Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Monday Madness
It's Monday... which means my students are out of control. However, today was worse than normal because it's like they went backwards from ALL the progress we were making since the beginning of the semester. It was so bad I actually called parents today. And calling parents is my LEAST favorite part of being a teacher, and I have many. Of course, I only got a hold of one parent, but I'm hoping I get some calls back, or at least my descriptive messages are enough to do something.
Friday, January 20, 2012
class pictahhhs
"Your students are champs at being the most opposed to everything." - Jenn McVearry
It's like she spends every day in my classroom - I couldn't have better described my day thus far.
It's like she spends every day in my classroom - I couldn't have better described my day thus far.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Reflections on the nature of today
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
On the way home from New Orleans tonight, King's speech was broadcast on the radio, and I listened to it. I have to admit that was the only thing I did in remembrance of MLK day, despite King being such a man I hold in high esteem; a leader I look towards for inspiration and guidance for non-violent conflict resolution. Listening to his speech tonight made me think. The title of this blog is "One Day" - the catchphrase, if you will, of TFA signifying our mission that one day all children will have the opportunity of an excellent education. However, this phrase is repeated so much in King's speech, it was hard not to draw similarities between the two.
In reality, TFA's mission is the same as any other do-good organization or individual - to right the wrong that exists in our world. We all hope that "one day" all that we do will make a difference, and things will start to change. It's true that the works of MLK and his followers made a lot of change. No longer is one legally discriminated against because of the color of their skin. That one day has come. However, I see every day how the color of my students' skin affects their education. They are black, therefore they go to crappy schools. They are black, therefore they are more likely to drop out. They are black, therefore they are labeled as "ghetto" and thus label themselves as thus.
Their "one day" has not yet come because in this country we refuse to address the heart of the issue, that these kids are getting the short end of the stick, and instead feel sorry for the po' black kids who are never gonna get a good education. Don't feel bad for them - I certainly don't feel bad for my students. I feel outraged at the system however, for fucking them over ultimately, when it comes down to it, because of the color of their skin.
It's not enough to hear the word of King, feel warm fuzzies inside for those few minutes, comment on how wonderful a man he was, and complacently move on about our day content that everything is ok because we don't have segregation anymore. I guarantee America still hasn't reached the "One Day" King was envisioning when he gave this speech.
"Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed." As I go back into school tomorrow, I will King because I know our work isn't done yet.
On the way home from New Orleans tonight, King's speech was broadcast on the radio, and I listened to it. I have to admit that was the only thing I did in remembrance of MLK day, despite King being such a man I hold in high esteem; a leader I look towards for inspiration and guidance for non-violent conflict resolution. Listening to his speech tonight made me think. The title of this blog is "One Day" - the catchphrase, if you will, of TFA signifying our mission that one day all children will have the opportunity of an excellent education. However, this phrase is repeated so much in King's speech, it was hard not to draw similarities between the two.
In reality, TFA's mission is the same as any other do-good organization or individual - to right the wrong that exists in our world. We all hope that "one day" all that we do will make a difference, and things will start to change. It's true that the works of MLK and his followers made a lot of change. No longer is one legally discriminated against because of the color of their skin. That one day has come. However, I see every day how the color of my students' skin affects their education. They are black, therefore they go to crappy schools. They are black, therefore they are more likely to drop out. They are black, therefore they are labeled as "ghetto" and thus label themselves as thus.
Their "one day" has not yet come because in this country we refuse to address the heart of the issue, that these kids are getting the short end of the stick, and instead feel sorry for the po' black kids who are never gonna get a good education. Don't feel bad for them - I certainly don't feel bad for my students. I feel outraged at the system however, for fucking them over ultimately, when it comes down to it, because of the color of their skin.
It's not enough to hear the word of King, feel warm fuzzies inside for those few minutes, comment on how wonderful a man he was, and complacently move on about our day content that everything is ok because we don't have segregation anymore. I guarantee America still hasn't reached the "One Day" King was envisioning when he gave this speech.
"Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed." As I go back into school tomorrow, I will King because I know our work isn't done yet.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
John speaks from my heart
"Ok, so flower power didn't work. So what? We start again." - John Lennon
This is how I feel this Christmas break. Maybe peace, love and happiness isn't working as an approach in my classroom, but whatever it takes, these kids are going to learn this semester.
This is how I feel this Christmas break. Maybe peace, love and happiness isn't working as an approach in my classroom, but whatever it takes, these kids are going to learn this semester.
Monday, December 19, 2011
CHRISTMAS BREAK YOU ARE FINALLY HERE
Everything I'm totally excited about in the next two weeks:
- the semester is OVER!
- going back home for the holidays
- getting to visit Ian's family for New Year's
- getting to see friends back in the LO :)
- NO MORE 8TH GRADERS!!!
- getting to watch hockey again
- did I mention the lack of 8th graders??
- someone actually listened to my complaint, and I'm FINALLY getting some Read 180 PD when I get back
Things I am NOT excited about:
Baton Rouge high: in the 70s VS. :
- Glen Burnie high: in the low 50s
- Western PA high: tundra.
- the semester is OVER!
- going back home for the holidays
- getting to visit Ian's family for New Year's
- getting to see friends back in the LO :)
- NO MORE 8TH GRADERS!!!
- getting to watch hockey again
- did I mention the lack of 8th graders??
- someone actually listened to my complaint, and I'm FINALLY getting some Read 180 PD when I get back
Things I am NOT excited about:
Baton Rouge high: in the 70s VS. :
- Glen Burnie high: in the low 50s
- Western PA high: tundra.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Yeah, I miss this
I'm teaching the theme, for the story we're currently reading, 'you don't know what you have until it's gone.'
Let me make a text-to-self connection:
I MISS FINALS WEEK!! Yes, I miss working at the library until 3am, and walking home in the freezing cold. I miss staying up all night, cramming in everything at the last minute - 10+ page papers, etc. DONUT HEAVEN, late nights with my sisters, delirious lack-of-sleep-induced conversations (writing a paper about the Kosovo war - "ooh! I think I'm going to add the Beach Boys song in here. you know the one? 'Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya... down to Kosovo...' Wait, that's totally not it, is it?"), did I mention late nights at the library, the looks of understanding between two people who have been up for 24+ hours straight walking into an 8am final, and the sharing the sheet enjoyment of finally being DONE.
Most of all, I miss all those people to whom this post will only make any sense.
Let me make a text-to-self connection:
I MISS FINALS WEEK!! Yes, I miss working at the library until 3am, and walking home in the freezing cold. I miss staying up all night, cramming in everything at the last minute - 10+ page papers, etc. DONUT HEAVEN, late nights with my sisters, delirious lack-of-sleep-induced conversations (writing a paper about the Kosovo war - "ooh! I think I'm going to add the Beach Boys song in here. you know the one? 'Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya... down to Kosovo...' Wait, that's totally not it, is it?"), did I mention late nights at the library, the looks of understanding between two people who have been up for 24+ hours straight walking into an 8am final, and the sharing the sheet enjoyment of finally being DONE.
Most of all, I miss all those people to whom this post will only make any sense.
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