Wondering how many of you out there are teachers/are planning to be teachers? Just wondering... I feel that teachers and schools are one of the strongest places for activism to occur, and that's where I plan to take much of my action. Any of you out there teach?

-thebigfunk
"And you may ask yourself... what is that beautiful house?
And you may ask yourself... where does that highway go?
And you may ask yourself... Am I right? Am I wrong?
And you may ask yourself... MY GOD! WHAT HAVE I DONE!?!" - "Once In A Lifetime" - Talking Heads

"Trouble in transit/got through the roadblock/we blended with the crowd
We got computer/we're tapping phone lines/I know that ain't allowed
We dress like students/we dress like housewives/or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle/so many times now/I don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver/I feel so tender/we make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted/I'll do some driving/you ought to get some sleep
Get you instructions/follow directions/then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow/Maybe the next day/Whatever you think is best
Burned all my notebooks/What good are notebooks?/They won't help me survive...
My chest is aching/Burns like a furnace/The burning keeps me alive..." - "Life During Wartime" - Talking Heads

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

I teach physics and coach debate.

>teachers and schools are one of the strongest places for activism to occur

I can't tell you how true that is. I came at it from the other side...not intending anything activist, and eventually realizing the need and the fertile ground.

In terms of dealing with kids, getting some truth out there, opening minds, do you experience much opposition?

A high school teacher of mine, one who inspired me to teach, was always very open about his views, and would often spark discussion about current events, etc., and pose really thought-provoking (and often controversial)... but he also got into loads of trouble on several occasions. I'm thinking, "my god, these are AP high school students... they should be able to deal with a sophisticated discussion." Apparently, that's not an excuse to high school administration...

-thebigfunk
"And you may ask yourself... what is that beautiful house?
And you may ask yourself... where does that highway go?
And you may ask yourself... Am I right? Am I wrong?
And you may ask yourself... MY GOD! WHAT HAVE I DONE!?!" - "Once In A Lifetime" - Talking Heads

"Trouble in transit/got through the roadblock/we blended with the crowd
We got computer/we're tapping phone lines/I know that ain't allowed
We dress like students/we dress like housewives/or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle/so many times now/I don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver/I feel so tender/we make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted/I'll do some driving/you ought to get some sleep
Get you instructions/follow directions/then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow/Maybe the next day/Whatever you think is best
Burned all my notebooks/What good are notebooks?/They won't help me survive...
My chest is aching/Burns like a furnace/The burning keeps me alive..." - "Life During Wartime" - Talking Heads

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

>In terms of dealing with kids,
>getting some truth out there,
>opening minds, do you experience
>much opposition?
>
>A high school teacher of mine,
>one who inspired me to
>teach, was always very open
>about his views, and would
>often spark discussion about current
>events, etc., and pose really
>thought-provoking (and often controversial)... but
>he also got into loads
>of trouble on several occasions.
> I'm thinking, "my god,
>these are AP high school
>students... they should be able
>to deal with a sophisticated
>discussion." Apparently, that's not
>an excuse to high school
>administration...

That's because it is not the job of public schools to surface as places of proporganda.

A teacher's job is to dispense information based on the cirriculum of the school district, NOT to simply go in and tell kids what he/she feels is important for them to know. It's important that in the school a straight standard is kept so that we (the parents, public, etc) know what is being taught and told to children. When you don't do that, you go into a whole new level of charges as to what is appropriate for each individual child to be told and what not to be told. Guaranteed, when I am fortunate enuff to have children, and the first time I hear of a teacher testing the waters of indoctrination, I won't hesitate to yank my child right out of that school. It is my job to instill in the child values and opinions, not teachers.

_________________________
http://expertise.blogdrive.com
http://twitter.com/KMBReferee
http://www.ask.fm/KMBReferee

>That's because it is not the
>job of public schools to
>surface as places of proporganda.

How is a healthy discussion propoganda? It's one thing if a teacher says "This is how it is, and that's that." It's one thing if the teacher is trying to cram his/her political/religious opinions down a student's throat. But to spark a discussion about current events is suddenly propoganda? Please...

Remember, I mentioned AP... advanced placement. Classes that are (supposedly) college-level courses, intended to be run as a college class. I don't know about you, but several of my college courses were and are centered around discussion.

If one really wants to fight propoganda, we might want to take a look at what's being taught in history classes as fact, leading to blind patriotism based on a streak of falsehoods. I think that's a lot more dangerous than a teacher giving his/her opinion on a current event...

-thebigfunk
"And you may ask yourself... what is that beautiful house?
And you may ask yourself... where does that highway go?
And you may ask yourself... Am I right? Am I wrong?
And you may ask yourself... MY GOD! WHAT HAVE I DONE!?!" - "Once In A Lifetime" - Talking Heads

"Trouble in transit/got through the roadblock/we blended with the crowd
We got computer/we're tapping phone lines/I know that ain't allowed
We dress like students/we dress like housewives/or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle/so many times now/I don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver/I feel so tender/we make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted/I'll do some driving/you ought to get some sleep
Get you instructions/follow directions/then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow/Maybe the next day/Whatever you think is best
Burned all my notebooks/What good are notebooks?/They won't help me survive...
My chest is aching/Burns like a furnace/The burning keeps me alive..." - "Life During Wartime" - Talking Heads

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Guaranteed, when
>I am fortunate enuff to
>have children, and the first
>time I hear of a
>teacher testing the waters of
>indoctrination, I won't hesitate to
>yank my child right out
>of that school. It
>is my job to instill
>in the child values and
>opinions, not teachers.

man, you'll never have kids. no woman would sleep with you except out of pity, and there's no WAY she'd have your baby.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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What? What?

The physics class doesn't provide much room to spark anything political...but we do take time to note fundamental assumptions and other ways of knowing. I also require them to do a research paper on a non-european or female scientist in the first semester (since the text pretty much glosses over everything that isn't Newton).

The debate class is another story...ample opportunities there. I never indoctrinate. I try to provide a topic and stay out of it as much as possible occasionally guiding when the conversation needs it (or pointing out lies when they come up).

I don't get into any explicit trouble, but since I teach at a private (Episcopal) school, there is some tension. The most reprimand I've had is for providing a quote from Feynman (one of the greats of modern physics). We were talking about the role mathematics plays in physics, and the quote (delivered to seniors, mind you) was "mathematics is to physics what masturbation is to sex." The administration got pissed at that one.

I forgot...the students provide many topics themselves (through speach and actions that they have never questioned). I told you I got into it in reverse...let me give a short example:

I was amazed at the number of students use the word "wigger", so whenever it is used (regardless of setting), we stop and have a discussion about the assumptions behind and implications of that word. Most students quickly decide they don't want it in their vocabulary.

Yeah, that sort of quote is bound to get one in trouble... I've seen it happen.

Debate sounds like a great place to really encourage thinking... I suppose Forensics would have the same sort of impact. Good to know...

-thebigfunk
"And you may ask yourself... what is that beautiful house?
And you may ask yourself... where does that highway go?
And you may ask yourself... Am I right? Am I wrong?
And you may ask yourself... MY GOD! WHAT HAVE I DONE!?!" - "Once In A Lifetime" - Talking Heads

"Trouble in transit/got through the roadblock/we blended with the crowd
We got computer/we're tapping phone lines/I know that ain't allowed
We dress like students/we dress like housewives/or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle/so many times now/I don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver/I feel so tender/we make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted/I'll do some driving/you ought to get some sleep
Get you instructions/follow directions/then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow/Maybe the next day/Whatever you think is best
Burned all my notebooks/What good are notebooks?/They won't help me survive...
My chest is aching/Burns like a furnace/The burning keeps me alive..." - "Life During Wartime" - Talking Heads

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

I agree with what you are saying BUT what about those parents that do not, can not, or do not know how to teach their child values? I am a high school teacher(24 y/o)that teaches health, and anatomy. It is amazing how many parents come up to me and say "I am so glad you are going to talk to my child about sex..."
Am I supposed to tell the parent that it is their job? If I don't teach their child, who will? Eminem? Tom Greene? or Ron Jeremy?

"EMANCIPATE YOURSELVES FROM MENTAL SLAVERY, NONE BUT OURSELVES CAN FREE OUR MIND..." Robert Nesta Marley O.M.

Doesn't matter. It's still not your place to do so.

_________________________
http://expertise.blogdrive.com
http://twitter.com/KMBReferee
http://www.ask.fm/KMBReferee

It is easy to say that it is not one's job...whose job is it?
Peace...

>That's because it is not the
>job of public schools to
>surface as places of proporganda.
>

Bullshit. The only thing schools teach you is propaganda. You can't teach anything without having some kind of bias about it. What makes what we learn in school propagands, is that we get told only one side, and that side is deemed the absolute truth, which is held up by exams and textbooks that are filled with propoganda.

Eventually I'll be teaching science, hopefully Environmental sciene or Bio

There are a few more out there too, I posted the smae question in general like two months ago

Giving You True Lesson Moderation Since'03
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Want something archived? thats what an inbox is for

I'm going to school to become an art teacher.
Teaching is the best way to promote activism. My history teacher in high school was a socialist who gave us two different textbooks. We read the standard H.S. textbook and "A Peoples History" by Howard Zinn. I've havn't looked at the U.S. government the same way since.

Howard Zinn is full of BS

I am also an aspiring teacher. Currently, I am co-director of a high school outreach group here at school which targets Pilipino youth in the Long Beach/Carson area of Los Angeles. I am also holding down a job at the Center for the Study of Evaluation based of my school's Grad School of Ed. I am learning more and more that teaching or mentoring is much more than reading out of a book or telling the students what to do, but is really about validating a student's experience and their self-worth while in the process finding how they learn the best. It is also allowing yourself to break down the student-teacher/mentor hierarchy while attempting to get your message across. This is all a tentative balance.

Now for those who are actual teachers now, what are your thoughts?
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Teaching = Learning, FOR REAL

I can't tell you how much you learn when you have to teach. In physics, for instance, taking an idea from a text book or experiment and assimilating it into your understanding is relatively easy. But having to explain that concept in a way that others (especially outside of your "field) understand almost always leads me to deeper understanding. I never discover shit I didn't already know, but the importance of things becomes striking. I hope that made some sense.

I was wondering if anybody has done Teach for America, and if so, what do you all have to say about your experiences? I'm considering applying for next year and any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
vette.
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__________________________________________

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I'd like to hear thoughts on Teach For America to...

-thebigfunk
"And you may ask yourself... what is that beautiful house?
And you may ask yourself... where does that highway go?
And you may ask yourself... Am I right? Am I wrong?
And you may ask yourself... MY GOD! WHAT HAVE I DONE!?!" - "Once In A Lifetime" - Talking Heads

"Trouble in transit/got through the roadblock/we blended with the crowd
We got computer/we're tapping phone lines/I know that ain't allowed
We dress like students/we dress like housewives/or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle/so many times now/I don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver/I feel so tender/we make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted/I'll do some driving/you ought to get some sleep
Get you instructions/follow directions/then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow/Maybe the next day/Whatever you think is best
Burned all my notebooks/What good are notebooks?/They won't help me survive...
My chest is aching/Burns like a furnace/The burning keeps me alive..." - "Life During Wartime" - Talking Heads

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

i taught for a minute, and i was a librarian as well. tremendously rewarding yet really difficult for a kid fresh outta college and with no initial intent on it. it was hard, and i kinda hated it (grades k-5) but now that i look back, i think i made a slight impact.

after more training, i wanna get back into it. perhaps start a kids program in this area or something, but def., there's a great demand for teachers or anyone willing to be role models.

i mean...i'm sayin tho.

Secondary Education History Teacher right here!

I've been an aide in the Columbia Public School District since my freshman year of college. The experience has been great. The kids see me as a role model, most of all because I'm Black and I'm getting a college degree which is something most of the residents of this town rarely see.




little.
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________________________________________
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http://twitter.com/Gator_Bell

....Special/Elementary Education.

Good to see so many aspiring teachers... I'm surprised there aren't as many already teaching. Actually, I guess OKP's primary age group works out so that most of us are just a bit too young to be teaching yet? Either way, good to see I'm not alone

-thebigfunk
"And you may ask yourself... what is that beautiful house?
And you may ask yourself... where does that highway go?
And you may ask yourself... Am I right? Am I wrong?
And you may ask yourself... MY GOD! WHAT HAVE I DONE!?!" - "Once In A Lifetime" - Talking Heads

"Trouble in transit/got through the roadblock/we blended with the crowd
We got computer/we're tapping phone lines/I know that ain't allowed
We dress like students/we dress like housewives/or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle/so many times now/I don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver/I feel so tender/we make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted/I'll do some driving/you ought to get some sleep
Get you instructions/follow directions/then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow/Maybe the next day/Whatever you think is best
Burned all my notebooks/What good are notebooks?/They won't help me survive...
My chest is aching/Burns like a furnace/The burning keeps me alive..." - "Life During Wartime" - Talking Heads

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

in my relatively limited experience, most young teachers are fresh outta college. they are doing it as a source of decent income with no benefits (being a long-term substitute can allow you to amass a small fortune). after that hell, they usually go back to school or do something, but may come back to it after they get more life experience, have kids, build a family, etc. that's what i plan to do.

it was just too much for me at that time, which was only last year. even in the following months, i've come to learn a lot and feel i'd be a better educator now. buuuut, i still dig a certain age group more, and teaching ain easy, and the pay sucks, and the rewards are great but life has a way of hittin nukas in the pockets and seein smiling faces ain necessarily paying to heat the spot at this juncture.

i will say that TEACHERS and FARMERS are the most underappreciated occupations in the country today. i aspire to do both, as well as many other things. that's the beauty of living in our society tho-the opportunity to do and excel at many different things. the options for multiple-occupations are really broad and i'm glad we have more choices. technology helps too.
rant-off.

i mean...i'm sayin tho.

Been awhile since ive posted in My teacher self.
Some words of advice that I have learned over my years of teaching at the High School Level.

1. Understand the root of problems at the school you will work at. While many problems are similar, there are still many differences that exsit between the issues students have at each school. BUT I will say that the main problem students today face is not racism, gang violence, or divorce in the family. Its an understanding of self and focus. Students today have no agenda in whch they are fighting for.

2. Be a quiet activist. As a Black teacher they are already going to assume your going to come in and start some shit. Dont give them what they expect, doing it quietly and covertly and dont look for a pat on the back. You'll get more done.

3. Look at other avenues beyond teaching. People dont realize this but sometimes teaching can limit your influence on a student. Im going to be leaving teaching and going into school counseling because you have more control over your influence on a student.

4. Dont look for a pat on the back. Cause as soon as you do the knife will follow. Hard lesson to learn but I had more problems trying to be the "Union Guy" with the teachers my first two years then I have now when I dont talk to most of them. They kind of get afraid because they dont know what your thinking and they tend to leave you alone.

5. Dont kill yourself financially to teach. Like I said before, you can have just as much influence working outside the school system as you can in it. Sometimes more outside. If your in a job and want to do career counseling you can do that etc.

I can go on but I wont. But if you want some advice about teaching heres my cell # 201 965-8732

Peace
L'mani

"3. Look at other avenues beyond teaching. People dont realize this but sometimes teaching
can limit your influence on a student. Im going to be leaving teaching and going into school
counseling because you have more control over your influence on a student."

i think that was the most powerful thing that you said.

--------sig-----------
Monthly BOOK DISCUSSION in OkayActivist
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Conintelpro Papers by Ward Churchil and Jim Vander Wall

April 24th
The Haunting fo HipHop: a novel by Bertice Berry
GET YO READ ON .........
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>"3. Look at other avenues beyond
>teaching. People dont realize this
>but sometimes teaching
>
>
> can limit your influence
>on a student. Im going
>to be leaving teaching and
>going into school
>
>
> counseling because you have
>more control over your influence
>on a student."
>
>i think that was the most
>powerful thing that you said.
>
>

That's what I want to do! I think that the one on one relationship with a student is essential in education and I think a lot of school's overlook the value of counselors. Especially in cases where there are a lot of minority students who are intimidated by the authority a teacher has. A counselor might have a better chance at reaching out by getting to know the student in a less formal, non-classroom environment. And yes, teachers could get into so much trouble for "speaking trouble"

looking forward to teaching history in high school...

peace

America has imported more warlord theocracy from Afghanistan than it has exported democracy.

yeah, I am a building sub right now, maybe full-time next year. And I coach 8th grade basketball.

-------------------------
Peace,
Mal

Freedom of jail, clips inserted
A baby is being born the same time my man is murdered
The beginning and end
As far as rap go, it’s only natural, I explain my plateau
And also what defines my name
First it was nasty, but times have changed
Ask me now, I’m the artist, but hardcore, my sign’s for pain
I spent time in the game, kept my mind on fame
Saw fiends shoot up and do lines of cocaine
Saw my close friends shot, flat-linin’ my same
Got the pen, carry mac-10’s to practice my aim
On rooftops, tape CD covers to trees
Line the barrel up with your weed, pinch it and squeeze
Street scriptures for lost souls in the crossroads
To the corners thugs hustlin’ for cars that cost dough
To the big dogs livin’ large, takin’ it light
Pushin’ big toys, gettin’ nice, enjoyin’ your life
It’s what you make it, suicide, few try to take it
Belt tied around they neck in jail cells naked
Heaven and hell, rap legend, presence is felt
And of course N-A-S are the letters that spell...

I used to teach English and History @ the University of Nicaragua. I also taught Sociology in the states. I'm looking forward to finishing this damn dissertation so I can teach again but things are crazy right now.

paz
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I'm an aspiring History professor/teacher/author/poet who wants to tackle some of the large issues in higher ed. Since I want to do a good deal of publishing, I don't think I'd be fair for me to teach at a high school, and be distracted by that. I'll probably do 2 years of high school, though. I already teach kids ages 3 to 19 at a performing arts program every summer... so I have a little experience near the front lines. I just think that our nation is in dire need of educational reform. I'm pretty pissed that Amerikkka is about to get a 22 trillion dollar tax cut when at least a quarter of that could go to improving education. With a surplus that large, there is no excuse for overcrouded schools, broke teachers, underfunded cirricula, outdated books (if there are any in some schools), and buildings in need of renovation. I just fear that a lot of schools that house our children may lose funding because they don't meet Bush's criteria (not that Texas schools while he was governor would meet the criteria he's about to make for schools nationwide. In terms of cirricula.... as a country we need to begin to acknowledge historical truths instead of teaching propoganda to house stereotypes. But that won't happen until our society and government are willing ot come clean, and I don't see that happening any time soon. When this nation decided to dumb down education, it was to ensure patriotism. It'll be Amerikkka's downfall. That's my piece.
---StruggleInf
"If there is no struggle, there is no progress"-- Frederick Douglass
"Definitions belong to the definer, not the defined."--Toni Morrison
"They toast death and pain like slaves on a ship talkin bout who got the flyest chain"-- Talib Kweli
"Know thyself"-- Latin Proverb
"A Luta Continua"--Caribbean proverb, Portuguese for "the struggle continues"
"Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished"-- 2Pac on the acronym "N.I.G.G.A." (from "Words of Wisdom")
"i presented
my feminine side
with flowers
she cut the stems
and placed them gently
down my throat
and these tu lips
might soon eclipse
your brightest hopes" -- Saul Williams, excerpted from she
The revolution will not be televised.... mass marketed... or sold as a commodity so that you can wear it on a t-shirt, use it falsely to sell songs, have a celebrity spokesperson endorse it, or the government's stamped seal of approval. Makes you think, right? Right now, I'm training for the revolution-- Worda are weapons, knowledge is ammunition, and books are armories. Equip yourself.
--Soldier Inf (aka MstrJ)
"It's like your mind don't understand you don't have to kill your dreams ploten' schemes on a man Keep your head up, legs closed, eyes open either a nigga wear a rubber or he die smokin' I'm hearin' rumors so you need to switch and niggas wouldn't call you bitch, I betcha. "-- 2Pac "Wonder Y they call u Bitch"
"Pull u and your tight friend, lift your little dress like slight wind-- and I slide right in"-- Jay-Z
"Get money like I'm down south Wednesday to Thurs"-- Jay-Z

Secondary English (and my spelling is horrible, hahahaha)

Teaching is the only thing that really appeals to me. My mom is a teacher, so I have had the bug in me for years. I am getting all the basic stuff knocked out right now, then going to go up to Chicago and take the school board up on that offer of tuition4work. Everybody keeps telling me that I dont want any part of the Chicago school district, but that just seems sad and condeming. Always up for something difficult.

benine


"Famous quotations are for people who have nothing of their own to say, so be sure to use a lot of them. "-Lloyd Schumner Sr.



*unedited,unre-read,unspell checked to keep uncensored.

*is there a okay-bad spellers union? have i paid my dues to get in?

I've been teaching middle school math for 4 years, but activism is hard to come by nowadays during the school year. In middle school (especially an inner-city middle school)most kids are being bombarded with a lot of things, so I kinda try to steer them with the self motivation/selfesteem thing they need the most.

What I DO do for activism is during the summer. I work youth programs all summer that help kids get out and do things for the community. This seems to help more becayse they are learning a little more in their idle summer time. Plus it weeds out some who won't do their part. This is more enjoyable because you can see more results.

All my OkayTeachers... Keep doin' ya' part! We need to contribute as much as we can to the benifit of our youth. We are slowly losin' them somewhere!


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AIM & Yahoo - dollardee404... jus' yell Hey OKP!

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i'm a wannabe elem. school teacher. hopefully i'll get my chance to play role model and/or inspiration to a whole mess of 3rd graders.


peace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
dpp

"when a tear falls at a 90 degree angle, it makes a perfect circle" 'chello

"D-P-P don't spell c-a-s-h-e-w
so get off our nuts" -gIOvaNni
(the truth hurts! let'em kno about it Gio)

"Some people in America is racist and they don’t have any idea about how racist they are. And that is deep." mos def

"nothing is more respected than intelligence" maurice whitten

peace.
~~~~~~~~~

my hard head makes me learn shit the hard way - t.i.

my greatest enemy is my inner me - lupe fiasco

:7 Super cool! I want to be an elementary teacher too! I think we need to start giving our kids quality education early on.
BUT...
I don't know if other aspiring teachers have this moral concern that I have:
In the past couple of years I've experimented with a few DRUGS, namely marijuana and XTC (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine). I smoke weed occasionally and have tried XTC on a couple of occasions. But, my conscious bears heavy weight on me when I think about teaching. I feel that having tried these drugs, I am a bit immoral and therefore, unqualified to teach. I mean, wouldn't I be a hypocrit to endorse "Say no to DRUGS!" to my future students?
I've been told that I shouldn't fret too much because I've experienced the drugs and thus, am wiser to point out the ills that drugs cause. I know morals are of personal value and judgement, but I would like some comments.

-me

i think it's better to be young and do various things whether good or bad. in the long run if you tell the kids not to do drugs and are sincere then they'll have a greater appreciation just because you've seen that side. shit, it's hard to listen to people tell you things that haven't experienced them. but if you do the weed thing (so do i) and the X thing and grow out of it by the time you start teaching then don't feel guilty. you're human. . allowed to make mistakes and experience things on your own. don't feel guilty bout that.

now i would worry about you if you were a goody 2 shoes bookworm type person who always did right and saved your virginity for marriage (not that that's wrong) and only came into contact with smoke on the 2nd hand and never got drunk and never partied and stuff like that.

my point. . don't feel guilty or like a hypocrite.



peace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
dpp

"when a tear falls at a 90 degree angle, it makes a perfect circle" 'chello

"D-P-P don't spell c-a-s-h-e-w
so get off our nuts" -gIOvaNni
(the truth hurts! let'em kno about it Gio)

"Some people in America is racist and they don’t have any idea about how racist they are. And that is deep." mos def

"nothing is more respected than intelligence" maurice whitten

peace.
~~~~~~~~~

my hard head makes me learn shit the hard way - t.i.

my greatest enemy is my inner me - lupe fiasco

what we have is much more than they can see. - george benson
****************************************
august is what the fuck are ya'll talking about month.

i mean let the shit die down slowly.

America has imported more warlord theocracy from Afghanistan than it has exported democracy.

my plan:

graduate from brown with masters in electrical engineering in '03

work for a good amount, i guess 20 - 30 years, so i can have enough to live off as well as donate to worthy causes

retire, and teach late elementary / early high school, preferably in an inner city district

----
IM and ICQ name: reefdogg1 (number one at the end)

Mondays, 9pm-12pm EST - hip hop by stressed Brown undergrads (yes, black people do exist in the Ivies!)
http://www.bsrlive.com

"It aint all about economy
so the fact that these wack emcees is making G's don't bother me
Honestly, my number one policy is quality
never sell my soul is my philosophy" - Binary Star

MANY people start off this way...the problem is most of them never make it (and guess who suffers?). Same shit happens to people who say they'll do peace corp or charity work or whatever when they get older and more established.

Maybe you just don't feel that teaching thing in 30 years...or maybe that nest egg just isn't big enough in 30 years...or maybe you're not alive anymore in 30 years. I mean, if you want to teach, if you want to give back, do it now while your fresh and not tied down to whatever grind you choose for yourself later (and not any more cynical than you already are). Right after you graduate, your only financial ties are to your loans. 30 years from now, you will most likely have too many financial ties to really do what you wanted to originally.

Besides, I guarantee a fresh grad will reach kids more often than a stodgy old man/woman...even with the same words, the kids will hear you better if you're younger.

>I mean, if you want
>to teach, if you want
>to give back, do it
>now while your fresh and
>not tied down to whatever
>grind you choose for yourself
>later (and not any more
>cynical than you already are).

i don't understand where you get this from. please explain

i understand your point though, but fact is i'm not set to be a teacher now .. it's not like i really want to teach now and i'm putting it off till later ... fact is, i really want to pursue an electrical engineering career now, specifically in processor hardware logic design


>Besides, I guarantee a fresh grad
>will reach kids more often
>than a stodgy old man/woman...even
>with the same words, the
>kids will hear you better
>if you're younger.

never know how experience can effect your methods and the way people respect you

i want to be able to speak from experience of going through life if i do decide to teach later

----
IM and ICQ name: reefdogg1 (number one at the end)

Mondays, 9pm-12pm EST - hip hop by stressed Brown undergrads (yes, black people do exist in the Ivies!)
http://www.bsrlive.com

"It aint all about economy
so the fact that these wack emcees is making G's don't bother me
Honestly, my number one policy is quality
never sell my soul is my philosophy" - Binary Star

my bad...I wasn't responding to you directly at that point. I was making a very general statement. I didn't mean to confuse or accuse.

i have my master's in education and have taught part-time in the philly public school system. now i teach and help run an independent saturday school. education is my ultimate destination though, b/c you're right, it is a place for some powerful things to happen, if the people have a vision and commitment.

B

Move Over, Girl: A Novel - in stores NOW
(yeah, i wrote it. no, i'm not the guy on the cover.)
Random House
www.chance22.com

--
now playing: The African American Student's Guide to Excellence in College
on deck: another installment of Okaybooks
archives: Spoken Words | Move Over Girl

www.chance22.com
www.lionsstory.org
www.okayplayer.com/books

I have 5 years under my belt as an elementary level teacher with the Phila school district and it has been a love/hate relationship the whole time!

I Love:
1) The students- They are often unprepared, unmotivated, un-everything, but the challenge is finding the right buttons to push to make them come alive.

2) The hours- (LOL) That's really a joke. School's out a 2:45, but few teachers really leave at that time, because there are just too many things to do.

3)My colleagues- Teachers in general get a bad rap. Everyone from politicians, parents, the students, and our administrators criticize us, disrespect us, and overburden us with new responsibilities, while paying us minimal salaries. But teachers- at least the ones I work with- are dedicated and commited.

I HATE:
Bullshit administrators, uninvolved parents, uninformed critics, and the unrealistic politicians who create roadblocks to success for our kids.

Sorry, back to the topic. There is plenty of opportunity for activism in the schools. If you are resourceful, energetic, and unafraid to be outspoken, you can teach children to be aware of all types of issues and take action, or at least discuss and debate them, just be prepared to face opposition, apathy, and possibly hostility from others.

I am a teacher and I have about three and a half months left in this career. I like the kids, but it's the bureacracy that I can't stand. There really isn't much room for activism in teaching. You can conversate with your students and make them more aware, but that doesn't make a systematic change. Atleast not on a large scale. Most people don't understand the hierarchy of education. They think it starts with the principal, or the superintendent. That's not true at all. It starts with the testing companies that make the tests. These tests drive the education industry. Everyone across the country is trying to rise to the standards that the testing companies make. These tests are economically biased, and culturally biased. It's not even just a small margin, it's the majority of the standardized testing questions in all language arts areas, and any areas that intercorrelate, like math word problems. These tests dictate your classroom placement, your opportunities for higher education, and they place a stigma on your so called "innate ability." Teachers are simply test distributors, and curriculum interpreters. Teachers are forced to follow horrible curriculums, and there evaluations depend on how well they basicly follow orders. IF you want to be an activist, then write holistic curriculum, or impact the testing industry. Students do need excellent educators in the classroom, but a strong curriculum also helps.
I am leaving because, personally, it's not where I want to be in my life right now. It's not the type of job that you should stay in if your heart isn't in it.

Peace
Sta

P.S.
Excuse my spelling and grammar!

I hear you on the standardized test thing.

I've never heard a convincing argument for standardized tests... and what really gets me is this:
Academia is against them, all the way. I mean, how many papers have been written blasting standardized tests? How many universities have come together to do studies about the downsides?

Yet politicians don't listen. And they're becoming more and more mandatory via relationships between government and school districts... such as right now in VA.

It's sickening really... and a lot of teachers are retiring because of this problem. When politicians are left with no teachers, then they'll switch and blame it on something else...

Sometimes, I wonder if people think.

-thebigfunk
"And you may ask yourself... what is that beautiful house?
And you may ask yourself... where does that highway go?
And you may ask yourself... Am I right? Am I wrong?
And you may ask yourself... MY GOD! WHAT HAVE I DONE!?!" - "Once In A Lifetime" - Talking Heads

"Trouble in transit/got through the roadblock/we blended with the crowd
We got computer/we're tapping phone lines/I know that ain't allowed
We dress like students/we dress like housewives/or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle/so many times now/I don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver/I feel so tender/we make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted/I'll do some driving/you ought to get some sleep
Get you instructions/follow directions/then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow/Maybe the next day/Whatever you think is best
Burned all my notebooks/What good are notebooks?/They won't help me survive...
My chest is aching/Burns like a furnace/The burning keeps me alive..." - "Life During Wartime" - Talking Heads

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

In my school district back home kids have to now have a class in public speaking for one of the new standardized tests they are using. So now these kids get art/music twice a week so they can have extra calsses taht reinforce grammar and teach them how to speak out loud.

Its ridiculous, Cali is going the right way on this one, hopefully it will start the trend

Giving You True Lesson Moderation Since'03
******

Want something archived? thats what an inbox is for

Got a degree in 98 in El.ED..haven't used it yet...Doing other things now..I will eventually though..


"I'mma tell you when I really suspected that she liked 'noodles' / When she got on tv and proclaimed her man, Bobby Brown, the original R&B king / I was like 'who the fuck she talkin' to?'/Bobby Womack in this motherfucker? What? / How you gon' call Bobby Brown the original R&B king unless you gon' call R&B 'rocks and booze'! " Adele Givens on Whitney Houston

I'm majoring in History with a minor in African-American Studies. So hopefully I'll be able to educate the youth in one of those areas.

******THE 2% NATION LIVES ON!!!*********
Homogenizing the world since 2000
*allow the M.I.L.K. to lead you
****************************************
When all has been said and done, there's nothing left to say or do. --Daryl Dawkins

I ain't runnin, cause I ain't no damn track star! --Richard Pryor

Every negro is a potential black man. --Stokley Carmicheal

When I see green...I be thinkin... --Ghostface Killah

Do you think that's air you're breathing? --Morpheous

It wasn't me. --Shaggy

************************************
When I see green...I be thinkin... -Ghostface Killah

Dude...she was all over my crotch -This white dude on Taildaters

Julissa on Oh Drama: So when was the first time you had sex?
Ghostface: I was like...12...

My father teaches Vocational Learning. Momma (who just retired) taught high school math, english, and gym. But before she let it go, she taught elementary and special education students.

I have cousins and aunts on both sides of the family who teach anywhere from high school to college courses.

My brother and I both teach computer applications, programs, and certification classes part-time. Oh, not to mention our children after school and on weekends.

It's a powerful tool, teaching. And to think, the white man used to beat and maime blacks when they found any reading materials in their possession.



*Bask in your blackness. You r Beauty. You r strong* Kysla

"Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance." -Carl Sandburg


http://members.blackplanet.com/kysla

I hope to be teaching in September, when the new semester rolls around.


One Love

"Old Pirates yes the rob I, sold I to the merchant ship"

-Robert Nesta Marley

"Who the cap fit, let them wear it"

-Bob Marley

Darfur Sucks! Free Paris (Hilton)! - Don Cheadle

www.abdulsmith.com

Yeah. I'm in about my 3rd year of university. I live in Canada, but i'm hoping to teach anywhere, especially where i'm most needed. My minor is intercultural/international education. It's supposed to be good if i want a job in a school setting that is culturally diverse. Either in the inner cities, overseas etc. It's kinda funny that this is a topic of discussion, cause, i just went on this website for the first time on Common's b-day, and i actually have been reconsidering if teaching is truly what i should be doing. There are many idealistic reasons as to why i want to teach, but lately i've been hearing things from teachers, retired teachers, x teachers and it hasn't been all that positive. They usually complain about being under paid, under appreciated, under funded, classes that are too large, that it is very hard work--the list goes on, basically all things that have to do with the fucked up system and society at large. And that's up here where things are supposed to be better. I would like to try to change the system, but how??I'm also thinking that nowadays teaching is a dangerous profession, i mean just look at what is going down in schools worldwide? Students and teachers are getting shot. I also have moral conflicts going on, like can a teacher smoke weed? Party?etc..I mean i don't want to be a hypocrite. Teachers are in a position of public trust, so i understand why we aren't supposed to that shit. I do however think that teachers are human and should have the freedom to do as they please with their personal lives.
I'm still going to persue it, i've come this far. One of my idealistic goals is to educate children about freedom, unity and respect for all peoples--basically abolish racism...it's a pretty tall order!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

- Anais Nin

OneLoVe
C*

Future "English" teacher. I wanna teach at the upper high school level, but teaching at the college level is still a thought.

I would rather concentrate on traching Literature, specifically Black literature, and history; and will probably spend most of my time and grey hairs dealing with correcting the improper teaching of history in schools.

Is there anyone else who is at least considering teaching outside of the U.S.?

>Future "English" teacher. I wanna teach
>at the upper high school
>level, but teaching at the
>college level is still a
>thought.
>
>I would rather concentrate on traching
>Literature, specifically Black literature, and
>history; and will probably spend
>most of my time and
>grey hairs dealing with correcting
>the improper teaching of history
>in schools.

Pretty much what I want to do... I'm not necessarily looking to focus on black literature, though, but knowing my personal literary canon it'll probably take up a large part.

>Is there anyone else who is
>at least considering teaching outside
>of the U.S.?

I haven't considered teaching outside of the U.S, except through programs like PeaceCorps etc. ; my question is, what kind of position does this put me in as a white person...? I've heard there are strong imperialistic connotations sometimes involved in the teaching part of peacecorps work... but so far it's just hearsay. I haven't fully investigated the prospect, yet, it would be after I get out of college.

I'm still considering moving out of the country altogether...

-thebigfunk
"And you may ask yourself... what is that beautiful house?
And you may ask yourself... where does that highway go?
And you may ask yourself... Am I right? Am I wrong?
And you may ask yourself... MY GOD! WHAT HAVE I DONE!?!" - "Once In A Lifetime" - Talking Heads

"Trouble in transit/got through the roadblock/we blended with the crowd
We got computer/we're tapping phone lines/I know that ain't allowed
We dress like students/we dress like housewives/or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle/so many times now/I don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver/I feel so tender/we make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted/I'll do some driving/you ought to get some sleep
Get you instructions/follow directions/then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow/Maybe the next day/Whatever you think is best
Burned all my notebooks/What good are notebooks?/They won't help me survive...
My chest is aching/Burns like a furnace/The burning keeps me alive..." - "Life During Wartime" - Talking Heads

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

>
>I haven't considered teaching outside of
>the U.S, except through programs
>like PeaceCorps etc. ; my
>question is, what kind of
>position does this put me
>in as a white person...?
> I've heard there are
>strong imperialistic connotations sometimes involved
>in the teaching part of
>peacecorps work... but so far
>it's just hearsay. I
>haven't fully investigated the prospect,
>yet, it would be after
>I get out of college.
>

I'm also interested in doing some PC time beforre I go to a strict academic setting, and I can add more to your hearsay by sharing a story:
I was in Ghana (West Africa) eating at an Indian restaurant and could not help but hear the very loud and obnoxious conversation of two American white men and two American white women.
They were going on and on about basically how dumb and unco-operative their students were, laughing at certain students' language and writing skills. Two of them gave an example each of a student who had written good essays for them, but said they were sure the students had cheated. I went over to their table and asked them who they thought they were and they were all blank faces, and I asked them what they were doing there and they said they taught for the Peace Corps. I asked them what they taught and they said "English." I said "In how many ways?"
Again they were lost, so I just cut to telling them to quiet down if they were going to say stupid things because I could understand English very well, and that I would appreciate it if they didn't share with the whole restaurant how ignorant they were (though I was the only other person dining). So what you've heard probably has some validity. I didn't feel that they wer dedicated at all to all the principles the Pece Corps claims to want people accept. But then again my college viewbook made it seem like there would be lots of Black people here...

>
>I'm still considering moving out of
>the country altogether...
>
I say if you find your place somewhere else, go for it.

Peace.

...while I'm sitting here doing lesson plans and browsing the boards (we're famous for multi-tasking). Yes, I am a teacher. English and College Prep. High school. Went into it for exactly the reason you stated. "Make a difference, give them a 'heads-up' on this thing called life." Assumed that ALL, okay, MOST, of my co-workers would have that same inspiration. WRONG.

I've never been in such a very political, anti-change, pro-"establishment" environment in my life. Down-right depressing a lot of the time. A lot of the kids are open to contemporary issues. However, parents and administration, I find, are not. Most of them are all about maintaining the status-quo.

There are so many needs that must be met in a classroom. So many demands just to make sure that your students are getting the curriculum. So many "wrongs" that need to be addressed on a very basic academic level (they can't read, they can't write, they aren't organized....basic skills type issues)...that the energy necessary to organize sound grass roots movements isn't there at the end of a day.

Funding, moral and manpower support, job security...all these are issues one (I) takes into consideration when embarking into this territory. And you really don't want to take away time from proper preparation for the actual academic purpose.

I hear you, though. I love what I do, believe in my initial inspiration to become a teacher. I recognized very early though (I'm only in my 3rd year) that I best do all that I can in my classroom to awaken and enlighten...focusing my attention on the individual student, addressing their individual needs in those areas (and there are about 100 of those for me a week).

Okay...gotta get back to my plans for Of Mice and Men.

>Okay...gotta get back to my plans
>for Of Mice and Men.
>

Don't want to switch the topic too much, but I'm wondering how much leeway you have in selecting what literature you teach. I've heard lots of responses, from none-at-all to complete freedom.

I've found that lower-level teaching (middle school thru ninth grade) has a pretty strict curriculum that teachers must follow. Tenth grade thru senior, especially in gifted/AP courses, teachers have a lot more freedom in selecting what works they teach.

I just noticed that you were teaching Of Mice and Men, and while it's a great book, it's not something I would like to teach... however, since it's become such a large part of American High School canons, it seems inevitable if that's the grade level you move into...

A story slightly related is at this link:
http://chnmn.gmu.edu/ematters/issue4/readingmatters/gallager/gallager.html

-thebigfunk
"And you may ask yourself... what is that beautiful house?
And you may ask yourself... where does that highway go?
And you may ask yourself... Am I right? Am I wrong?
And you may ask yourself... MY GOD! WHAT HAVE I DONE!?!" - "Once In A Lifetime" - Talking Heads

"Trouble in transit/got through the roadblock/we blended with the crowd
We got computer/we're tapping phone lines/I know that ain't allowed
We dress like students/we dress like housewives/or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle/so many times now/I don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver/I feel so tender/we make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted/I'll do some driving/you ought to get some sleep
Get you instructions/follow directions/then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow/Maybe the next day/Whatever you think is best
Burned all my notebooks/What good are notebooks?/They won't help me survive...
My chest is aching/Burns like a furnace/The burning keeps me alive..." - "Life During Wartime" - Talking Heads

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Planning on teaching jr. high/ High School English. I'm an idealist, so I have this "change the world" mentality. From what I'm hearing, that'll be the first thing to go, but I'm still going to give it a shot.

"Humor is indispensible; it is our most effective tool for insight and understanding as well as our most effective weapon against baseness and stupidity"--Regina Barreca

movin' this subject so people can see it better...
anyway i think funk and i want to know if anybody's done Teach for America. I'm thinking of applying for the next rotation...any suggestions? comments? experiences?

thanks!
--vette.
___________________________
got soy milk?
http://surf.to/parchmentpaper
"education is our passport to the future; for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today."

__________________________________________

<--- Still reppin' the Bay
Life. Love. Music:
http://vettievette.wordpress.com
http://sistamatikdjs.wordpress.com

>movin' this subject so people can
>see it better...
>anyway i think funk and i
>want to know if anybody's
>done Teach for America. I'm
>thinking of applying for the
>next rotation...any suggestions? comments? experiences?
>
>
> I am a Teach for America 99 corps member and I will fullfill my commitment to TFA this June. I like TFA, but there are some serious issues with their selection proccess. I like many of the ideals behind TFA, but there are some realities that they don't address sufficiently. You basicly get about six weeks of training then you are a teacher, just like that! TFA services inner city and rural districts. Many of the teachers have backgrounds completely different from their students and they need more development. To truly teach children you must investigate their backgrounds, environment, culture, etc. Many TFA teachers are from Ivy league schools and the first time they have actually been around people of color on a large scale, is when they stepped infront of there classroom to teach. I always ask my TFA peers, if you never had any real quality experiences with people from different backgrounds on a large scale, then where do you draw your perceptions from? I can't tell you how many TFA teachers can't answer this question, or find themselves in an embarrassing place. I still think TFA is dope, and an excellent support group. I moved to Baltimore with TFA and I don't think I could have made the transition without them. I have met some amazing people and TFA alumni is so deep! If you apply, make sure you make the first January deadline, because you might end up placed in the boonies!
Good luck!
Email me if you want anymore Teach for America info!

-thebigfunk
"And you may ask yourself... what is that beautiful house?
And you may ask yourself... where does that highway go?
And you may ask yourself... Am I right? Am I wrong?
And you may ask yourself... MY GOD! WHAT HAVE I DONE!?!" - "Once In A Lifetime" - Talking Heads

"Trouble in transit/got through the roadblock/we blended with the crowd
We got computer/we're tapping phone lines/I know that ain't allowed
We dress like students/we dress like housewives/or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle/so many times now/I don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver/I feel so tender/we make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted/I'll do some driving/you ought to get some sleep
Get you instructions/follow directions/then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow/Maybe the next day/Whatever you think is best
Burned all my notebooks/What good are notebooks?/They won't help me survive...
My chest is aching/Burns like a furnace/The burning keeps me alive..." - "Life During Wartime" - Talking Heads

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

up up and away!

Giving You True Lesson Moderation Since'03
******

Want something archived? thats what an inbox is for