> Now, I'll not attempt to play the hypocrite by attempting to conceal
> my contributions to the barrage of insults being slung about on this
> board, albeit such activity has occasionally provided me with some
> much-needed humor in my rather tense coexistence. The truly sad
> aspect of the entire business, nonetheless, has probably been the
> rather negative impression all these personal attacks have rendered
> to first-time observers of this forum. After all, we ARE supposed to
> be "teachers," while setting a positive example
> professional deportment is truly part of our rle, if not obligation.
> GRANTED, disagreement is part of the learning process (even for
> teachers), however, as we all know from our classroom experiences,
> CHAOS never accomplishes much aside of creating negative sentiments,
> bigotry, and even vendetta. Lord knows, there's more than enough of
> this in our contemporary society both on international and national
> levels.

> Each of us has his/her own way of looking at the circumstances of
> ESL, our chosen line of activity. Be it of temporary or lasting
> interest, be the accompanying conditions good, bad, or indifferent,
> we ALL have an equal right to air our opinion in this forum. It's
> only that, as in ANY conclave, not everyone will agree with -- and
> HERE comes the challenge -- the METHOD by which we agree or disagree.
> Issuing personal slurs, ofttimes progressing to ethnic defamation is
> SERIOUS business and totally unnecessary. I quite recently
> recommended 'eslteachersboard' to one of my advanced students, a
> Russian, whose English is exceptionally good. He has strong
> aspirations for teaching English in his native land following
> achievement of his goals here in the USA. I should say he
> "HAD" such an interest ... that is, until he tuned in to
> our board! He couldn't believe the amount of calumny flowing about in
> the various posts he read. Also, he had trouble in comprehending HOW
> (supposed) 'English teachers' could issue so many spelling and
> punctuation errors in their posts. I explained that we are ALL
> subject to committing typographical errors in our posts, as well as
> failing to proofread what we have authored. He didn't buy it, for
> many spelling errors were repeated in the same post! MY QUESTION: How
> are we to gain, much less maintain, the respect of our students --
> not to mention our employers, current and prospective -- when we are
> not qualified to teach others what we, ourselves, have failed to
> perfect? The answer(s)?

> #1 - Those of us who have an ambition to teach, yet are unqualified,
> should do what is necessary to obtain the proper education and
> experience before embarking upon such a venture. Otherwise, you
> should cease and desist from committing mental masturbation by
> thinking you can perpetrate a hoax and succeed in permanently
> escaping detection and subsequent penalty.

> #2 - I've always said it, and I'll say it again: Before offering
> employment to ANYONE, an employer should DEMAND that his agency
> acquire copies of both diplomas and transcripts of each candidate.
> Therefore, should the teacher not prove to be versed in all areas of
> English, FORGERY can be added to his/her list of transgressions!
> Tough? Yes, but it is those very charlatans who give a bad reputation
> to those of us who represent The Real McCoy of the teaching industry!

> Please respond. Thank you for your time and interest.

> Love,
> The Arrogant One

Well said sir.