LearnHub

Hi Meri,

I’ll be giving a presentation at WiZIQ on July , 31 about this specific topic: “Join the Technology Revolution-Stop Stutter Stepping!”-or something like that. I can’t think of the actual title at this moment :-) I saw the you already signed up. Thanks! I’m a little anxious; my first presentation online, etc.

While I have every intention to use available technology to reach more students, I won’t stop working in the classroom until I’m too physically or mentally feeble to continue my work. I started teaching later in my life. My decision to teach was carefully considered. It’s what I want to do. I’ve experienced many of the items you listed: I almost lost my present job because I read “Of Mice and Men” to my 7th grade class on National Reading Day (a parent called the district office and stated that I was denigrating God because one of the characters says, “Jesus Christ.”).

When I was teaching in the Kansas City Missouri School District, I saw an elderly woman (teacher) assaulted and knocked down to the floor. The Administration defended the student because the teacher placed her hand on the student’s shoulder. In the hallway from time to time, I would smell marijuana or my eyes would sting from the pepper spray a police officer used to subdue a student. The restrooms were locked because students destroyed them-mirrors broken, sinks torn from the walls, toilets stuffed with paper and made to overflow, fires-yes, students would start fires in the restrooms.

This school district, by the way, is notorious for how poorly it is operated. Another teacher and myself would place gentleman’s bets with one another about how long new teachers would last before they quit.. It was not uncommon for teachers to leave before the end of THE FIRST DAY. In one instance, a new science teacher peeked into my room during his very first class at this school and said, “I’m leaving; just wanted to let someone know.” He didn’t make it through his first class. t I have lots of horror stories about working in this school. I taught there for three years. It didn’t make me want to quit teaching. I simply switched to another district, another school. My new school has and maintains a very professional environment. The administration is “top drawer.” Our fault now (if you consider it a fault) is pandering to the parents. The school is exceptional; discipline is where is should be; classes are well managed with the administration’s help.

My decision to stay in the classroom is deliberate. Most of our children (in the US, if not world-wide) do not have any responsible adult in their lives. On line, I am able to teach you where to place a comma and add 2 + 2, but I’m not able to look you in the eye and let you know that I truly care about you as a person. I’m not able to spend time with you after school in extra curricular activities that not only teach academics, but more importantly, the social skills, manners, and behaviors that are commonly accepted as routine—too many of our children have not learned these needed, essential skills.

On the other hand, if you are staying in the classroom because you fear the change, you need to examine yourself to create a path that will allow you to follow your passion.

Forgot to add: I’m not opposed to making money using my skills on Web2.0. I hope to make a dollar or two when I use Web2.0 tools to relate to students. Only wanted to say that some folks choose to stay in the classroom.

Thanks so much for taking time to post your experience and your thoughts, Ron. I’m glad to see you so active inside LearnHub and look forward to your first session using WiZiQ! Your dedication to classroom teaching under the kinds of circumstances you’re describing is admirable.

It sounds like you really want to be in a classroom … nothing else will satisfy you. So, it makes perfect sense that you would stay, even in circumstances like these you’re describing.

Others? What’s coming up for you?