Ah, yesterday was the second day that I 'substitute' taught in my classroom. It was a fairly laid back day; for the most part we watched movies (Renaissance Man and Twelfth Night).
Something interesting though... I like to think myself as pretty tech savvy... but when I began playing one of the DVDs, I didn't realize that the volume for the computer could be adjusted externally (we don't have DVD players hooked up to the television, we have to play DVDs through the computer). What ensued was a lesson in classroom management. I told the students that if they wanted to hear the film, they would have to be quiet because I couldn't turn the volume up any higher. And they were quiet! They really were enjoying Renaissance Man.It was fun to see that happen. Also, telling the class the only other alternative to watching the film is reading is oddly effective, though highly disconcerting.
Our school was/is having a no hall pass policy, and in order to use the bathroom during class, a student has to be escorted. That really cuts down on people wanting to leave randomly during class work!
As for acting as a substitute teacher, it was a learning experience. I got a chance to see just how many little decisions must be made throughout the day that are not necessarily related to curriculum.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Media Disconnect
During the summer, at the start of the MAC Program, we were encouraged to watch either Freedom Writers or Stand and Deliver. I chose to watch Freedom Writers. It's one of those feel-good, let's save the world films, and I did enjoy (and cried while) watching it. But it also has me thinking about how teachers are portrayed in the media and the great amount of disconnect there is between reality and entertainment.
Just as there are gendered and racial stereotypes, the media loves to pull out a variety of occupational stereotypes. Teachers are often portrayed as overly authoritarian, uncaring, or the cult like figure. Administrators frequently get the negative portrayal too. None of these representations would be truly helpful to students in reality. And female teachers? We're either old-maids or completely inappropriate sex symbols. It is indeed irritating. I would hope the general public sees these portrayals as stereotypes. No matter, many parents and students, still view teachers and schooling in general with an us vs. them mentality.
While Freedom Writers may be touching, there is the troubling issue of the teacher Erin Gruwell. At the end of the film, it is stated that the teacher quit her teaching position after seeing her one class through to graduation. Burn out? Possibly (probably). Ms. Gruwell did an obviously commendable job for reaching out to her students in her unique fashion, but the actions (as portrayed in the movie) are not quite plausible for real teachers. There are very few (almost none certainly) teachers who can throw all their energies into taking care of just one class. Most teachers have multiple classes of 30+ students to guide.
So are these portrayals of 'hero' teachers harmful? I would argue to a certain extent yes. Those teachers who have to balance large class loads and who cannot necessarily take their students on special field trips are no less of a hero than teachers like Erin Gruwell? But the audience of these sorts of teacher-saves-the-day films may certainly have a different viewpoint (of course I was still one of those rooting for Erin's fight against the other 'terrible' teachers).
Being a teacher is not a save everyone or save no one sort of job. Teachers sometimes reach students without even realizing it.
Just as there are gendered and racial stereotypes, the media loves to pull out a variety of occupational stereotypes. Teachers are often portrayed as overly authoritarian, uncaring, or the cult like figure. Administrators frequently get the negative portrayal too. None of these representations would be truly helpful to students in reality. And female teachers? We're either old-maids or completely inappropriate sex symbols. It is indeed irritating. I would hope the general public sees these portrayals as stereotypes. No matter, many parents and students, still view teachers and schooling in general with an us vs. them mentality.
While Freedom Writers may be touching, there is the troubling issue of the teacher Erin Gruwell. At the end of the film, it is stated that the teacher quit her teaching position after seeing her one class through to graduation. Burn out? Possibly (probably). Ms. Gruwell did an obviously commendable job for reaching out to her students in her unique fashion, but the actions (as portrayed in the movie) are not quite plausible for real teachers. There are very few (almost none certainly) teachers who can throw all their energies into taking care of just one class. Most teachers have multiple classes of 30+ students to guide.
So are these portrayals of 'hero' teachers harmful? I would argue to a certain extent yes. Those teachers who have to balance large class loads and who cannot necessarily take their students on special field trips are no less of a hero than teachers like Erin Gruwell? But the audience of these sorts of teacher-saves-the-day films may certainly have a different viewpoint (of course I was still one of those rooting for Erin's fight against the other 'terrible' teachers).
Being a teacher is not a save everyone or save no one sort of job. Teachers sometimes reach students without even realizing it.
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