Babel

I recently got the enjoyment of being able to watch the movie "Babel". This film is a wonderful portrayal of the connection that exits within our world market. It is often hard to look at people all over the world and try to explain how they are connected, "Babel" was able to successfully do this.

This movie can easily be connected to education. It is important to realize that all cultures are connected. That one thing can affect a larger group. I think especially in the United States, we often forget that this is the case. We are not the beginning and end of everything. What one person does can greatly affect what other people do. How I choose to teach students in the future may have an affect on the global community. Now, what i teach someone may not cause someone to get shot, but what I say and do can affect someone and so on. Choices are like a snowball effect. When decisions are made, they affect more than one person. They affect everyone that I am connected to, everyone they are connected to etc.

My problem with today's society is that we often forget that all the decisions we make do not help someone else. Something that may affect us positively may affect someone else negatively. A poignant example of this in the movie was when the Japanese man gave a gun to the Moroccan man, who in turn let his sons use, who in turn ended up shooting someone. Although the Japanese man gave the gun out of gratitude, and the gun was a wonderful gift for short while, the affect that it had on the women from the United States was potentially fatal. We often forget that it is important to look at the common good of not just ourselves.

I guess this is the job I feel that I need to take on as a teacher. I need to teach students to be mindful of the choices they make and the affects that they may have on a society as a whole.

Clean Teeth and Poverty

While spending the month of January in Postville, I heard an interesting concept that seemed like a wonderful thing: teachers and guidance counselors taking students to the dentist.

First I think it it probably necessary to give some information about Postville to help understand why this is so important.

Postville is a small town in Northeast Iowa. It is made up of quite a diverse group of people. Numbers illustrate that there are approximately 60 different nationalities in this small town. Why so many different groups one might ask?

Postville is the home of a kosher meat processing plant, bringing in a large number of Russians and Hispanics. The Hispanic population that moved into the location is largely made up of illegal immigrants. This large group is soon to be about 65% of the school age population. These students are fighting to learn English and establish a place for themselves within the community. The majority of these Hispanics that live in Postville are below the poverty line. They are packed into houses with 8, 9, or 10 other people.

Because of these difficulties many of the school aged children are not getting the proper help when it comes to hygiene. Because of the poverty and their non-existent citizen status, they are unable to get the proper help that they need.

The Postville Elementary school is now taking an active role when it comes to the dental health of the students. The school nurse is now giving fluoride to students and those students with extreme dental problems, are being taken to the dentist.

This seems like a wonderful active role. The students are unable to receive these important extras, that we take for granted, because of their poverty. The school is taking action against this and helping those that are unable to help themselves. It is important to keep in mind that these students, although not legally in the United States, it is the teacher's and the school's responsibility to protect the students while they are within school.

I really feel that this is an important part in education and a wonderful way to help battle a number of issues. By Postville taking an active role in this small area, it illustrates a larger picture. They are helping the problem of poverty within their school district. I think this is something that a number of other schools she initiate.

Sliced bread and Stepford Students

Why do we teach?

I cannot say that I have ever really thought about why people teach. I know that I have a number of reasons as to why exactly I decided to begin this journey.

I remember always loving school, hating breaks, and thinking that my teachers were the greatest things since slice bread. I was always so excited to go to school. I always answered questions and loved to participate in class.

When I was in 3rd grade I had an amazing teacher, Mrs. Topper. Mrs. Topper would take us on trips to China (imaginary of course) and we would play games to learn. I thought she was wonderful. I knew within a few short months of having her that I wanted to be just like her.

As I got older my reason became more important than just getting to eat first in the cafeteria at the big people's table. I realized that teachers helped to decide the fate of their students. I was surrounded by people who were once disciplinary problems and turned their lives around thanks to a teacher's help. I realize that this is not always the case, but I wanted to be one of those people. I saw that when everyone else was saying what they wanted to be when they grew up, I would be the person someday that would help to lead people onto the path to decide not only what they would do for a job, but what their overall character would be.

What is the difference between school "work" and student "learning"?

I hate math. I absolutely loath it. I remember many nights crying over my worksheets because I could not figure out how to do my homework, always asking "why". I would memorize things just so I could barely get by in my classes, that probably has to do with why I can barely add and subtract now as it is... :)

I think that is the exact difference between school "work" and student "learning". I was just doing my school "work". I do not remember how to do any of the things that I learned in math, because I didn't understand it so I just did what I had to do to get by. I think that student "learning" is being able to take information and being able to use it critically in terms of the bigger picture. Being able to apply it to life situations and not just carrying out the tasks to get the work done.

What makes for good teaching?

You'd like to think that a good teacher is someone who's students pass standardized tests with flying colors. Teachers who teach students to pass tests and move along to the next grade.

The problem with this though is that students don't always understand the impact of what they are learning in terms of the world. It is not the goal of the teacher to create "Stepford" students.

Good teaching comes from someone that not only can help people learn material, but are also able to teach them in a way that they can understand why it is important and not just have information memorized.

Good teaching comes from someone that understands their students, not just at face value, but someone that has a relationship with their students. A relationship built on respect and understanding.

Good teaching comes from someone that doesn't feel like it is a chore to help someone that is falling behind, but sees it as a commitment to help them understand.

Good teaching comes from someone that works TOGETHER with students to understand their role in society and the importance of realizing that they make up only a small piece of the world.

Good teaching comes from someone who teaches students to not just accept what they are told but to question until they can find an answer for themselves.