The Year: The College Professor Returns to School, Week 1

The Year: Getting Started

 

August 25, 2012

Funny how life brings you full circle. My middle school experience began in 1983 at Quincy Middle School, now the home of GEMS, PACE, and a few other programs. I was a shy 6th grader. The daughter of an elementary school teacher and state worker. The granddaughter of a custodian and a mine worker. I was shy, nervous, and easily intimidated.  I met one of my all-time favorite teachers that year - Mrs. Inez Ross.  She taught Social Studies. I remember the classroom vividly. I sat in the third seat in the first row nearest her desk. No one spoke unless spoken to. She presented information, we received.  I recall my cousin being in the class with me, two students from Vietnam who did not speak English (one was much older than the other one), and the day my classmate fell asleep in class.  In those days, teachers could physically punish you. They could paddle or have you hold books in both hands while you stood on one foot. These images terrified me, so, of course, I did not make a peep.  Anyway, my classmate fell asleep in class. With stealth speed, she moved from the front of the class, grabbed the yardstick that was wrapped in duck tape and whacked it across his back. I know, I know, some of you are wringing your necks and waving your pointed finger in the air saying, "Oh, h- nah, that couldn't have been me." Well, let me tell you, yes it could have, and would have in 1983 in 6th grade at Quincy Middle.  I even recall the day the two Vietnamese students whispered too loudly. She looked over at them and clearly stated, "I am not sure what you are saying, but no one talks while I talk." Even they knew she was not to be tried. I only heard them on the "playground" after that.

Fast forward to August 20, 2012. The first day of school. I ascended the staircase to my 6th grade class with my 6-year-old, who also attends the school, trailing behind. (Neither of us are morning people.) I had been given keys, textbooks, a roll, and all the well-wishes I could muster.  I looked around and kept saying, perhaps I should have returned to the college classroom after all.  I would have another week to sleep in and love on my 5-month son. My rationale for this return to the K12 public school system was simple, admirable, and logical, right?  

Since beginning my teaching career in the same county at Greensboro High in 1995, I knew I wanted to teach at the university level, and I did so from January 2002-August 2011. I taught everything English from Freshman Composition I & II, to Drama and Creative Writing, from Method courses for prospective English teachers, to Advanced Composition and English to Speakers of Other Languages classes. I supervised student teachers in Gadsden, Leon, Jefferson and Wakulla counties, I was coordinator of the English Education program, have served on various committees at Florida Memorial University, Florida A&M University, and Florida State University.  I am sure there are many, including my mother, who think I have lost my mind. Why not simply spend this time with the baby and return to work next fall? Or, why not return this year?

It seems that if teacher education is going to survive and not erode into online programs with introduction courses being taught at the community college level, at least in Florida, then those involved must annually review their toolkit.  There is this thought among some high-ranking officials that educating teachers at the undergraduate level could be done in part by community colleges and then online programs with paid personnel to simply observe them as they complete a year-long practicum or internship.  Special attention would then be given to those who seek graduate degrees in education since, you guessed it, more money could be made. Have I looked at the curriculum of many online education programs and the one thing that these programs often  have over more traditional programs is recency.  While at Florida A&M University, education faculty were required to complete three days of recency.  We had to return to an area public school and teach. The first time I did it, I accompanied my husband to work. He was then teaching at James A. Shanks High School. Let us just say that the morning was good, but then by the end of the day I was given them a speech on taxes and expected outcomes of taxpayers.  We still laugh about this.  The second and subsequent times I journeyed to Fairview Middle School to the 6th grade pre-IB (during my initial foray to her class she taught reading)  to classes of Karen Kirkendoll. It was during these experiences that I would realize how much things had changed since 1995 and would augment my syllabus to reflect these changes. However, now that I have had time to think, this does not seem adequate. 

So far I realize that many districts are still trying to get a grip on the Common Core. Politicians and education should never mix, especially when too little time is built into timelines for appropriate dissemination of knowledge and resources.  I have also realized that 6th graders have changed.  They are more talkative than I recall.  I also discovered that my previous experience in a traditional middle school setting is interfering with my current location and position.  Traditionally, students in middle schools are regimented by bells.  The bell rings, go to class. The bell rings again, you are tardy. The bell rings, go to your next class. Etc.  This week, I learned that I will need to set my iPhone so that it signals when the class should be taken to their next class. My co-teacher has already had to open the door to remind me that it is time to switch. I was not there to meet them after P.E. so Coach forwarded them to me. They did rather well. I remember a rotating lunch duty, but having to escort them to lunch and eat with them in 30 minutes. Hmmmm. I remember the bells. I remember seeing them off to their next class before receiving a new crew. Now, I have the same 19 students from 8-2'ish with the exception of the switch mentioned earlier.  One student commented who impressed she was that I had learned all of their names. Not hard to do when it is just 19 and I see you ALL day. The paperwork is serious. I sent home parent letters requiring signatures. The school has forwarded some five forms and permission slips to sell candy. This is just Week 1. I left FSU last year. Each room had a document camera, LCD projector, motorized screens, speakers, light dimmers, WI FI, and wall-to-wall white boards. Let us just say that I would take an old-fashioned projector right about now. Funding issues in education are real. Because GEMS is a magnet school it does not receive Title I funds. 

So, no, I am not crazy. I did not lose my job. I was not fired.  I am not on drugs or still under the influence of being pregnant. I simply want to make sure (1) that education is still my first love and passion, (2) that if and when I return to the college class, that I have real knowledge of current life in the trenches, not just the writings and experience of others, and (3) that I practice what I preach and that what I preach is reletvant. 

Stay tuned... week 2 is just around the bend.