PBS School Series 1950-1980

I found that this chapter of the PBS School series was a lot of information that I had learned in my Special Education classes here at UMF. It never ceases to amaze me how hateful people have been in our American history, and seeing footage of the first schools to be desegregated always gives me shivers. To see the people lining up and shouting at elementary aged children as they go into a school building is something that I do not feel can or should ever be forgotten by anyone in this country, let alone students and teachers.

I feel very lucky to have grown up in America during a time where I as a female had anything and everything available to me. I think it is often easy for women of my generation to forget because we are white and middle class that there was a time in our nation's history when even we were second class citizens. I found myself feeling a little guilty watching the part of the film in which Title IX was discussed, because frankly it has never really crossed my mind as a student or educator that even here in America women have had to fight for their right to be on the same level as men.

PBS School Series 1900-1950

I have always been fascinated by the early practices of education, and this episode on American education from 1900- 1950 was no exception. I found it appalling that students coming to America had to actually go to school part-time because of the massive influx of children from overseas whose parents longed for their children to have better opportunities than they themselves had.

I found the concepts of Dewey to be really refreshing even though he was so before his time that his vision could not be truly appreciated. The concept of exercising the body and the mind, of moving from class to class, having art classes and nature classes, and also teaching life skills are things that I feel are essential to a well balanced education. I am saddened that at the time these concepts were misunderstood, because I feel they could have done a lot of good for the youth of our country at this crucial time in history.

I also found the discussion of IQ testing to be shocking and fascinating. I would give just about anything to get an original copy of one of those IQ tests for the wall in my office!! The concept of asking students questions that even I don't know the answer to, and then having the results follow that student for the rest of their education incredible. The cultural and socio-economical biases of these tests were mind-boggling, and it is just terrible to me that even years and years later I had to take IQ tests before entering kindergarten. A dark chapter of our country's educational history, but fascinating none the less.

Teaching Hope: Challenges

I found the 'Challenges' chapter very difficult to read for many reasons, both because I found most of the stories to be very heartbreaking but also because there are many mixed messages within the stories. One of the common issues that the teachers in this chapter had was the moral dilemma of whether or not to report the abuse of one of their students, even if the student begged them not to. In the stories, some of the teachers did what they were supposed to and reported it, while others did not report the abuse. I feel that these chapters sent very mixed messages to the reader, as the teachers who did as they should and told the administration came to regret their decision while the teachers who did not tell felt good about their decision and felt the trust of their students was all important. The bottom line for myself as a teacher is that I would never be able to forgive myself if something terrible happened to one of my students when I knew that there was a history of abuse. I do not feel that a teacher does his/her students a favor by keeping their secrets as far as this issue is concerned, and I feel that all teachers should tell their classrooms right up front that they will have to report any such stories being shared with them, especially in an English classroom where writing is abundant.

Another story that was truly difficult for me was the story about the amazing student who always got good grades who killed herself. This was difficult for me, because when I was younger, in Elementary and Middle school, I had many of the same issues that the girl in the story had. I feel that it is a mistake for teachers to assume that their brightest and best students will feel that their grades and their intelligence is it's own reward, and that despite social problems or awkwardness these students will be just fine. These students are just as at risk, if not MORE at risk, than a student who is openly acting out and causing trouble.

Although I feel that in some situations it can be very beneficial to share personal experiences with students, I was very critical of the teacher who told her class about her own rape. I realize that in this situation it was something that the class responded well to, and that it gave other students the courage to speak out, but frankly I feel that something that personal to a teacher has no business in a classroom. I thought that the teacher who spoke of his own molestation as though it was someone he knew had the right idea. In the case of that teacher, he was able to judge the response of the class and take it from there, letting the feedback and reception of the students tell him if he should take the conversation further or leave it the way it was.

Generations Article Response

First and foremost, I know how BOTH Kennedys were killed, but moving right along… I found that this article was very interesting and also very instructive. As a waitress I work with boomers, Gen Xs and Gen Ys. I have truly noticed that there are huge differences between us all, and as a teacher I know I will be faced with these same problems.

I have to admit I was very satisfied with the article's assessment of my generation (Gen Y) being very similar to the Veteran generation, because I truly do feel that my generation has a lot in common with the generations of yore, working hard to achieve an end result, but rarely allowing work, or our private lives, to take over the other sphere. I've worked very closely with Boomers over the years, and frankly I have heard more than once that I remind them of their mothers. I feel that my generation has a lot to offer with the work ethic of the Veterans but open minds with fewer prejudices and stigmas in our heads than are in those that came before.

I recognize that in the work place I will have to deal with workaholic Boomers for whom work is their life with set ways and procedures and Generation Xers who will be angry with change or motivation on my part. Although I do not think I will interact with many of the Veteran generation in my work life, I can see that it will be a true challenge creating a niche for myself and my colleagues among these very different generations.

Teaching Hope: Anticipation

I found these anecdotes to be not only interesting but the perfect length to keep my attention and also to portray their messages in a concise and meaningful manner. While some of the stories truly impressed and motivated me, others caused me some serious concern. In the third entry, the teacher describes being petrified on her first day teaching and ends up sharing with her class some very personal stories right off the bat, such as the fact that she used to stutter and never used to talk in her own classrooms. I found this to be far too much information for a new teacher to share with her students. It is my personal opinion that this particular teacher, rather than connecting with her students, had rather given them all the ammunition they would ever need to not only distract the class by trying to get under her skin but also to potentially truly hurt her feelings, causing her to possibly burn out quickly or even reconsider her choice to be a teacher. Although I do believe that sometimes a personal anecdote can truly enhance a classroom, too much information can cripple a teacher's effectiveness and also cheapens teachable moments where a teacher could truly connect to a student by sharing a piece of their own experiences with them.
I was both impressed and a little disconcerted by the entry where the teacher discussed being asked by a class of his/her students sexual questions that they weren't aloud to ask in sexual education. This situation truly frightens me as a future educator, because like the teacher in question I believe that the worst thing that could have happened was for those kids to have received no answers for their questions, but I would also be afraid of the potential fallout from parents and other teachers if the students told them about the impromptu sex-ed class in my English class.
I really like the teacher that talked about the 'three birthdays' who wished all of his students a happy birthday on their first day of high school. I thought that this was a wonderful idea, and also a wonderful way to explaining to students that there are different times in one's life when everything that they had known before is about to change, and the expectations the world has for them are changing also. I feel that this idea is one that will stay with students right up until their 21st birthdays, and they will celebrate these milestones appropriately.

Diversity Article Reflection

I found this article to be very informative despite the fact that I have read many, many articles on the very same subject. I was very refreshed that not only did the article state that all students learn differently, but that students who do not learn well under the instruction of the hot new teaching fads are labeled "disabled". I felt that this small sentence truly embodied the meaning of the whole article, and also called to mind the fact that teaching is an ever changing field in which students either sink or swim depending on what researchers tell teachers will work. I also enjoyed the breakdown of students' learning styles, where cognition, conceptualization, affect and behavior were all separately analyzed as parts of a students personal diversity. I also enjoyed that the article also mentioned that the situation of the teacher as a diverse individual can effect their teaching just as much as a students' situation an effect their learning.
As a teacher I feel that this article made me truly appreciate how differently students can digest even the most successful of teaching methods. I especially appreciated the example that was given where two people watching the same movie in a movie theater would remember different things later on. I feel that this comparison is a perfect comparison for the classroom, as even the most intelligent individuals will not remember the entirety of a movie and will appreciate it in their own personal way depending on their personal culture and background. I also truly enjoyed the analogy that a classroom should be more of a "salad bowl" than a "melting pot", encouraging all different kinds and using them to complement each other rather than trying to beat them all into uniformity. If all teachers appreciated these points students would enjoy a much more successful learning environment.