I've been pondering the whole thing about teaching effectively in a world that wants to bash teachers and education. This has become quite the thought bubble in my head for some time. It disappeared for a brief period after the VETO of Senate bill 6, which then my thoughts were focused on the Oil Spill. Constant worrier as my father says (takes one to know one, dad). :)
Currently, I have been thrust back into it by the numerous reminders on Facebook and other forms that our new "Wonderful" Governor surprisingly didn't do what he said he was going to do within his race for governor. Hmmm, some may not be too surprised with given my gigantic chunk of sarcasm with my next statement of...someone in the government saying something that isn't true. Shocking....please envision me throwing my hands to my face with an expression that resembles a Home Alone expression.
I am struggling with the thought of having to work in an area that views Education as a factory. If you give a lesson on A, the students will understand ALL at the same rate. HMmmm...I think not.
As many of you know, I'm a planner. (Shocking huh?) I need to have a budget to plan on pay off my bills. I have an agenda so I know what I am doing. I have place things in certain labeled places so I know where to find them. Otherwise, I'm scattered brained and can't focus worth a lick.
I go off on this wonderful tangent to explain how my brain can't fathom to wrap around the complexity of mathematical data to link my PAY (what I plan my life around basically) with my TEST scores. Along with how our school districts suppose to budget for something so random as test scores. Hmm what happens if everyone does well. I can see it now, I know what it says but we don't have enough money to pay all of you, so good job but you don't get more money. And we all know that as I just mentioned children are robots who all work on the same level and when you teach them something they are all there learning at the same rate, etc. Oh wait, they are not. They don't show up to school until AFTER you teach the lesson. They are surprised that they don't get it when you tell them that they will have to work on it on their own for right now, because you can't reteach this right now. Or maybe they come to school but haven't slept through the night so they are half a sleep in class. Or (and this one anyone who knows me knows that I'm not one to say take the quick fix and give that kid medicine so when I say...)don't show up to school with the medicine that they are prescribe to focus. I'm not talking about the kid that stops talking so that makes the teacher happy, but rather the student who can work on his/her work consistently and you can see when they get it because they are able to focus on it.
Teachers are not just teachers. They are guidance counselors, cheerleaders, motivational speakers, IT people, mediators, and often someone to listen to them. This year I have students from all walks of life. They each have major things going on in their life as do we. I'm not talking about students with so and so hurt their feelings. I'm talking about money to pay bills, health issues, parental problems, etc. Stuff that kids in the 3rd grade SHOULDN'T have to worry about because they SHOULDN'T be told this because they ARE NOT the adult. I am struggling with in the next few years how if this new bill is passed linking my students to my pay will I begin to see these students as $ bill signs rather than individuals with different needs and understandings. I am planner and a teacher. I am working on PLANNING to prepare myself to be a teacher and focus on teaching. If it doesn't work out to a bigger paycheck, so be it. I need to focus on what matters most...the children. Once others in power focus on the children rather than what looks good on paper, maybe just maybe we can come to understanding until then please just let me teach.
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