Well.
It's July now, and I haven't written like I've wanted to for a long time. Deepest apologies. In writing an email to my professor today, I thought perhaps writing in here would allow me to free up some of the space in my mind that is completely occupied by all the things that take over it's life.
So, here we go...in my best list form ever.
1. Getting a job is hard. It's hard not to be discouraged and frustrated. I know that I'm good in the classroom, problem is, I like history -- so do lots of other people. That and a lot of it comes down to having connections in the right places, and I am yet to find that. I spend a lot of time wondering what I'm going to do if I don't get a teaching job. Subbing is completely not my favorite thought as I feel like it would deeply depress me not to have my own set of kids to mold into fine people. That said, it's a job (and turns out, when you live on your own and stuff, you have to pay for all your own stuff...go figure) and it's a way in.
2. I hate/love summer.
I love that I have time to get things done.
I hate that I don't take advantage of it.
3. I spend a lot of time thinking about my kids still. I wonder what they're up to, and enjoy the connections that have been maintained. I wonder what they'll all turn out to be like, and what their future holds for them. Seems that not-so-many years ago I was sitting up in my high school history classroom, or running around the lacrosse field or the band parking lot - and in 8ish years, I have come a long way. I've made some huge life decisions, met three people who changed my life for the better and am on my way to doing something great. The thought that scares/excites me....the amount of kids that I'm teaching is going to multiply endlessly over my lifetime. The chances that I'll run into one of them at the store, when I'm out for dinner, or at the ballgame increase exponentially all the time.
4. I like middle school kids, too.
This is something that I never really thought I'd say.
I would be 99% as happy in a middle school as I would be a high school. Middle school kids are messed up too...and don't hate school quite as much. Sure their intellectual capabilities aren't quite as high, but between drawings of Beavers and Patrick Henry, one of my best friends and I managed to be rather intellectual and creative. Evidence of this sits in my basement in the form of our Favorite students' bill of rights.
5. I don't know where I want to be. I applied for a job up in the mountains, and after a visit up there this past weekend, I was eternally disappointed that they didn't want to even talk to me...as I think I would have loved it up there. However, there are things about the front range all up and down that I find exciting and I often find myself saying "okay, this is where I want to be...for sure!" and then a week later, changing my mind, and continuing to love both.
6. I really wish this whole 'adult' thing wasn't so stressful. I mean, I want to grow up and have a job and and and and and, but that can't be done without the j-o-b. I feel like I am stuck in a parallel universe of ''hi, I'm 22, and yes I live at my parents house still because I'm trying to be my own person, but I haven't found the right fit yet''. Not a horrible universe, but something that is less fun than, you know, preparing for my classes in the fall...
7. So many people say "Don't worry, I got hired 2 days before school!"
That makes me worry a little bit!!!! Yes, you have a job but you do not have a house, or plans for the kids, or anything!! I'm a planner in that sense, and I like to know what's going on. That said, I would be perfectly happy getting hired two days before school starts. I just want to be a part of a staff and have some kids and show them the ways of the world. :)
This is not all overly exciting, I know. But I do think about teaching on a totally regular basis. I want to be in the classroom so bad that I think I might die if I can't be. OK. That was a bit of an exaggeration. But honestly, I find myself thinking about my classroom or my students at least once a day, which is a little bit silly as neither one of those exist. (YET).
But seriously, if this doesn't work out...oh hey colorado rockies....need some help? :)
Peace and love and more writings to come on a more than regular basis :)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
my blog
I am tired.
I have no time to write like I want to.
Here is your blog post, Kurtiss. Now you may shut up.
:)
I have no time to write like I want to.
Here is your blog post, Kurtiss. Now you may shut up.
:)
Friday, March 27, 2009
and....so it goes
I feel like it has been practically a millennium since I've written in here last, so I am going to spend some time this morning writing. Seems like I get the chance to catch up in here once in every while, and although I don't always take advantage, today I shall.
I've done a fair amount of reflective writing for my seminar class. Which, I'm not really sure is a 'class' so much as me writing reflectively on what they want me to write on and then getting little feedback. I did a little prodding with my professor, and I now hear back from him a little more which is perfect. He's helping me with my resume today and I'll get to meet him face to face which is pretty cool :)
I feel like I have a ton of stuff to do all the time. ALL THE TIME. I love it, but I feel as if I am running after something and each time I get close to grabbing hold, it escapes and I am still running. In fact, I am pretty sure that this student teaching thing has allowed me to run, at least in my mind, seventeen marathons. They tell us that it will take that much time and energy...but do we (I) believe them? No. Of course not.
Things I've learned recently:
1. Spring Parent teacher conferences suck. In seven and a half hours I had approximately twelve parents. TWELVE. I have about 120 students. TWELVE!! And only two parents who actually had issues that their kid needed help with. I really enjoyed talking to all the parents that came, but I wish that either more came or we didn't have them... apparently fall conferences are better - we shall see (hopefully) next year :)
2. Coaching eases my mind. This is something I knew, but didn't KNOW. If that makes sense. I've always loved coaching and working with kids on the lacrosse field, but I've never been teaching at the same time. The amount of stress I feel has pretty much melted since I started coaching again (which is funny because I have less time...). I've also loved getting to work with a few of my students outside of the classroom. We've built a better connection and I have been able to see that good relationships formed in the classroom can translate onto the field and vice versa.
3. I never get enough work done when I'm supposed to.
This is a problem. I am working on it. Sigh.
4. SET is a great game to play with kids. I've got a student who comes in continually to try and beat me, and he brings his pals, and we work on his brain skills...but he doesn't know it :) haha.
5. I suppose that since I'm supposed to be working on my sophomore project I'll get to that now.
:)
I've done a fair amount of reflective writing for my seminar class. Which, I'm not really sure is a 'class' so much as me writing reflectively on what they want me to write on and then getting little feedback. I did a little prodding with my professor, and I now hear back from him a little more which is perfect. He's helping me with my resume today and I'll get to meet him face to face which is pretty cool :)
I feel like I have a ton of stuff to do all the time. ALL THE TIME. I love it, but I feel as if I am running after something and each time I get close to grabbing hold, it escapes and I am still running. In fact, I am pretty sure that this student teaching thing has allowed me to run, at least in my mind, seventeen marathons. They tell us that it will take that much time and energy...but do we (I) believe them? No. Of course not.
Things I've learned recently:
1. Spring Parent teacher conferences suck. In seven and a half hours I had approximately twelve parents. TWELVE. I have about 120 students. TWELVE!! And only two parents who actually had issues that their kid needed help with. I really enjoyed talking to all the parents that came, but I wish that either more came or we didn't have them... apparently fall conferences are better - we shall see (hopefully) next year :)
2. Coaching eases my mind. This is something I knew, but didn't KNOW. If that makes sense. I've always loved coaching and working with kids on the lacrosse field, but I've never been teaching at the same time. The amount of stress I feel has pretty much melted since I started coaching again (which is funny because I have less time...). I've also loved getting to work with a few of my students outside of the classroom. We've built a better connection and I have been able to see that good relationships formed in the classroom can translate onto the field and vice versa.
3. I never get enough work done when I'm supposed to.
This is a problem. I am working on it. Sigh.
4. SET is a great game to play with kids. I've got a student who comes in continually to try and beat me, and he brings his pals, and we work on his brain skills...but he doesn't know it :) haha.
5. I suppose that since I'm supposed to be working on my sophomore project I'll get to that now.
:)
Saturday, February 28, 2009
wow. so. long time...no write
So I'm pretty sure it has been beyond an eternity since I last wrote (at least in here)...time has been flying rapidly as of late...at least when it comes to getting things done. My mind today is functioning more like a list, so I'm going to write that way today - even if that seems odd. So in the last month or so, here is a list of the things I've learned and thought about...hopefully none are a repeat of the last post :)
1. I have no idea what to do with the special needs girl in my class. I wish that while at CSU we would have been forced to take a class - or spend part of a class on actually working with students that have special needs. She is nice, and functions rather highly...but I get uncomfortable when I don't understand what she needs, and also when I feel like I'm not meeting those needs. I do the best that I can, and I make sure to talk with the women who are working with her in the resource room, but I still feel like I would handle her better day to day if I had spend some time with special needs kids before. At this point, I would encourage ANYONE who is going to be a teacher to work with some special needs kids...it will no doubt come in handy in the future.
2. My US class is difficult. Oh. So. Difficult. They are lethargic and don't respond to much of anything, so it has been a challenge to say the least. I think I am finally getting the hang of some things though as last week all but FOUR kids had a rough draft for me...which was absolutely amazing. Usually, there would be less than half. Small victories!!
3. February is, no doubt, the hardest month on kids. It is cold. They're tired of being cold, they're tired of being in school, their sport is just ending/starting and they really just need some time off. I made cupcakes. It seemed to help - as did some of the activities we did in class...rapping about the French Revolution for example.
4. Lacrosse season has started...and although it makes me have less time to work, I am so far ahead of where I thought I would be as far as energy. The sport (as it usally does) has taken my sprit and lifted it up, and I have been able to become more confident in my classroom because of it. Also, the more I think about it, the more I notice that it is the lacrosse coaching that I've done that has allowed me to feel so comfortable in the classroom without being in one. It has been a little bit of an adjustment going from grass to desks, but a good one in many respects...and it's not like I am losing lacrosse :)
5. I want spring break as badly (if not more so) than the kids.
6. I need to re-organize. I am on the verge of having a psycho paper/lesson planning attack. Tomorrow I will go get organizing supplies and create a new lesson planning format for myself that will help. I will also print out calendars and sit down and put a time table on the future to help myself out.
7. I hate that I have to write papers for seminar. I feel like I'd be getting so much more out of talking with other students...I would be willing to drive to Fort Collins or Denver to do that instead of writing papers reflecting on what they want me to reflect on rather than what I want to reflect on. Sigh.
8. Building politics are interesting. I enjoy them...somewhat. I think that is mostly due to the fact that I like politics in general. I don't want to be part of them, that is for sure, but I do enjoy watching them develop...I'm pretty sure that is not normal.
9. I love our department meetings. My department always makes me laugh and I am so happy to be working with a group of men as I get along with men so much easier than I do women. It has really made the entire thing easier on me :)
10. I want a job now so I can stop thinking about it all the time!!!!!!!!
11. I love students. Even the ones that hate me and hate school. :) I like working with them and making things better for them...even if it is really hard, and even if it doesn't really work.
12. I'm tired. A lot of tired...and I don't think that it is going to stop. And you know what? That is okay with me. I love this job, more than I can ever describe in words.
13. I've found that having a strong friend or two really helps with the student teaching process. It is nice to have someone I can call every single day and talk about what I'm doing in the classroom. Without the help and guidance of my best friend, I would feel a lot more lost and frustrated. I think that it is important to recognize that the support of your friends is an invaluble resource when you're student teaching.
I think that is it for now. :)
1. I have no idea what to do with the special needs girl in my class. I wish that while at CSU we would have been forced to take a class - or spend part of a class on actually working with students that have special needs. She is nice, and functions rather highly...but I get uncomfortable when I don't understand what she needs, and also when I feel like I'm not meeting those needs. I do the best that I can, and I make sure to talk with the women who are working with her in the resource room, but I still feel like I would handle her better day to day if I had spend some time with special needs kids before. At this point, I would encourage ANYONE who is going to be a teacher to work with some special needs kids...it will no doubt come in handy in the future.
2. My US class is difficult. Oh. So. Difficult. They are lethargic and don't respond to much of anything, so it has been a challenge to say the least. I think I am finally getting the hang of some things though as last week all but FOUR kids had a rough draft for me...which was absolutely amazing. Usually, there would be less than half. Small victories!!
3. February is, no doubt, the hardest month on kids. It is cold. They're tired of being cold, they're tired of being in school, their sport is just ending/starting and they really just need some time off. I made cupcakes. It seemed to help - as did some of the activities we did in class...rapping about the French Revolution for example.
4. Lacrosse season has started...and although it makes me have less time to work, I am so far ahead of where I thought I would be as far as energy. The sport (as it usally does) has taken my sprit and lifted it up, and I have been able to become more confident in my classroom because of it. Also, the more I think about it, the more I notice that it is the lacrosse coaching that I've done that has allowed me to feel so comfortable in the classroom without being in one. It has been a little bit of an adjustment going from grass to desks, but a good one in many respects...and it's not like I am losing lacrosse :)
5. I want spring break as badly (if not more so) than the kids.
6. I need to re-organize. I am on the verge of having a psycho paper/lesson planning attack. Tomorrow I will go get organizing supplies and create a new lesson planning format for myself that will help. I will also print out calendars and sit down and put a time table on the future to help myself out.
7. I hate that I have to write papers for seminar. I feel like I'd be getting so much more out of talking with other students...I would be willing to drive to Fort Collins or Denver to do that instead of writing papers reflecting on what they want me to reflect on rather than what I want to reflect on. Sigh.
8. Building politics are interesting. I enjoy them...somewhat. I think that is mostly due to the fact that I like politics in general. I don't want to be part of them, that is for sure, but I do enjoy watching them develop...I'm pretty sure that is not normal.
9. I love our department meetings. My department always makes me laugh and I am so happy to be working with a group of men as I get along with men so much easier than I do women. It has really made the entire thing easier on me :)
10. I want a job now so I can stop thinking about it all the time!!!!!!!!
11. I love students. Even the ones that hate me and hate school. :) I like working with them and making things better for them...even if it is really hard, and even if it doesn't really work.
12. I'm tired. A lot of tired...and I don't think that it is going to stop. And you know what? That is okay with me. I love this job, more than I can ever describe in words.
13. I've found that having a strong friend or two really helps with the student teaching process. It is nice to have someone I can call every single day and talk about what I'm doing in the classroom. Without the help and guidance of my best friend, I would feel a lot more lost and frustrated. I think that it is important to recognize that the support of your friends is an invaluble resource when you're student teaching.
I think that is it for now. :)
Monday, January 26, 2009
and so it goes...
I am comfortable in my classroom(s).
I like the empty desks during my planning time knowing that they’ll soon be filled with students that I’ll have the opportunity to work with. I definitely have a lot to learn, but I can tell with barely any thought that this is what I want to be doing.
I have always (at least for the most part) enjoyed school…I’ve liked learning and often find various things fascinating – even outside of my own discipline. It always makes me laugh when people find out that I spend my days in the semi-out-of-control-universe of high school students and their “home turf” of their school. It’s easy for me. I find them completely endearing …I like the confident “I KNOW WHO I AM!” that many of them wear on their sleeve while harboring the “holy crap I’m afraid to be myself” in their little twisted up souls. Due to this – nothing is more rewarding for me than getting through to “that kid” who doesn’t respond well to other teachers or other people. I find myself trying to make a personal connection with each student – a challenge for sure, but something I think is quite important.
Students need adults to look up to who aren’t their parents and/or relatives. As teachers, I believe that we become a sort of safety net for the kids who need us.
Learning is a life-long process.
Learning to teach is an eternal process.
I am never going to be perfect in the classroom. No matter how hard I try, I will never reach every single kid…and that has to be okay. It is hard for me personally to make that okay, but somehow I have to remind myself that I will not be able to get through to every kid…for if I spend too much time focused in on one student, or a group of students I will miss far more.
That said - the biggest challenge to me is not the students, but the subject I chose to teach. I laugh every single time someone makes fun of me for teaching history… “couldn’t you teach something more interesting?” they say… “why would you ever want to teach THAT”. The answer is easy → I LOVE IT. I love the endless waves of people and stories that wrap the world up in timelines that cross and wind up and around themselves. However, the expanse of history makes it difficult at times to reach the students. With a bazillion choices of stories to share I have to process a number of them and try to figure out what is going to best reach my students. Plus, along with them I am always learning. I am always learning about history and my students and how to better give them a better education.
I am looking forward to the future with open arms and a big smile.
I like the empty desks during my planning time knowing that they’ll soon be filled with students that I’ll have the opportunity to work with. I definitely have a lot to learn, but I can tell with barely any thought that this is what I want to be doing.
I have always (at least for the most part) enjoyed school…I’ve liked learning and often find various things fascinating – even outside of my own discipline. It always makes me laugh when people find out that I spend my days in the semi-out-of-control-universe of high school students and their “home turf” of their school. It’s easy for me. I find them completely endearing …I like the confident “I KNOW WHO I AM!” that many of them wear on their sleeve while harboring the “holy crap I’m afraid to be myself” in their little twisted up souls. Due to this – nothing is more rewarding for me than getting through to “that kid” who doesn’t respond well to other teachers or other people. I find myself trying to make a personal connection with each student – a challenge for sure, but something I think is quite important.
Students need adults to look up to who aren’t their parents and/or relatives. As teachers, I believe that we become a sort of safety net for the kids who need us.
Learning is a life-long process.
Learning to teach is an eternal process.
I am never going to be perfect in the classroom. No matter how hard I try, I will never reach every single kid…and that has to be okay. It is hard for me personally to make that okay, but somehow I have to remind myself that I will not be able to get through to every kid…for if I spend too much time focused in on one student, or a group of students I will miss far more.
That said - the biggest challenge to me is not the students, but the subject I chose to teach. I laugh every single time someone makes fun of me for teaching history… “couldn’t you teach something more interesting?” they say… “why would you ever want to teach THAT”. The answer is easy → I LOVE IT. I love the endless waves of people and stories that wrap the world up in timelines that cross and wind up and around themselves. However, the expanse of history makes it difficult at times to reach the students. With a bazillion choices of stories to share I have to process a number of them and try to figure out what is going to best reach my students. Plus, along with them I am always learning. I am always learning about history and my students and how to better give them a better education.
I am looking forward to the future with open arms and a big smile.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Inaugural thoughts
Thoughts on an Inauguration for the ages…
I am 22 years old, and I have been fortunate (or, unfortunate depending on how you look at it – or depending on the event) to experience a lot of history as time travels on.
This early week in January 2009, I have been spending time in Washington DC to see the Inauguration of President Obama. Yesterday was the big day, and began at 3 am – with an hour walk to the line we were directed to. After waiting in line for several hours (three hours…in 20 degree weather with 70% humidity. Humid cold is not nearly as nice as dry cold…and all the people I met here did not notice that there was any humidity…ha. It is hard to explain that the cold is biting like a piranha that has been unable to eat for 17 years…) we discovered that the line we were standing in was for the parade and not the line for the National Mall – which was disappointing and somewhat frustrating since we’d been directed there after asking a police officer where to go … but decided that we had to go in so at least we would be in SOMEWHERE. They let in about 30 people per line through the security checkpoint at a time– and I was mostly ready to get out into the sun as we’d been in a tunnel of sorts. The line moved at a snail’s pace at best – so I was thrilled we were generally in the front of the line.
During this time – several spontaneous things happened….my favorite by far being the sudden break out in the song “Lean on Me” by the crowd. Mixed together between the barriers were people of all different colors, flavors, and shapes. I had to pause and reflect on the progress of our nation in the last 50 years. The laughter that filled the concrete tunnel following the end (or the “we can’t remember any more words to the song…) was completely joy filled and the electricity that it created was absolutely amazing – buzzing with excitement for a huge step forward.
Throughout this week, I have been fortunate enough to see such speakers as Colin Powell and Al Gore as well as some political hotshots and the poet laureate of the United States. Each and every one of the expressed their excitement for the coming generation – for my generation. Being into history I’ve already drawn parallels to JFK – and the Reagan years…but just the same is was wonderful to experience the feeling of excitement that the “outgoing” generation feels for us. It gives me confidence in the ability of the millennials to lead not only our nation, but our world into the future. A resounding reminder in the American promise of an ever better tomorrow…and the responsibility to provide that for the generations to come.
While dealing with the almost deadly piranha cold and the ever changing mood of the crowd – I found my mind wandering endlessly to the words of yesterday that moved and inspired generations, allowing our country to continually make progess. As I was reciting pieces of various speeches in my mind (crazy, I know, thanks for reminding me …) my gaze fell on an old African American woman. I immediately felt extremely lame for complaining about the cold because if an 80 year old woman can deal with it, then I should obviously be able to…this, however, did not help my skin’s toughness toward the bitter outside cold. Upon searching her eyes I was able to discover a deep joy coupled with relief. I thought for a moment that standing not five feet from me is a woman who had, at least in some way, EXPERIENCED Jim Crow…who had perhaps fought for her freedom with her people…freedom that “existed” but was not ‘in practice’ so to speak. My heart grew and swelled knowing that, although discrimination still exists in our nation it is on its way out. To this I say -- It’s about time!
Eventually we made it through the checkpoint (where thousands of people grumbled about the loss of their water bottles and bags that they had been told not to bring…), where we ended up with an absolutely exquisite view of the Capital – missing speakers and a decent view of a jumbo-tron …but wonderful just the same. I met and spoke with a man who was from LA and we discussed the massive amount of joy we were feeling for a turn over of power as well as a turn over in generation. During the time of Kennedy and King, there is a decent to good chance that Keith and I would not have been able to hold that conversation as he is African American. Watching the ceremony take place was a life-changing moment and although there was no sound and little picture, I walked out feeling changed, inspired, and proud of my country.
In my mind, there is a passage from a 1967 Martin Luther King Jr. speech (Where do we go from here?) that resonates with me as we continue to push forward for a better, stronger, more equal and free United States.
“And I must confess, my friends , that the road ahead will not always be smooth. There will still be rocky places of frustration and meandering points of bewilderment. There will be inevitable setback here and there. And there will be those moments when the buoyancy of hope will be transformed into the fatigue of despair. Our dreams will sometimes be shattered and our ethereal hopes blasted. We may again, with tear drenched eyes, have to stand before the bier of some courageous civil rights worker whose life will be snuffed out by the dastardly acts of bloodthirsty mobs. But difficult and painful as it is, we must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future…”
-Martin Luther King Jr. August 16, 1967
One last thought for now…
Proof that the world has changed can be found in the writing of our youth…in my world history class we had a discussion about leaders through their journal. They were not only to identify the great traits of a leader, but to articulate who they thought was the greatest leader of all time. Although there were a few repeats – Jesus, FDR, Hitler, and Queen Elizabeth … no other person had the massive amount of “votes” so to speak than MLK. My students are overwhelmingly white…and I think to myself…we have come so far – so so so far in 50 years.
I am 22 years old, and I have been fortunate (or, unfortunate depending on how you look at it – or depending on the event) to experience a lot of history as time travels on.
This early week in January 2009, I have been spending time in Washington DC to see the Inauguration of President Obama. Yesterday was the big day, and began at 3 am – with an hour walk to the line we were directed to. After waiting in line for several hours (three hours…in 20 degree weather with 70% humidity. Humid cold is not nearly as nice as dry cold…and all the people I met here did not notice that there was any humidity…ha. It is hard to explain that the cold is biting like a piranha that has been unable to eat for 17 years…) we discovered that the line we were standing in was for the parade and not the line for the National Mall – which was disappointing and somewhat frustrating since we’d been directed there after asking a police officer where to go … but decided that we had to go in so at least we would be in SOMEWHERE. They let in about 30 people per line through the security checkpoint at a time– and I was mostly ready to get out into the sun as we’d been in a tunnel of sorts. The line moved at a snail’s pace at best – so I was thrilled we were generally in the front of the line.
During this time – several spontaneous things happened….my favorite by far being the sudden break out in the song “Lean on Me” by the crowd. Mixed together between the barriers were people of all different colors, flavors, and shapes. I had to pause and reflect on the progress of our nation in the last 50 years. The laughter that filled the concrete tunnel following the end (or the “we can’t remember any more words to the song…) was completely joy filled and the electricity that it created was absolutely amazing – buzzing with excitement for a huge step forward.
Throughout this week, I have been fortunate enough to see such speakers as Colin Powell and Al Gore as well as some political hotshots and the poet laureate of the United States. Each and every one of the expressed their excitement for the coming generation – for my generation. Being into history I’ve already drawn parallels to JFK – and the Reagan years…but just the same is was wonderful to experience the feeling of excitement that the “outgoing” generation feels for us. It gives me confidence in the ability of the millennials to lead not only our nation, but our world into the future. A resounding reminder in the American promise of an ever better tomorrow…and the responsibility to provide that for the generations to come.
While dealing with the almost deadly piranha cold and the ever changing mood of the crowd – I found my mind wandering endlessly to the words of yesterday that moved and inspired generations, allowing our country to continually make progess. As I was reciting pieces of various speeches in my mind (crazy, I know, thanks for reminding me …) my gaze fell on an old African American woman. I immediately felt extremely lame for complaining about the cold because if an 80 year old woman can deal with it, then I should obviously be able to…this, however, did not help my skin’s toughness toward the bitter outside cold. Upon searching her eyes I was able to discover a deep joy coupled with relief. I thought for a moment that standing not five feet from me is a woman who had, at least in some way, EXPERIENCED Jim Crow…who had perhaps fought for her freedom with her people…freedom that “existed” but was not ‘in practice’ so to speak. My heart grew and swelled knowing that, although discrimination still exists in our nation it is on its way out. To this I say -- It’s about time!
Eventually we made it through the checkpoint (where thousands of people grumbled about the loss of their water bottles and bags that they had been told not to bring…), where we ended up with an absolutely exquisite view of the Capital – missing speakers and a decent view of a jumbo-tron …but wonderful just the same. I met and spoke with a man who was from LA and we discussed the massive amount of joy we were feeling for a turn over of power as well as a turn over in generation. During the time of Kennedy and King, there is a decent to good chance that Keith and I would not have been able to hold that conversation as he is African American. Watching the ceremony take place was a life-changing moment and although there was no sound and little picture, I walked out feeling changed, inspired, and proud of my country.
In my mind, there is a passage from a 1967 Martin Luther King Jr. speech (Where do we go from here?) that resonates with me as we continue to push forward for a better, stronger, more equal and free United States.
“And I must confess, my friends , that the road ahead will not always be smooth. There will still be rocky places of frustration and meandering points of bewilderment. There will be inevitable setback here and there. And there will be those moments when the buoyancy of hope will be transformed into the fatigue of despair. Our dreams will sometimes be shattered and our ethereal hopes blasted. We may again, with tear drenched eyes, have to stand before the bier of some courageous civil rights worker whose life will be snuffed out by the dastardly acts of bloodthirsty mobs. But difficult and painful as it is, we must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future…”
-Martin Luther King Jr. August 16, 1967
One last thought for now…
Proof that the world has changed can be found in the writing of our youth…in my world history class we had a discussion about leaders through their journal. They were not only to identify the great traits of a leader, but to articulate who they thought was the greatest leader of all time. Although there were a few repeats – Jesus, FDR, Hitler, and Queen Elizabeth … no other person had the massive amount of “votes” so to speak than MLK. My students are overwhelmingly white…and I think to myself…we have come so far – so so so far in 50 years.
thoughts about change
January 17, 2009
While reading journals turned in by some of my students, a few things became clear…
1. We need to learn how to correctly distinguish between “your” and “you’re” as well as “to”, “too”, and “two” and “there”, “their”, and “they’re.
2. We also need to learn about apostrophes…
3. Students don’t have a good grasp on current events and how or why they relate to the past.
As I’m a history teacher, I realize that I have a heightened sense of how current events reflect the past in SOME way. The world can not be the way it is without the influences of the past. I find that it is our responsibility to educate the future leaders of our nation on how we learn from the past. It is not my goal to teach kids millions of facts so that they may one day appear on Jepordy! and win thousands of dollars. My goals in history education are two fold:
I want kids to learn how to “do” history so that they’ll be successful in their future life whether it be college or not. If they are interested in the past (whatever subject matter it may be), they should be able to go find out about it…and be educated enough in the “how” of history to be successful.
I also hope that kids learn to appreciate that events that are happening today build on the past – and do not just appear out of nowhere. Although some events have more of an affect on ‘today’ than others, there is still a pulse running through the world today that beats with the decisions of past people.
While sitting in the Dallas airport today, I read and became consumed by a speech that Malcolm X gave during the American Civil Rights movement. Malcolm X is an extremely important figure in American history – but not one that I have ever studied much. If I dig into my brain to find the lessons I learned in middle and high school, they didn’t often include Malcolm X…and it wasn’t until today that I really allowed myself to dig into a piece of his work.
On November 10, 1963, Malcolm X delivered “A Message to the Grassroots”. The title in itself presents many parallels to events that are happening today. In a matter of days, Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the next United States President. Malcolm X’s message was about fighting – and the meaning of revolution. He questioned the ‘peacefulness’ of the African American population – citing that there were black men who went overseas to fight against ‘unknown’ enemies, but who were not fighting with that same vigor at home.
In 1963, the world was a different place, one that was full of hate and discrimination. I am extremely proud that our nation has taken a great step as a people. Looking out the window as I float above the sky, I can feel the excitement as almost the entire plane is full of people who are on their way to our nation’s capital to witness the inauguration of our first African American president. People of all genders, colors, and shapes sit together with eager smiles with the knowledge that the world (or at least, our world) is about to take a leap forward that perhaps eclipses putting a man on the moon.
On January 20th, I expect to stand among millions, with tears in my eyes. Although my ancestors were not enslaved, I am thrilled that our nation is strong enough and has grown enough since its conception that we are able to not only elect a president whose skin is a different color, but also to have joy in understanding the power of shedding some of the final pieces of chains that still bound members of our society.
How do students view this event? How do they connect it to the past?
I am fairly sure that ‘normal’ high school and middle school students are NOT actively trying to make connections to the past – so it is our responsibility as their teachers to help them see these connections so they can better understand the “history” that they are learning.
What better way to do that then through sources that show the deep pain of a group of people who were so repressed and beaten down for hundreds of years? Howard Zinn put together a book entitled “Voices of a People’s History” that includes an entire chapter that focuses on voices that illustrate the black uprising in the United States. Students need to learn and understand that it is the past that allows us to have a future.
“Nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.”
-Barack Obama
While reading journals turned in by some of my students, a few things became clear…
1. We need to learn how to correctly distinguish between “your” and “you’re” as well as “to”, “too”, and “two” and “there”, “their”, and “they’re.
2. We also need to learn about apostrophes…
3. Students don’t have a good grasp on current events and how or why they relate to the past.
As I’m a history teacher, I realize that I have a heightened sense of how current events reflect the past in SOME way. The world can not be the way it is without the influences of the past. I find that it is our responsibility to educate the future leaders of our nation on how we learn from the past. It is not my goal to teach kids millions of facts so that they may one day appear on Jepordy! and win thousands of dollars. My goals in history education are two fold:
I want kids to learn how to “do” history so that they’ll be successful in their future life whether it be college or not. If they are interested in the past (whatever subject matter it may be), they should be able to go find out about it…and be educated enough in the “how” of history to be successful.
I also hope that kids learn to appreciate that events that are happening today build on the past – and do not just appear out of nowhere. Although some events have more of an affect on ‘today’ than others, there is still a pulse running through the world today that beats with the decisions of past people.
While sitting in the Dallas airport today, I read and became consumed by a speech that Malcolm X gave during the American Civil Rights movement. Malcolm X is an extremely important figure in American history – but not one that I have ever studied much. If I dig into my brain to find the lessons I learned in middle and high school, they didn’t often include Malcolm X…and it wasn’t until today that I really allowed myself to dig into a piece of his work.
On November 10, 1963, Malcolm X delivered “A Message to the Grassroots”. The title in itself presents many parallels to events that are happening today. In a matter of days, Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the next United States President. Malcolm X’s message was about fighting – and the meaning of revolution. He questioned the ‘peacefulness’ of the African American population – citing that there were black men who went overseas to fight against ‘unknown’ enemies, but who were not fighting with that same vigor at home.
In 1963, the world was a different place, one that was full of hate and discrimination. I am extremely proud that our nation has taken a great step as a people. Looking out the window as I float above the sky, I can feel the excitement as almost the entire plane is full of people who are on their way to our nation’s capital to witness the inauguration of our first African American president. People of all genders, colors, and shapes sit together with eager smiles with the knowledge that the world (or at least, our world) is about to take a leap forward that perhaps eclipses putting a man on the moon.
On January 20th, I expect to stand among millions, with tears in my eyes. Although my ancestors were not enslaved, I am thrilled that our nation is strong enough and has grown enough since its conception that we are able to not only elect a president whose skin is a different color, but also to have joy in understanding the power of shedding some of the final pieces of chains that still bound members of our society.
How do students view this event? How do they connect it to the past?
I am fairly sure that ‘normal’ high school and middle school students are NOT actively trying to make connections to the past – so it is our responsibility as their teachers to help them see these connections so they can better understand the “history” that they are learning.
What better way to do that then through sources that show the deep pain of a group of people who were so repressed and beaten down for hundreds of years? Howard Zinn put together a book entitled “Voices of a People’s History” that includes an entire chapter that focuses on voices that illustrate the black uprising in the United States. Students need to learn and understand that it is the past that allows us to have a future.
“Nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.”
-Barack Obama
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