Why did I start this?
Because I am technically a student in a career field which I no longer see promise in.
Because I read the papers every day and see how teachers are laid off, phased out, and fired for stepping outside of rigid guidelines.
"The classroom is outdated. What we need to do is get rid of the human aspect of it."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/us/07iht-currents.html?_r=2
"Looks like another rogue teacher thinks application, synthesis, and evaluation are more important than standardized knowledge and comprehension. In this country founded by inventors and revolutionaries? What a dumbass."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/creative--motivating-and-fired/2012/02/04/gIQAwzZpvR_story.html
Because of standardized testing and its sad dominance over course content and the prison-like uniformity of it.
Because I was raised in Texas. I study in Texas. And that's where my teaching degree will be honored.
"People eventually forget knowledge anyway... Let's quit screwing around and fund some serious NASCAR."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/29/shrinking-texas-school-pa_0_n_986909.html
I have teachers in my family. I have befriended teachers all my life, since I admire them so much: Some who have taught one year, or thirty years, and many falling between. I have heard about colleagues of theirs getting the axe; about putting so much time into a mandated curriculum that they end up making minimum wage in order to limit a child's scope of knowledge while completely snuffing out the desire to learn.
My other career interest as a fresh-faced young adult? Mail man. You know, the guy who delivers junk mail? The guy whose services are no longer enjoyed by society-at-large? The guy who delivers severance checks to teachers?
The other dreams involve writing and working in a national park: I'm working on those.
So that is why I am starting this blog today, moments after reading another disenchanting article in my room, alone. I am trying to decide whether I am being realist or pessimist, rational or cynical.
Then I open the paper (cauldron of lies though it may be) and very real budget cuts slap me in my very real eyes.
And I am very curious to know how many more people are exactly like me but outside my reach to meet in person. I have met so many working in bookstores, or bartending, or doing customer service for some insurance company because they get $15 an hour.
So tell me why you gave up. And if it is relevant, if you have paid a bribe at some point.
Because I am technically a student in a career field which I no longer see promise in.
Because I read the papers every day and see how teachers are laid off, phased out, and fired for stepping outside of rigid guidelines.
"The classroom is outdated. What we need to do is get rid of the human aspect of it."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/us/07iht-currents.html?_r=2
"Looks like another rogue teacher thinks application, synthesis, and evaluation are more important than standardized knowledge and comprehension. In this country founded by inventors and revolutionaries? What a dumbass."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/creative--motivating-and-fired/2012/02/04/gIQAwzZpvR_story.html
Because of standardized testing and its sad dominance over course content and the prison-like uniformity of it.
Because I was raised in Texas. I study in Texas. And that's where my teaching degree will be honored.
"People eventually forget knowledge anyway... Let's quit screwing around and fund some serious NASCAR."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/29/shrinking-texas-school-pa_0_n_986909.html
I have teachers in my family. I have befriended teachers all my life, since I admire them so much: Some who have taught one year, or thirty years, and many falling between. I have heard about colleagues of theirs getting the axe; about putting so much time into a mandated curriculum that they end up making minimum wage in order to limit a child's scope of knowledge while completely snuffing out the desire to learn.
My other career interest as a fresh-faced young adult? Mail man. You know, the guy who delivers junk mail? The guy whose services are no longer enjoyed by society-at-large? The guy who delivers severance checks to teachers?
The other dreams involve writing and working in a national park: I'm working on those.
So that is why I am starting this blog today, moments after reading another disenchanting article in my room, alone. I am trying to decide whether I am being realist or pessimist, rational or cynical.
Then I open the paper (cauldron of lies though it may be) and very real budget cuts slap me in my very real eyes.
And I am very curious to know how many more people are exactly like me but outside my reach to meet in person. I have met so many working in bookstores, or bartending, or doing customer service for some insurance company because they get $15 an hour.
So tell me why you gave up. And if it is relevant, if you have paid a bribe at some point.
