The Youth Will Not Rescue Our Society
I worry a lot lately. I am worried about the campaign bullshit destroying the fabric of our political system, the constant fear raising from the Bush administration and I'm worried about my family's position in this sorry economy. But where I have the most influence and I am positioned to help others succeed I am stymied by adults that I don't see on TV, talk to on the phone and even receive emails from.
The most important people in my student's lives are failing them. Students are disrespectful and distracted by unimportant issues. They should care about their grades. It's how they are paid and measured against every other student in the country. Education doesn't help them because, I assume, their parents are unable to positively influence their kids or they don't care about education or don't have time to do so.
Today, in moment of weakness,I took a chair and turned it backwards and sat on the back.
"What are you trying to accomplish? You don't seem to listen to my advise. Do you think you know me? Guess what, you have no idea what I experienced before I was a teacher"
I told them about managing a Radio Shack, the stealing customers and employees, sending people to jail and the general stupidity of others. I told them how I told a known neighborhood gang banger, "to get the fuck away from my store." I acted like a tough guy six days a week in that damn job. Now, this mother fuckin' math teacher cares more about you than you do and is not afraid of the bullshit you deal with and it is time for you to get serious about your success.
The moran in the group said, "I would of stolen stuff, too."
17 variables:
I believe you have hit the nail on the head. Parents are too concerned with what ever they are doing (working, messing around, their own lives) and have no idea how to be a parent to these children. It's like the kids are an afterthought so much of the time.
In turn the kids are left to their own devices and most don't figure out what is important(grades, plans for their lives after hs). Is a kid born knowing how to make critical decisions for himself?
So the educators WHO CARE, are left to make an impact. Trouble is, a lot of them run out of energy, lose heart and give up because the job is so huge.
This is a topic of conversation in some form everyday. And we are in elementary. It's enraging to see the direction it's all going but if you say something like that to an average parent, they would ask you what you are worried about, you have summers off.
How frustrating — and why I chose not to go in education. Is it because we're such an instant-gratification society, because they haven't seen their parents and grandparents struggle to get where they are today? Or do they think it's going to be easy to make a living?
I don't know how you do it. It's certainly the parents. We give our kids leeway with the stuff they dig, things like that, and sure they act nuts, but we talk to them, know what's going on, etc. I just don't think most parents are, and you see the fruit of that every day.
Hell, even my oldest who hates school - especially math, sorry man, heh - puts forth some effort in the subjects she hates, and it's not like my wife and I are Ned and Maud Flanders. I just don't get it.
It seems as if they expect you and your fellow teachers to do all the work.
You are awesome for taking the time to talk to those kids about your life, and believe it or not, it made an impact on at least a few of them. There's no way they'll let you know that now, but it did sink in. As for morons, there's not much you can do, you know?
Welcome to how I have felt MY ENTIRE LIFE. *sigh*
you just gotta try man. even when it doesn't feel like it makes any difference and that no one even care, you gotta try. but you already know that don't you?
I guess you have to continue with the possibility of changing just one or two lives. It's a worthy cause and I know the odds aren't great but it's good teachers who can make the crucial difference. Nice going with the straight talk.
Before I respond to comments I want to say that there are many parents who care about their children and do all they can to ensure their success.
Greeny - you are correct it is a topic of everyday conversation. How do you address the issue to people that are difficult to engage or absent?
Beth - On day one I presented information to the students about how having a HS diploma will allow them to make more money and then college even more. But I don't think they really understand the importance and difficulty.
Randal - I am not sure they expect us to do the work. But they don't expect to do work on their own. Thinking is difficult and it is harder if you never had to think about how to solve word problems that includes several ideas.
CDP - Thanks for the prop-up. I know I make a difference for some kids. This group is just tough and has lots of baggage. Just today, a former student showed up and he is now attending 2 year college.
CK - I am wondering what you mean? I have been teaching for 5 years at Mathman HS and I have just run up a difficult group of students. I will never give up on these kids. They may not pass this class but they need me and will do all I can to help them.
Liberality - you are so correct. I will always do what it takes.
Susan - Over the years I discovered that some kids respond to my Radio Shack stories. I think that they relate to the fact that I didn't take crap from the thugery.
Hey, mathman. Sorry to come late to this party. I also teach math, but I only agree with two out of three of your axioms. I have no problem with the engaging and the technology, but the kids have to do homework. There is no learning math without practice, just like learning a musical instrument or anything else worth doing.
I am a raging cynic- I apologise. I did make a sweeping generalization in saying parents don't help out in their position.
I know there are many parents who make their kids a priority. I see their examples every day through their kids. Actions speak louder than words in this situation.
The kids who are chronically absent or unreachable are certainly the ones you hope to help the most and your expectations can be to reach 100% but the reality...well, all I can say is keep up the fantastic work and rejoice in your efforts and successes.
I admire your intentions. Wish I had what you are taking that helps with commitment.
Mattyboy - Thanks for coming by to visit.
I don't take my homework view lightly. I am musician, too and know the importance of practice. So it was difficult for me to get where I am.
My first year, I told parents that I believed in homework and would give it every nite. That was an upper middle class district in suburban Chicago. Most of the kids did it.
Now, over time I have realized that the students that I teach just don't do homework. So, it became punative and did not reflect learning or trying. Since the kids didn't do it, it had no value. So I changed and for the last 3 years I make my kids really work during class. Most of the time that works ok. Sometimes kids or parents request homework and I provide it.
If I were to move to a different teaching situation I would re-think homework and how it meets students needs.
I should also say, that even though I am dept chair most of our teachers do give homework but we have an on going discussion about its value. Which has led to discussion about how we grade students for learning.
Greeny - you are absolutely right. The ones that need us most are often the most difficult to reach. I am not offended by your cynicism.
I guess what I meant is that I have long felt out of step with my apathetic peers.
In H.S. it's so important for some, mainly guys, to be the smartass. I say this duly noting the direction in which my other three fingers point. Hopefully your moron will keep a piece of the Radio Shack stories with him. Keep telling them - I think those down-to-earth moments can have a lot of impact.
I didn't mention this in the post the moran - a girl.
I've read several of your generally thought-provoking articles now. It's enough to make one think of the quip "Most people live lives of quiet desperation".
Have you seen
http://www.deliberatedumbingdown.com/ ? Many teachers before you have become 'disillusioned' with the system and tried to identify its problem. There is one.
I believe that until the youth and adults can coincide with a reasonable amount of respect it is possible to rescue the youth. I just shot a video for my spoken word album "The Un-spoken truth by speedy" the video is entitled Rescue Youth 2day found on you tube and the 1life1familyent.com site under videos
check out my page
http://1life1familyent.com/1life/chanel/speedy.html
SPEEDY
MATHMAN: I grew up without mnuch money in a pretty poor part of Lower Manhattan in the 60s and 70s, with two working parents, a latchkey, and a neighborhood full of temptations and bad influences.
My parents, though, were the main influence on my life because they took time to play with me and augment the lessons in the class with reading for pleasure, board games, word games, card games -- my dad taught me how to play baseball and football and how to box -- we'd go to museums, plays, movies and all that good stuff. They were pretty demanding though on the subject of school and homework and grades. NO EXCUSES.
Turned out I'm a pretty competitive guy so I've secretly always LIKED the homework, essays and tests because I liked to win! And when I got enthusiastic about subjects I really got obsessive.
When I reached puberty my parents laid it out plain: their requirements were only that I show up for every class, put in the maximum effort, get the grades and get into a good college because my father had cajoled the headmaster of a really good day prep school to give me a test and I got in with scholarship. Otherwise, my folks said, my life was my own. I could go out on school nights and stay out all night. Bring girls over. Drink. Get high. Whatever. But that GPA had to be 3.75 or better and it had to be Honors and monstah SATs and a great college.
I thought about it for about a millisecond and said "you've got a deal...where do I sign?"
We each lived up to the bargain.
There was some weird satisfaction in having dona a calculus problem set and then getting wasted and going to Max's or CB's or something on a school night!
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