Rated R for... Resign?

When I was in middle school, our social studies teacher wanted to show us Schindler’s List.  The idea was that words on a page can only go so far to communicate the horror of National Socialism.  Our teacher was trying to reach us through visual representations of those events.  Although the movie is rated R, the value of it seemingly outweighed the rating.  As an adult now, I get that.  As an adult then, my mother did not.

She was actually borderline outraged.  Which surprises me now, looking back, as my mother is one of the most eloquent, intellectually curious, and continually academic women I know.  The teacher had sent home a permission slip to watch the movie, and my mother not only refused to sign it, but also wrote a scathing letter of offense and explanation as to why I, a middle school student, would not be participating. 

In part, it read: “Even a conscience-less entertainment industry feels that this movie is inappropriate for children. You don’t need to watch graphic violence in order to build empathy.” Etc. etc.

And I wholeheartedly agree!  Because the world as we know it today is so filled with violence, death, and even emotional torture, I do not feel we need to expose young minds to movies which feature those things in a warped sense of awareness.  That is why the recent event in Mississippi of a veteran teacher using the movie “Dolan’s Cadillac” in her 10^th grade class is disturbing to me.

As a teacher now, I could debate the merits of showing an entire movie during precious class time as an issue of its own.  Don’t we always want more time with our students? Don’t they watch enough television and movies over the weekend?

I had another history teacher in high school who wanted to show us the movie Elizabeth to enhance our understanding of life and politics of the Tudor period.    This movie is also rated R.  This particular teacher decided ahead of time to show us only select portions of the movie, a few of which I still remember, in a tasteful and decidedly PG-rated fashion.  No permission slips.  No hate mail from parents.  And was it effective? Like I said, I still remember it.

This eliminated so many problems from the situation: angry parents, uncomfortable students, reprimanded teacher.  In Mississippi, this teacher caused an unintended situation for a few students:  there were some who were uncomfortable with the movie being shown, and as a result of their objection, there was an investigation and the teacher resigned.  Students supportive of the teacher and not offended by the movie (allegedly) subsequently harassed students who complained.   There are walkouts and campaigns to reinstate the teacher, with much support on social media for her case.

Now, not only did a few students (even one is too many!) feel uncomfortable watching the movie, but now they are being marginalized for reporting their feelings.  As teachers, we should be leaders of tolerance and exploration, but also leaders of safety and high moral compasses.  We need to set the example that glamorous actors and musicians so very rarely set: have a standard.

Perhaps the question shouldn’t so much be, what is the movie rated? But rather, is this movie worth my job?   

Teaching in the Digital Age: Down With Cursive!

I understand that teaching in the 21st century has dramatically changed as a result of the internet, social media, and advances in personal and widely-available technology.  Most of my elementary students have more gadgets and devices (tablets, mp3 players, gaming consoles) than my biweekly paycheck would afford.

If you have recently emerged from a rock, you will be interested to know that the teaching of cursive writing has been removed from many schools across the country. Taken from the IndyPost: "In 2011 Indiana State Board of Education made cursive writing optional and instead required computer keyboarding, in accordance with the national Common Core standards." Although that state, along with six others - California, Idaho, Kansas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Utah - are possibly fighting that mandate.

Notably, scientists are finding that cursive writing has a whole load of benefits that, until now, have not been given their spotlight. Psychology Today writes, "learning cursive is an important tool for cognitive development... the brain develops functional specialization that integrates both sensation, movement control, and thinking... fine motor control is needed over the fingers. Brain imaging studies show that cursive activates areas of the brain that do not participate in keyboarding."

For a certainty, learning to use a keyboard (with more than just your two pointing fingers) is a useful skill.  But should it be only at the expense of cursive that it is learned? Is there enough time in the curriculum to teach both? 

I sat down next to two of the cafeteria ladies today between classes, and they were filling out time sheets.  I was absolutely enthralled with their beautiful, elegant, refined cursive handwriting. My students can barely read what I write on the board in print. I almost felt guilty.

Maybe we can teach it in Art class? Before it's lost.

Urban Legends: cont.

Number 3; keep 'em comin!

This just shows you what they can't prepare you for in college:

I had taught for a few years but this is about the first time I taught elementary school.  I was considered a specialist so I went in to the third grade classrooms as opposed to having my own room.  

There was one student in the class named Maeve who never spoke.  He was so shy I almost didn't know what his voice sounded like.  One day in December (our year starts in September) I was splitting up the class to do boys vs. girls. I put Maeve in his group and I heard another student say, Why are you putting Maeve with us? My impression was that these boys had something against Maeve.  But I brushed it aside and said something like, Hey we all work together no matter what.

Later I told the classroom teacher and she got red in the face.  "Maeve is a girl."

Urban Legends: cont.

Here's another...

The very first time I was observed at my job, I was teaching a low level math class in a high school.  I was pretty nervous about it so I leveled with the students. 

"Okay guys. Today in class I want 100% participation.  If you don't know the answer, raise your left hand.  I will not call on you. If you know the answer, raise your right hand."

When the principal came in, he was very impressed with the level of participation of my students.