schools
joylyn
Just a vent here.
Today I was helping students out, walking around. Behind one of my
favorite students was a small gun. It looked real. But it was on a
keychain and was, I think, too small to be real. I picked it up and
asked him about it. Our school has a policy, kids get expelled with
even fake or toy guns. I had just reached this kid. He has a high
reading level, high school (this is 6th grade), but I can tell he's
always been a trouble maker... Finally in my class and in other classes
he's been doing well. This started about two weeks ago when I told him
he had the highest reading score in both my classes (true) andthat he
was college material (also true) but that he needed to stop playing
silly games and get to work. He did. FOr the last two weeks he has
turned all his homework in, gotten "A's on his tests, etc. And now
this, a gun. He told me it was a cap gun, which is even worse than just
a toy gun. It was likely he would be expelled. This was not going to
be pretty.
I called the guy in charge of this and he sent one of his people over,
Earl, whom I really like. I spoke with him in detail, explaining how
this kid really needed a chance. He decided to let me handle it, after
he scared the hell out of this kid. So the kid gets off with just a
really stern warning, he is so grateful to me, it's almost sad. But
really I think this will be the final kick in the seat thiskid needs.
I used to think anyone could homeschool. I don't believe that anymore.
Most (not all,only most) of the parents of the kids I have cannot
homeschool. I think it's sad, but true.
The other day in staff meeting we were looking at some expert's 9 relms
of education, with the last one being responsibility or something, where
the kid is responsible for their own education, for life long learning.
I somehow ended up "defining" that part of education and man was it
easy. Students not only can be but should be responsible for their own
education, for their own learning, and that they can assess themselves
for their level of understanding, and that the primary responsibility
for education should fall upon the students and not the teachers or
parents, and that all goals should reach toward life long learning. No
brainer for folks here, but I doubt anyone in the room got it, as they
areso into the idea that kids have to be TAUGHT.
ok, vent over...
I do love teaching, I love the kids and I think for some I am making a
difference, however slight. There are these boys who have always gotten
away with being cute and shuffling and not doing anything, and I'm
pushing them to figure out how to play the system, becuase ultimately
that is their way out.
The other day I had a thought...I'm not teaching these kids for them,
I'm teaching these kids for their children. If I can instill a love of
learning and a desire to go to college and get out of the ghetto then
maybe these children will homeschool their own children. maybe?
Joylyn
Today I was helping students out, walking around. Behind one of my
favorite students was a small gun. It looked real. But it was on a
keychain and was, I think, too small to be real. I picked it up and
asked him about it. Our school has a policy, kids get expelled with
even fake or toy guns. I had just reached this kid. He has a high
reading level, high school (this is 6th grade), but I can tell he's
always been a trouble maker... Finally in my class and in other classes
he's been doing well. This started about two weeks ago when I told him
he had the highest reading score in both my classes (true) andthat he
was college material (also true) but that he needed to stop playing
silly games and get to work. He did. FOr the last two weeks he has
turned all his homework in, gotten "A's on his tests, etc. And now
this, a gun. He told me it was a cap gun, which is even worse than just
a toy gun. It was likely he would be expelled. This was not going to
be pretty.
I called the guy in charge of this and he sent one of his people over,
Earl, whom I really like. I spoke with him in detail, explaining how
this kid really needed a chance. He decided to let me handle it, after
he scared the hell out of this kid. So the kid gets off with just a
really stern warning, he is so grateful to me, it's almost sad. But
really I think this will be the final kick in the seat thiskid needs.
I used to think anyone could homeschool. I don't believe that anymore.
Most (not all,only most) of the parents of the kids I have cannot
homeschool. I think it's sad, but true.
The other day in staff meeting we were looking at some expert's 9 relms
of education, with the last one being responsibility or something, where
the kid is responsible for their own education, for life long learning.
I somehow ended up "defining" that part of education and man was it
easy. Students not only can be but should be responsible for their own
education, for their own learning, and that they can assess themselves
for their level of understanding, and that the primary responsibility
for education should fall upon the students and not the teachers or
parents, and that all goals should reach toward life long learning. No
brainer for folks here, but I doubt anyone in the room got it, as they
areso into the idea that kids have to be TAUGHT.
ok, vent over...
I do love teaching, I love the kids and I think for some I am making a
difference, however slight. There are these boys who have always gotten
away with being cute and shuffling and not doing anything, and I'm
pushing them to figure out how to play the system, becuase ultimately
that is their way out.
The other day I had a thought...I'm not teaching these kids for them,
I'm teaching these kids for their children. If I can instill a love of
learning and a desire to go to college and get out of the ghetto then
maybe these children will homeschool their own children. maybe?
Joylyn
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