In reading Ayers this week, Liberating the Curriculum, Chapter 5, I chuckled at statement that ‘There is no teacher proof curriculum that will humanize and energize the classroom of a deadly dull teacher – and there is no sense in trying to find one.” I ask myself, when do teachers lose their enthusiasm, as sometimes they do. If they can’t keep it alive and interesting for themselves, then how can we expect them to do it for their students? With so much available now through the Internet, and the really cool science kits they bring into the classroom, how can things not be exciting an engaging? Well, like Ayers says, a dull and disinterested teacher, that is how. I like the approach of Alice Jefferson in the reading; a veteran teacher who does sustained studies on subjects she know nothing about. How cool is that to be right there in the trenches with your students, discovering together. Teaching is like evolution itself, always changing, always challenging you to ask the question why is this so? Shame on me if I can’t make everyday special in some way for my kids, and give them the impression that I am uninterested in them or the subjects we will be exploring.
This week was multicultural week in school, culminating in a Friday night exposition of the some 23 odd countries that are represented in our highly diversified school. In addition to displays or artifacts, and facts from each country, there were presentations by the children themselves, food prepared by the parents, and a program of song and dance done by the students themselves in native dress. Everything was truly wonderful, and this sense of community, which I have been seeing and reading about, was there before my eyes. But there was one thing profoundly lacking in this well attended affair, the teachers. Out of the some forty plus teachers in our school, I saw four there for the two hour affair. The other observation I had was that there were few Anglo-Americans in attendance. Here we were on a night that celebrated our diversity, and displayed those that make up our school’s community, and it did not appear like some teachers and parents cared. This week should have been filled with classroom discussion, and a special assembly, where these talented young children could display their talent and culture for the benefit of all the children.
I started reading You Can’t Play, by Vivian Gussin Paley, a wonderful little book about a real issue in schools. I see it everyday in the schoolyard at recess with the cliques , the bosses, and more importantly, the lonely ones. One sure sign are the ones that stand by me, that feel a need to connect with me. I think it’s just him or her wanting to be close to someone, so not to be seen out in the open, vulnerable, and alone. Why don’t you play with so and so, or this one or that one. You sit together in class with her or him, and I see you work and talk with your classmates. Why in play does this all change, as they rush out of the confines of the school. It’s like they are going to another land, a different class system. I am gathering incite through the book and I am hopeful that it will help me connect with them. For now, I encourage and match make for them, usually with other lonely ones.
My sister and wife read my poem and I sent them into tears on how sad mine begins. It was not my intent, but as I reminded my sister, we practically raised each other growing up, being three years apart in age, and with parents that still loved us but were consumed by the family restaurant business. I am interested in Jean discussing with us her experience in the multiage classroom. It’s sounds very Utopian, and in ways similar to Dewey’s progressive school. I even found some similarities with the Montessori methods of teaching.
I think we have gathered some interesting questions for the principals’ panel Monday. The orange juice was great the other night, and the Ale House provided a nice opportunity to relax with our classmates. We truly have a nice group of people who bring to the table many interests, and a true intent to make a difference. I can’t believe we are nearing an end to our 1st semester, it has literally flown by for me, and my elementary school is down to like seven weeks. Now if I can just pass Biology over at Bellevue. J
Yes, teachers who trudge through their days and then punish children for not being engaged and attentive.... too much of my childhood was filled with these teachers. And yes, shame on them indeed.
ReplyDeleteThe multicultural night sounds amazing. And I'm so curious about why the teachers didn't' come. Do you have any sense of that? Who organized the night? These preparations weren't' done in the classrooms?
I'm curious about the comments that Paley often elicits -- that kids have to learn that rejection is just part of life. Yet you write here of "the lonely ones" -- seemingly kids who are often left out, while others learn of their right to reject. I'm not sure that all kids do learn the same lessons...
I was grateful that you read your poem. Enabling others to imagine that families can be loving while living complicated lives can be very good -- especially when one is from a very traditional background. Did you get responses?
Imagine how quickly it will feel that things have flown by a year from now, as you finish student teaching ...
Some teachers when I asked, "are you going to the cultural event tonight", said, oh I use to go but don't anymore, it's kinda the same thing every year. Duh! While the exhibits may be the same certainly your students and parents are not the same every year. The real wonder I found was in the demonstration by the children of song and dance that was native to them. I mean I here how teachers complain how parents do not attend the annual curriculum/getting to know you night but here they don't attend. Talk about a double standard. Other teachers blew it off saying simply, "it's Friday night", and obviously had better things to do. I don't mean to paint a picture of uncaring teachers because I have been in their classrooms, and they do love and take great interest in their children. Just not on a Friday night. I think also that teaching can be exhausting work for some. That they put so much into it that by the end of the day they are just weary and want to go home.
ReplyDeleteI did get positive comments on my poem from those at my table that night, and from Ann who we tried to get to speak, but had her reasons, and we respected that.
The lonely ones that I see are hard to figure out for me, two in particular in my kindergarten class who are happy, engaging in the classroom but choose to smile, and be with themselves at recess more often then not. They bring me artifacts that they pick up, most often pine cones, a feather, The answer might be that this is their time to be with their own thoughts. Certainly adults enjoy that "me time". Maybe my judgment is way off, and that far from being lonely they are just more in tune with themselves.