand she probably knows how to best respond to any child's needs and learning styles at this point.
There was a high school social studies teacher at my son's school who was using the same tests he used in the 1970s. We know this because some of the other kid's parents had had him in school. It could be argued that history hasn't changed much, but still, he really needed to go.
If parents believe that students cannot relate to a 40 year old teacher, then how do the parents relate to their own children?
That's a teacher who has taught for 40 years, so is 60+. Still, the principle is the same--maybe those parents should keep the kiddies away from g-ma and g-pa too b/c they're so old and out of date--what could they possibly have to offer the children besides free babysitting? It gets dumber--our children are so precious that they can only be raised and educated by people who are young and hip? (OP, I know it's not you!)
Age is relative anyway--I'm in my fifties and one of my co-workers is 24 and she is way more old-fashioned than I am. She doesn't relate to the teenagers we work with nearly as well as I do and though she is more current on the music and stuff like that, she is much behind when it comes to having respect for the kids and she has little empathy or patience. As long as the teacher isn't burned out, and was a good teacher to begin with, she's probably very, very experienced and my dd's first grade teacher was like that--she could "see" the naughtiness that was going on behind her back and all she'd have to do was snap her fingers at them to get them back on track--no yelling or punishment required. Another teacher in the same school was the same age and she was horrible--she's the whole reason we homeschooled the next year after that. No one wants to be discriminated against and age-ism is a form of discrimination. Oh, and the absolute worst teacher I know is about 35--I doubt she'll ever improve.
Teachers come in all shapes and sizes. They are good or bad based on how they teach, not on their age, their amount of time teaching, their disabilities or so many other things. A good teacher relates to the students. For K, it is important for the teacher to be warm and caring and many grandmotherly types are just that.
Btw, if you have not seen or read this story, you should
I just saw it on Hallmark Channel and it is a fabulous story of acceptance and how someone can become a wonderful teacher partly because of a disability that made him face challenges.
If you are going to stereotype, you might as well be fair and negatively stereotype the young teacher as well. Make it similarly ignorant:
"My son's first grade teacher just started teaching this year! Is this good or would you fear that she was a product of today's poor education, and would like OMG txt msg her bfs in class and show up drunk on Fridays?"
To answer the quetsion, you'd think that, after 40 years of doing something, she'd be able to do it with her eyes closed. Why would you equate having 40 years of experience to being out of date and burned out? She still has to teach in a school with other teachers, and complete CE credits like everyone else.
Excellent point. I think I would prefer the 40 year veteran to teach my child. I think that he or she would have enough experience to the extent that his or her craft is so down pat, I hope, that my child would benefit from literally an expert who knows, understands, and weeds out non essential curriculum that newer and inexperienced teachers have a harder time doing.
I would worry more about a blonde teaching my child. I mean, are they really able to teach? I definitely want my child's kindergarten teacher to be Asian and not an ugly one. I mean, can ugly people really teach?
I would worry more about a blonde teaching my child. I mean, are they really able to teach? I definitely want my child's kindergarten teacher to be Asian and not an ugly one. I mean, can ugly people really teach?
This is one reason why education should not be publicly funded. Everyone has their preferences. Just kidding, of course, hmmm...
I would say that if I can learn the information myself by reading the book AND I had to attend class, then I would like a good looking teacher. However, for more difficult subjects or skills that are more hands-on, I don't care what a teacher looks like as long as she can teach it well.
My daughter had a teacher nearing retirement when she was in the third grade. Great teacher...but she was clearly "fed up" and counting the months until retirement.
My son's first grade teacher has been in the same school teaching the same grade for 40 years! Is this good or would you fear she was stuck in her ways, out of date, out of touch and burned out? Would you prefer a younger teacher for your kids?
My kids' kindergarten teacher finally retired after 51 years. She was on year 48 when they had her, and she was hands down the best teacher in the district.
Their second grade teacher was on year 37 when she had them. Again, great teacher.
Third grade...second year teaching. Thought he was God's gift to the profession, and you couldn't tell him anything. Give me the old veterans any day.
its possible that administrators could be biased against an older teacher, but only because around late fifties, some teachers can retire with 85% of previous pay. my mom, who is sixty, put in 32 years and retired at fifty seven. she gets 85% of her previous pay of 85000 based on years of service.
My son's first grade teacher has been in the same school teaching the same grade for 40 years! Is this good or would you fear she was stuck in her ways, out of date, out of touch and burned out? Would you prefer a younger teacher for your kids?
First grade? I'd prefer the 40 year teacher. When was the US is better shape education wise - now or 40 years ago?
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It gets dumber--our children are so precious that they can only be raised and educated by people who are young and hip? (OP, I know it's not you!) 
