A day's haul
Yesterday I had a fairly productive day at school.
I witnessed a drug deal - had a kid removed by the campus cop and then discovered marijuana in his folder.
Later I took up a cell-phone and a laser pointer.
Today I gave exams to seniors and the average score was below 50%. One more day of instruction (like it will do any good) and then exams and I am out of here!
posted by kukailimoku at 5:43 PM
13 Comments:
Sounds awesome.
I have some understanding of this feeling. It may or may not have to do with my current status as "former high-school teacher." But I believe in you, Ben. You can make it through, and you are making a difference. Also, I know you are a good teacher.
On an unrelated note, remember that time you helped me assemble thirty poetry anthologies while I almost killed myself with stress? That was awesome.
Remember the time we stayed up to the wee hours in the Borgh crafting webs of knowledge for secondary block? Also awesome.
11:14 PM
Thanks Denise. We really miss you here. Knowledge webs. Yes. Very classic. I remember meeting our web guro, (what was his name?) in 8th Street Grille when I was working there and him telling me it was a shame I wasn't teaching. I wonder if he would approve of my 10 minute lesson plans that end with me muttering something like..."shit."
Simone is with me asking, "Why didn't they ever talk about how stupid kids would be? (except Dave Zwart always told us to "Just kill 'em.")
I am asking, "Why wasn't there a class on how to extract prohibited personal electronic devices withouth a student pressing charges?"
11:47 PM
Yes--I completely agree with you both--however, I believe Baars Bultman did mention something about slapping. I'm not sure if you had that class or not. At least he (& Dave Zwart, apparently), were somewhat practical.
Seriously, though, I know someone whose 35-year teaching career ended when he got really frustrated and grabbed a kid's shoulders and shook him.
Today I told Missy that I was giving up working with kids because my spiritual well-being was at stake. But I guess we are also not supposed to be tested more than we can handle?
Aaahhh..classic education dept. memories. I waited on Prof. Meszeske the other day at New Holland Brewery. It must do him good over the years to see how many of his former students are using their skills to effectively serve beer.
12:02 AM
Ben- I feeeeeel your frustration!!
Can I join this conversation? (LARA needs to join too!)
Hmmm- education department memories:
1. Lara can affirm that I finished my concept map in about an hour. (Lara did an original painting for hers) Mine sucked- but because the ed.dept. didn't want to make students feel bad- I got an A- on it.
2. Remember when Benjamin preached a sermon on the Holy Spirit in our senior seminar? Classic.
11:13 AM
Missy-remember when we missed the all important name quiz because my knee was bleeding? Wesman was not too happy about that, but did let us make up the quiz later. Priorities.
It is so sad the state of schools, politics and discipline (and trying to figure out how I would renew my certificate) are essentially why I say I probably won't end up teaching. I'd rather be a potter anyway....
I also remember Bultman mentioning hitting a kid, good story.
1:14 PM
Also Missy, you always got A's and I would put in all this time and get A's and B's, you are just good at knowing what people want, and BSing in papers. :)
1:15 PM
Oh the name quiz!!!! I totally forgot- the saga of your bloody knee because we were running across 10th street. How could I forget?! Do you remember that Kristen Bentvolio's dad has reindeer? I am an excellent B.S.er- what can I say? You did work a long time painting that concept map.
2:19 PM
Is this a correct memory- Is the reason that you fell on the way to the all important name quiz because I was weaving like an airplane when we were running and I ran into you- and you fell?
2:21 PM
Yes, and you were screaming, "it's the end of the world!" at the same time.
7:09 PM
If I'm not mistaken, Kristen's dad IS Santa Clause.
8:04 PM
Oh yeah! I do remember Baars Bultman talking about hitting a kid. A fellow teacher of mine just got a misdemeanor charge against him for hitting a kid on the backside of the head. He is like one of the gentlest men I know
Then the kid transferred to my class and now I want to beat him.
Speaking of name quizzes (or, taking everyone's picture with a Sony Mavica digital camara), slapping names under pictures, printing it out and calling it a "project"), I currently still have one of those camaras. A lot of good it does me though, without a floppy drive!
Here's one thing teaching does help with - preaching.
2:05 AM
Oh, ya'll are so darn funny. I certainly remember the beeding knee, Lara. I was in class when you arrived - I was proud of you for then leaving class to take care of more immediate (and bloody) matters.
Ben did flunk that kid that our teacher friend hit... yeah.
3:46 PM
I remember Bars smiling as he said, "and then I just slapped him across the face"- a fantasy I entertain every once in a while.
10:55 AM
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