So, I've been racking my brain as to which topic I should address next. And it is blatantly apparent that education has its share of debates and controversy and discussion. And of course, it'd be much easier to engage in said seminars if people actually followed my blog... hint hint to everyone except Mr. Crowder.
But here's a fun little list of upcoming topics (perhaps) on my blog of amazing-ness:
1). National standards... feasible?
2). SOLs... destroying effective teaching?
3). Sex education... what's the best approach?
4). Grading... how... to... do... it... well...
Friday, June 19, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
The Great Battle for Professionalism
I live in the Facebook age. The Myspace generation. The multi-tasking, technology-driven, Blackberry-toting, text-messaging generation of adolescents. And now, as we are graduating and pursuing high-profile public jobs, we are seeing the side effects of such social innovations... drunken pictures and nasty wall posts don't do much for our images.
I remember, back in English class sophomore year of high school, that my teacher mentioned getting professional email addresses. One of the students had a particularly juvenile account name, and so my teacher made a comment about adapting our accounts to professional stature... although not in such words. The point was made, though.
Naturally, a lot of us mature and begin thinking about our futures... at some point. There will always be a whole slew of students who have to spend the week after college graduation deleting embarrassing photos of themselves from the Internet. But we learn our lessons, for the most parts.
However, some of us don't. Recently, I have been contacting students about subleasing their apartments for the upcoming semester, as I will only be at my school for one more term. One of the responses I received was from the father of the student. He gave me some information about the apartment, the complex, and also the other girls living in the apartment.
That's all well and good. It is a little weird that he wasn't having his daughter handle the subleasing.
And then... the problem was made obvious. His email address. "Coochdoc."
Now, it's one thing that his last name is Couture. It's quite another that he might use that name (or his profession?) in such a low manner in a professional setting. Did he not think I would realize the inappropriate account name?
Honestly, it's fairly ridiculous. This man is a father.
And thus, that begins the whole argument about our actions and our image. I'm sure quite a few of us want to argue that our pictures, wall posts, and text messages don't have any effect on how we are viewed as professionals and career experts. However, those things CAN (but that doesn't mean they will) bite us in the ass.
Look at it this way: if the only thing a potential employer has seen of us is our resume, our email address, and twenty pictures of spring break with that Jamaican hottie, we aren't putting up a good front. Sure, it's not that I really like saying all that... I want to live my life and have no consequences from doing so.
But my parents have talked to me about weight, and its effect on my image. If my weight can lose me a job opportunity, so can all of our frat party mistakes.
I feel like I am relatively conscious of my actions. But I still have to ask... if a picture of me with a cocktail surfaces on a potential employer's computer, and that picture was taken after my 21st birthday... what's the big deal?
Are some employers judging too harshly?
And, if things like college partying and good times with friends weigh so heavily on future employment, why are we even allowed to enjoy those adventures? It's a balance. Have the fun. Hide the habits. And destroy the evidence.
Being a good employee and role model doesn't mean having to sit at home on Saturday night with a few cats.
I remember, back in English class sophomore year of high school, that my teacher mentioned getting professional email addresses. One of the students had a particularly juvenile account name, and so my teacher made a comment about adapting our accounts to professional stature... although not in such words. The point was made, though.
Naturally, a lot of us mature and begin thinking about our futures... at some point. There will always be a whole slew of students who have to spend the week after college graduation deleting embarrassing photos of themselves from the Internet. But we learn our lessons, for the most parts.
However, some of us don't. Recently, I have been contacting students about subleasing their apartments for the upcoming semester, as I will only be at my school for one more term. One of the responses I received was from the father of the student. He gave me some information about the apartment, the complex, and also the other girls living in the apartment.
That's all well and good. It is a little weird that he wasn't having his daughter handle the subleasing.
And then... the problem was made obvious. His email address. "Coochdoc."
Now, it's one thing that his last name is Couture. It's quite another that he might use that name (or his profession?) in such a low manner in a professional setting. Did he not think I would realize the inappropriate account name?
Honestly, it's fairly ridiculous. This man is a father.
And thus, that begins the whole argument about our actions and our image. I'm sure quite a few of us want to argue that our pictures, wall posts, and text messages don't have any effect on how we are viewed as professionals and career experts. However, those things CAN (but that doesn't mean they will) bite us in the ass.
Look at it this way: if the only thing a potential employer has seen of us is our resume, our email address, and twenty pictures of spring break with that Jamaican hottie, we aren't putting up a good front. Sure, it's not that I really like saying all that... I want to live my life and have no consequences from doing so.
But my parents have talked to me about weight, and its effect on my image. If my weight can lose me a job opportunity, so can all of our frat party mistakes.
I feel like I am relatively conscious of my actions. But I still have to ask... if a picture of me with a cocktail surfaces on a potential employer's computer, and that picture was taken after my 21st birthday... what's the big deal?
Are some employers judging too harshly?
And, if things like college partying and good times with friends weigh so heavily on future employment, why are we even allowed to enjoy those adventures? It's a balance. Have the fun. Hide the habits. And destroy the evidence.
Being a good employee and role model doesn't mean having to sit at home on Saturday night with a few cats.
Friday, June 12, 2009
School. Internment Camp or Commune?
I'm fairly sure that I do not need to reiterate the horrors of World War II and the camps created by Hitler's genocidal and racist plans. We have all studied that era; one that we hope will not come again in the history of humankind.
Even Stalin had his gulags... I suppose that all countries and social groups have their periods of which later generations are shameful.
The point is, as students in history class we learned how these internment camps operated. In some, death was the goal. In others, segregation and disrespect were common. Whatever the type of camp, the term "internment" evokes a feeling of controlled behavior and loss of freedoms.
How many kids feel as if their school is that way today?
Discipline and behavior management are important topics for administrators and teachers. No teacher wants to feel vulnerable and weak in front of students; we all want to have a respected position among our students. Otherwise, what learning is going to take place if the teacher can't even get the students to quiet down?
However, some schools have taken this concept of management way TOO far. School becomes a zone of a bazillion rules and practically no lee-way for students. Cell phones are banned, soft drinks are discouraged, lunch areas are closed off and patrolled. Tardy slips are not given out in deserving situations (like finishing a test after the bell rings), hall passes are near impossible to come by, and security guards are stationed at every door.
This is ridiculous.
There are certainly reasons why these measures have been implemented. Plenty of schools face problems with gangs, fighting, drug use, etc. I am certainly not saying that no rules is the way to go. However, what is TOO much?
My alma mater, a fairly affluent high school in Chesapeake, Virginia, got a new principal within the last few years. Since then, I have heard stories of her overdone rule systems and ridiculous regulations.
Let me rant a little bit. Understand, of course, that she didn't cause all of the problems with behavior management; some of these rules were already in place.
1). Students should be able to purchase soft drinks during the day at school. It's not the school system's responsibility to manage students' diets (except for providing meals), and teachers can simply limit hall passes to the drink machines.
2). Needing a permission slip to take another senior to the senior prom (i.e. both of you are seniors) is absolutely ridiculous. Why the hell is that necessary? You are BOTH seniors!
3). Giving students barely enough time to get to class is a pain in the ass. Sure, maybe you're trying to minimize lolly-gagging, but at the same time you're forcing students to rush everywhere.
Basically, my old school is run like a prison. And that just isn't right. First of all, try obeying that ever-present cardinal rule of adolescence: if you ban it, they will do it. Kids are all about rebellion. So limiting their every movement and proving you don't trust them will only provoke them to have bad attitudes about behavior. That bad attitude can't be helpful in building a strong school community.
Besides... can't all you administrators remember the days when you were in school? School isn't just about passing tests and making SOL cuts. It's about enjoying life, socializing, and learning the all-important life lessons from dealing with other people.
Even Stalin had his gulags... I suppose that all countries and social groups have their periods of which later generations are shameful.
The point is, as students in history class we learned how these internment camps operated. In some, death was the goal. In others, segregation and disrespect were common. Whatever the type of camp, the term "internment" evokes a feeling of controlled behavior and loss of freedoms.
How many kids feel as if their school is that way today?
Discipline and behavior management are important topics for administrators and teachers. No teacher wants to feel vulnerable and weak in front of students; we all want to have a respected position among our students. Otherwise, what learning is going to take place if the teacher can't even get the students to quiet down?
However, some schools have taken this concept of management way TOO far. School becomes a zone of a bazillion rules and practically no lee-way for students. Cell phones are banned, soft drinks are discouraged, lunch areas are closed off and patrolled. Tardy slips are not given out in deserving situations (like finishing a test after the bell rings), hall passes are near impossible to come by, and security guards are stationed at every door.
This is ridiculous.
There are certainly reasons why these measures have been implemented. Plenty of schools face problems with gangs, fighting, drug use, etc. I am certainly not saying that no rules is the way to go. However, what is TOO much?
My alma mater, a fairly affluent high school in Chesapeake, Virginia, got a new principal within the last few years. Since then, I have heard stories of her overdone rule systems and ridiculous regulations.
Let me rant a little bit. Understand, of course, that she didn't cause all of the problems with behavior management; some of these rules were already in place.
1). Students should be able to purchase soft drinks during the day at school. It's not the school system's responsibility to manage students' diets (except for providing meals), and teachers can simply limit hall passes to the drink machines.
2). Needing a permission slip to take another senior to the senior prom (i.e. both of you are seniors) is absolutely ridiculous. Why the hell is that necessary? You are BOTH seniors!
3). Giving students barely enough time to get to class is a pain in the ass. Sure, maybe you're trying to minimize lolly-gagging, but at the same time you're forcing students to rush everywhere.
Basically, my old school is run like a prison. And that just isn't right. First of all, try obeying that ever-present cardinal rule of adolescence: if you ban it, they will do it. Kids are all about rebellion. So limiting their every movement and proving you don't trust them will only provoke them to have bad attitudes about behavior. That bad attitude can't be helpful in building a strong school community.
Besides... can't all you administrators remember the days when you were in school? School isn't just about passing tests and making SOL cuts. It's about enjoying life, socializing, and learning the all-important life lessons from dealing with other people.
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