On Sunday, June 22 I officially became part of Teach for America's 2008 NYC corps. And as I looked around the auditorium at St. John's University at the sea of eager and fresh faced newly minted college grads I wondered what the hell I was doing. Would I really be able to be a part of a group that for all of its best intentions reeks of noblesse oblige? Well since I'm down for educational equity (and am in need of a jawb) I'm in for the duration. But the 5 week training institute which is meant to be a crash course to prepare us to go into some of the most under-served schools in NYC is also going to be a social experiment for the 550 cohort (many of whom still think the City is as gully as it was in the 1970s and 1980s. This ain't the Wire).I wonder if my fellow corps members fantasize about being a kind of Michelle Pfeiffer to their troubled inner-city black and Latino youth. Or maybe Hilary Swank's turn in "Freedom Writers" was more their fancy. You know, the unassuming white suburban teacher is the only one who can get through to the ghetto youth. They swoop in and give them something they never had - hope and in the end they choose the pen over the gun. Bamp. Either way, the story is tired. None of us know what the hell to expect or anticipate. The only thing I do know is that I hope my future students believe in me as much as I already believe in them.
I'm more of the Stand and Deliver school of model movie teachers anyway.
2 comments:
Although I haven't had the opportunity to teach at a public school yet, I have taught students that have come from the public school system. The most difficult thing in teaching is not content (because hopefully you know the material that you are teaching) but convincing your students that you truly care about their welfare in and outside of the classroom. Therefore creating a classroom community that allows students to not be afraid of exploring their own ideas and not simply the ideas that they believe would get them the grade to simply pass is extremely important. Unfortunately the reality is that you are not going to reach each and every student in your classroom, but you must teach each lesson as if you expect to reach each student. Last but not least, please remember that students love to have rules and penalties, and they absolutely love to be held to high standards; this makes them believe that you believe that they are intelligent individuals. Give stickers or some kind of silly acknowledgement to their achievements!
Amanda V. Finigan-Hutchines
great advice, i really appreciate it. i need all the help and guidance and advice i can get.
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