Friday, December 4, 2015
12.4
She just walked past me and asked if it's three yet. I almost, reflexively, looked at my watch, which I do when people ask me what day of the month it is, or how long until dinner, or why I'm waiting for something, or when my birthday is. Instead, I just smiled and said "Yup! You can go home." We both laughed. There was an extreme bitterness in the laughter, since we shared this unspeakable resolve common in teachers, that no matter the monstrous thoughts we have between seven and three, we will retain our dignity just as long as we survive. We can then push through the shroud-doors and out of this voluntary mausoleum and return to a nearly human life outside. We can take again the mantle of humanity, living again outside these walls where we constrain children's minds to the exact pattern of their forbears.
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Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteYou sure you're sold on this teaching thing?
We're just doing it wrong. We've been doing it wrong for a long time, but it's becoming less tenable.
ReplyDeleteWhat we need is two enormous changes: one at home and one in the classroom. I think in the classroom is easier. A more individualized program based on doing, not receiving, would be nice. The problem is that the classroom change can't work until there's pressure to be great coming from the students' parents.
Yeah, that's one of the benefits of where I work. Here, we have well-to-do students who are highly motivated to be great at English. We also have very little oversight, so we can sort of do whatever we feel is best. Despite this, there are many things the Korean school system gets wrong, and yeah, okay, we probably need to copy Finland on this one. But I hate the thought that there is nothing we can do to fix things where we are.
ReplyDeleteI think computers will and should put me out of a job, and soon. I'm tired of telling kids they can accomplish things with guidance and then walking away because I have to spend thirty seconds with the next kid.
ReplyDeleteSo then what's next for you?
ReplyDeleteI think I'll go on for my masters and doctorate, and if I get bored and don't like it, I'll try writing for a living? Or acting? Or any one of a thousand things I'm only a novice in but I love doing.
ReplyDeleteI hope it goes well for you.
ReplyDelete