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After I spent more hours than I want to admit this weekend making a voicethread to explicate “Monsters, Inc.” a student this morning said to me, loudly, in front of the class, “Why do you spend so much time on things like this when you’re just a high school teacher?”
Honestly, my response, precisely, was this: “Why are you so rude?”
Harsh, maybe. I don’t know. But I think young people should be alerted to the fact of their own asshole-ness. Really. Who says that to someone? Particularly when they themselves are the ones allegedly benefiting from those hours of work. Maybe there was no real benefit to it, but it wasn’t from lack of effort on my part.
This same student wrote a few weeks ago, in response to a question about what respect is, that (I’m paraphrasing) what students have to say is as important as what teachers have to say since many of the students are 17 or 18 and will make more money than teachers.
Nice. I’m glad to know that he measures whether or not I’m worthy of respect based on the amount of $ in my paycheck. Where did he learn this? I’m guessing from his parents. I’m further, in a prejudiced way, assuming that it primarily comes from his father. Why is this? Do I view boys as particularly influenced by their fathers? Or do I view this mercenary attitude to arise from “manhood?” Or something else?
What I realized from writing this post is this: Another student *did* respond to him, again out loud, “Hey, at least it’s not the same boring stuff.” Or something similar. But I barely heard it. And I actually ABANDONED the voicethread thing in the other two classes because, in part, of his comment. Why did I hear ONLY the negative comment? That’s something telling about me.
But, I also abandoned it because a lot of the students seemed bored. Too long? Too poorly introduced? My voice is so soothing people like to go to sleep? I over-analyze movies? (Although, really, one has to wonder who they *would* pick to teach film criticism but the one who seems to “over-analyze”? The one who notices little or nothing? I dunno.)
I didn’t need this today.
8 responses so far ↓
1 Andrew // Oct 30, 2007 at 11:38 am
Man, I wish I had you as a teacher. Don’t let one jerkwad ruin it for ya, Taylor. Monotone same-old crap, just writing outlines on the chalkboard, etc. is not teaching. Being innovative, embracing technology or new approaches to reach your audience is something that will work and should be applauded. You obviously got through to at least 1 kid in your class. And yes it’s far easier to just see the negatives (that goes for anything in life), but try to turn it around and see that one kid who is getting it and embracing it. Chances are if you got through to one enough for him to verbally admit it in class, that you’ve gotten through to a slew of others.
And Monster’s Inc is a great movie so I for one would love to hear your voice thread even if it is criticizing the film.
2 Damian // Oct 30, 2007 at 10:38 pm
“Why do you spend so much time on things like this when you’re just a high school teacher?”
How many times have I asked myself the same thing?
Luckily for my fragile ego, none of my (mostly very wealthy) students have ever had the lack of grace to say this to my face.
A colleague and friend, frustrated with his students’ apparent satisfaction with mediocrity, said to me today, “Y’know, I just have to get myself to a place where I recognize that I’m not training the next generation of scholars. I’m teaching the next generation of middle-management types who’ll make a lot more money than I ever will while talking with each other about The Office and American Idol and think they’re having meaningful conversation and connections.”
NB: While I agree with his sentiment, full disclosure is in order: he and I scream and curse at soccer teams on TV who are several thousand miles aways and who I’m pretty sure can’t hear us.
3 Taylor // Oct 31, 2007 at 7:47 am
@Andrew — send me an email at taylor_the_teacher@inbox.com and I’ll send you a link to the Monsters Inc thing.
@Damian I’d be okay with training the middle management types if I thought I was bringing real enlightenment into their middle-management lives. No problem with that.
It just seems like Americans don’t value learning.
4 Josh // Nov 1, 2007 at 10:39 am
Yesterday I was trying pull in some current events awareness and was talking about genocide and Darfur in class to preface “Night”, the students were all just upset that I was daring to teach history in English class. Then when I actually got into the subject, they were riveted, but only because they thought genocide was cool and wished they had that opportunity. It was only 2 boys, but they ruined the day and the lesson, even though there were other students who reacted positively - the bad seeds can sure bring down a day can’t they.
5 Angus // Nov 1, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Well, if you’re just a High School Teacher, I am just a middle years teacher. When I say “just a teacher” in the staff room, I always hear others comment on how we need to “look at our profession more positively”, or that “you are MORE than JUST a teacher, as you are a coach and a mentor and a leader, blah blah, blah”
The negative crap is so easy to find while the really rewarding stuff remains hidden. In 1990 the New York Teacher of the Year gave an acceptance speech when he accepted his award. It is worth the read if you have the time to get through the 8 pages. It is a bitter look at the education in the modern world, even though 1990 is way back to some of us. You can bet the author spent more time writing than you will reading! (Might be a pleasant change!)
http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/john_gatto.html
We are “just teachers”. We will never be more than “just teachers” unless we pull our heads out of our asses and really begin to FORCE change. It is time to get this system of education into the MODERN world and out of the 1800’s
6 Andrew // Nov 1, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Thanks, Taylor. Just dropped you an email.
7 Taylor // Nov 1, 2007 at 9:13 pm
@angus: thanks for that link. I read that and was impressed. I wish I’d written it… as for forcing change…. how? I’d love to know!
@Josh: I have to believe they were only trying to be rebellious or get a reaction by saying they wished they could commit genocide. Or I won’t be able to get up in the morning.
8 Kaelie Curbxstomp // Feb 11, 2008 at 6:37 pm
The voice thread thing is cool. I even made one! I had a lot of fun. That kid who said that is…not all there. I have to tell you that. That’s why he said that, I think. If you catch my drift. Like Andrew said, jerkwad.
I think it’s cool.
Kaelie Curbxstomp’s last blog post..Dictatorship?It?s Not In Our Government(maybe) But It?s In Our Homes
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