Sunday Night (6-10 pm): Last night I felt a sense of dread. I guess anybody dreads going back to work on Monday, but with teaching I think it's a little different. For me, it's a strange transition from being "off" two days straight to preparing myself to be fully "on" and available to my students. For me, a lot of teaching is preparation and preparing my mental state for the week to come. I really love my job, but there's something about Sunday nights that conjures up panic and anxiety for the week to come. When I first started in the fall there would be many Sunday nights I would question the profession I had chosen. As I looked at the floor at all the ungraded papers, the undone lesson plans, and pondered my lack of knowledge of Civics, I would begin looking for other jobs and opportunities that didn't consume all of my time. The sense of "dread" and preparation hasn't gone away, but this semester I feel more confident in myself. I actually want to do this job. I know I can do it. So I spent last night how I spend every Sunday. I plan, enter some grades, grocery shop, and prepare for the week. My friend Dave comes over. We talk about how to better use our time so we don't feel so behind.
Monday Morning (7:20-8:50)- I wake up feeling extra tired today. That seems to be how Monday always goes. However, there is a sense of excitement because today is one of my favorite lessons I teach. I arrive at school at 8:15, and I begin printing out materials for the day. Halfway through the printing process, the printer I am using jams up, and it doesn't matter how many times I check every single area that could have paper stuck in it, the copier continues to beep at me saying to check certain areas. (To all my friends in college- you WILL become an expert at replacing toner, fixing jams, restarting the printer, etc.). At any rate it all works out, but barely.
(1st period 8:55-10:25)- As soon as I get to class I realize in the madness of the morning and printing off the activity that I totally forgot to print out new weekly warmup logs and EQ Logs, essential parts of my routines. I play it off to the students as a "crazy morning" where the printer wouldn't "cooperate." Oh well, tomorrows a new day.
(All Periods)- Today is one of my favorite lessons because we talk about voting requirements and historical barriers to voting. At the very beginning of the semester, I pose the statement to the students that we are a nation where "all men are created equal" and that America was founded on popular sovereignty- or the idea that the government gets its authority from the people. We of course challenge this idea as the semester moves forward, and today we talk about how excluding women, African Americans, etc. from voting was a true denial of the core values we hold in our hearts as Americans-"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.." After we get through some notes I show students video clips from Iron Jawed Angels and Selma. Some students are touched by the clips, others seems disinterested. Either way, I hope it sticks. I want students to know that voting wasn't something that fell into the laps of most Americans. It was a right that was considered so precious people even risked their lives for it.
After the direct instruction, I tell them to put up all materials and that they are going to have 30 minutes to try and complete as many questions as possible on a 67 question "Benchmark Review" test. What they don't know is that they are actually taking the 1965 Alabama Literacy Test that barred so many African Americans from voting. This particular test asks questions about the government, so it's perfect for a simulation.
I tell them they need to get at least 50/67 right if they want to earn an A. The students totally buy in and begin to freak out about the assignment. About 5 minutes in, I start going around to particular students and looking them dead in the face and saying, "You're done with the review questions, right?" The students I individually pick look at me with fear and confusion. "Uh no Mr. C, wait what's happening, no I'm not done.." I then reply, "Well your done now, and I assumed you failed, sorry." I do this to about 5 students and then the whole class starts to put two and two together.
This is not an actual review assignment, this is a simulation of what African Americans had to go through in the South when trying to register to vote. Everybody in the class breathes a sigh of relief, and I explain to my honors kids particularly that they can allow their blood pressure to return to a normal level (Gotta make that A...). Everybody laughs and is impressed with how well they bought in. For most students in the class it clicks. In the 1950s and 1960s it doesn't matter if you answered every single question correctly the registrar would still find a way to deny your registration application. Most students agree they couldn't have passed the test, even with an unlimited amount of time.
I leave all periods hoping students will never forget this day. There are several days from my APUSH class in high school I still haven't forgotten. This is what education is all about to me. Students won't remember everything you taught them, but I hope they leave Civics knowing they being an America is promoting fairness and equality for all citizens.
After School (3:45-5): Today we have a faculty meeting and it lasts about an hour. We talk about new procedures coming up and new ways of communication. Our ROTC instructors (who are incredible) share about the program at my school and how it is shaping the lives of many of the students. Here, ROTC is a lifesaver for many students who don't have a purpose otherwise. Ironically, a lot of the "trouble maker" kids find themselves enrolled in ROTC, so it's always amazing to see how this program can drastically change attitudes, life plans, behavior, etc.
I leave school at 5 and think about how my lesson for tomorrow isn't done. (Still working on that currently..) and how many projects, etc. I need to grade from the past week.
Pause. I am behind. I will always be behind. Last semester nightly defeat and anxiety always got the best of me. As the year has progressed, I've realized it's not worth it.
At the end of the day- the students are worth it. Their self worth, empowerment, and understanding of democracy and inherent rights they have are important. We're tired and it's only Monday, but as teachers we will get up tomorrow and do it all over again. It's what we do.
No comments:
Post a Comment