Tamra Davis Quotes

In public schools, classes are bloated - it's ridiculous.

In a way, education by its nature favours the extrovert because you are taking kids and putting them into a big classroom, which is automatically going to be a high-stimulation environment. Probably the best way of teaching in general is one on one, but that's not something everyone can afford.

The work of education is divided between the teacher and the environment.

One thing I'm hearing a lot is from teachers who have felt that there's something wrong with the extreme group learning, but felt like they couldn't say that out loud. And apparently the discussion is now opening up. I think change is going to be a long time coming.

Good teachers know how to bring out the best in students.

Teaching was my transition from student life to working life. In those days, our system of education was a little different. The number of students in each class was huge. I think in political science general, which I taught, it was around 100.

The year in school of a student is another factor that affects how an instructor interacts with his or her class.

I'm not saying standardized tests are the worst ever, but there's an in-between and I don't think we're there yet. That's what I mean when I say I have an issue with it. There's no way a kid can learn in a class with 40 to 45 people. I had the power to get out of that system and pursue things that I wanted to do and I did that.

I think our voters have made it clear. Unless someone can demonstrate to me that having larger class sizes is better than having smaller class sizes, I'm not going to support it.

A child's learning is a function more of the characteristics of his classmates than those of the teacher.

If a teacher does not involve himself, his values, his commitments, in the course of discussion, why should the students?

We all know—not just from common wisdom but from hard research—that all children benefit from being in smaller classes.

I'm used to teaching classes in the dark.

A classroom setting for me was an audience.

A classroom . People trying to stick me in classrooms was becoming as predictable and annoying as people trying to kill me, but with less-fun results.

Ask a kid who's struggling in math if he likes being in a mixed-level class, and he'll tell you he feels like a moron. Ask the math genius if he likes being in a mixed-level class, and he'll tell you he's sick of doing all the work during group projects. Sometimes, it's better to sort like with like.

Back in the class room, open your books, keep up, the teacher don't know how mean she looks.

But when all is said and done, the fact remains that some teachers have a naturally inspiring presence and can make their exercises interesting, whilst others simply cannot.

Students Are Not Widgets. Schools Are Not Factories.

If you have a class of 35 children, and they're all smiling, and there's one little bastard, and he's just staring at you as if to say 'Show me', then he's the one you think about going home on the train.

The problem with public school is not overcrowding in the classroom. The problem is not teacher unions. The problem is not underfunding or lack of computer equipment. The problem is your damn kids.

If you are giving a graduate course you don't try to impress the students with oratory, you try to challenge them, get them to question you.

I miss the classroom and the bit I miss the most is the one-on-one personal interactions with the students, those moments when they surprise you with their insightfulness, or their cheekiness.

I don't envy my teachers. I used to preach to them.

There's lots of bad things about teaching, but the really good thing is that you get to be around young people - irritating as they are.