The articles I read have changed how I view myself as an English teacher. Who would have thought that I have a big responsibility as an English teacher? I certainly did not. I took my job for granted. I have no clue how important my job is because as an English teacher, I have work to do! To do the work is a huge responsibility. The responsibilities are heavy and burdensome. I am stunned and am trying to put all the information together.
I am referring to the “In Stories They Tell” article on the main responsibilities as an English teacher. 1. To ensure that I teach the morals (the right things to do) to my students; 2. My job is to teach my students how they can argue intellectually through print and digital writing; 3. My job is to be sure that my students are able to see each reason in different perspectives with an open-minded attitude. Like Turner and HIcks mentioned that argument increase intelligent and compassionate conversation with people who immerse the disclosure of a topic; 4. As a teacher, I want to see my students be able to know how to write in all kinds. Depending on the audience, purpose, and situation, Turner and Hicks explained how important it is for the students to write in a different mode and media. 5. It is a chunk of information on my mind that I crave to share with my students all at once, but unfortunately, it is not possible to share such important information overnight. This is beyond my control, however, as an English teacher, I only can start to teach them right now and things will flow over time.
Where do I start? Which one do I start with first? I am overwhelmed with the idea of having huge responsibilities as an English teacher. A job I once thought was simply teaching my students how to write and read well. I no longer think that way and I take my job seriously.
I picked up the idea of having a responsibility as a teacher from “In Stories, They Tell” article. In 1964, Malcolm X envisioned an image of what a newspaper should do: Be responsible. He did not realize how right he was back in 1964. He knew exactly what he was talking about! Look at today’s media, beyond irresponsible, exactly what Malcolm X envisioned. Also, I am stunned when to learn how important it is to be sure that the Black youth to be able to encounter the constant badgering from the media because of the color of their skin. To encounter the constant badgering, they can write to speak up their minds and stand up for what is right. That’s my job to ensure that all of my Black students are able to do that. Not only this but also, it applies to all of the students with different genders, races, and disabilities.
This photo, “Our Education System” reflects my educational system ideology. My ideology is to educate my students based on common senses. I am to adapt, adjust, and modify the curriculum to fit each student. I could not fathom why highly educated people can’t think of a simple concept of what’s best education system for everyone. There is no such One Size for All. I always admire and appreciate Albert Einstein’s simplicity of thinking.
There are brilliant resources I have picked up from the readings: Turner and Hicks have convinced me to agree that I should teach my students the importance of digital argument. Christensen shared wonderful tools I can use to show my students to keep revising until my students get it right. Allsides.com website has given me a better picture of an image what unbiased media look like. I can imagine what my students will think and they will think about how easy it is to understand what unbiased news looks like. I am far impressed with Allsides.com because I like that they allow me to decide what I want to read and what to ignore. Also, it is a perfect place for my students to research related to Baker-Bell, Stanbrough, and Everett’s Pedagogy of Healing lesson plans when assigning my Black and all other races students writing assignments.
Baker-Bell, Stanbrough, and Everett’s article got me thinking about the identity marker activity. At first, I didn’t understand what identity marker was until I checked this website http://www.sidewaysthoughts.com/blog/2013/08/sniffing-your-identity-markers-who-do-you-say-you-are/.
In the Who Are You? section, I can relate to the feeling of how people decided about who I am. When they labeled who I am, I often correct them immediately. I always wonder why I felt the need to correct my identity. Edward Gorey’s powerful quote gave me an idea why I felt the need to correct my identity. Thanks to Mr. Gorey, he got me thinking about my preference.
There are two identities I prefer to be called: Deba, personally and a teacher professionally at school. Even though, I was born with the name, Debbie Kay; I am a woman; I am a mother to my daughter; I am an English teacher; I am Deaf; I have Deaf family; I am a White; I am a German, and I graduated Gallaudet University. Personally, I prefer to be called Deba because that is exactly who I am. As a professional, I prefer to be called a teacher, not a woman, a girl, Deaf, White or a mother. These are what my students often called me. Immediately, I correct them that I am their teacher.
Why do people find it easier to complicate things than to keep things simple? It is something I will never comprehend for as long as I live.
Deba, I think you've made some ver interesting points and observations in this blog. I really love the picture you included with Einstein's quote. I think it's important for us as teachers to remember that not all students can complete the same tasks, the same way, and get the same results. Even in math classes, there may only be one right answer, but there are a number of ways that we can GET those answers. With English classes, there may be a format given to students for writing an essay, with expectations of maybe topic or main idea, but the way they get us to that main idea will vary. If all of our students are writing the same, then something is up. Writing is creative and free, and that's what makes it so beautiful and unique. If I had to read 24-30 of the same essays, I'd scream.
ReplyDeleteI also love your comment about simplicity. Sometimes, people think they're making things easier, but they end up mucking it up and making it harder for everyone. I try my best to make things as simple and easy to follow as possible, especially for my students. Why? Because I want them to SUCCEED.
Thanks for sharing Deba!
Deba, I love how you admit that you did not realize that your job as an English educator came with such social responsibility as well. I think it's very honest of you to admit that being an English educator has a lot more to it than just teaching reading and writing. We all have a social responsibility to get our students to a place where they are critical thinkers that have the skills and tools to question the world around them. Allsides is a great asset to add to our tool box because as you had mentioned, it shows different perspectives! As well as how we learned in class that you can read an article about the same topic but written from a different political perspective and take away a completely different message they are trying to convey. Great post!
ReplyDeleteDeba, I definitely don't think it's unusual for people to go into teaching without realizing the enormous power and responsibility that being an educator comes with. For some people the way they handle it is that they just ignore it and teaching is just a job. They come in, the do their work for a few hours, and then they leave unchanged. If you really love the work you do, it's going to stick with you through your whole life. I can tell that you're a thoughtful teacher by the way you worry if you're doing a good job. That's just a sign that you care. I think because I grew up in a family with many teachers, I saw better than the average person what a weight that can be on someone. My aunt for example taught 2nd graders when she had left her husband and was raising her daughter on her own, but she never gave up and she never let her personal ruin creep into her work. She can remember pretty much every single kid that ever stepped into her classroom. I've heard her say many times how difficult the job can be, but never once did she say that she regretted it. We are the everyday heroes who shape the lives of the generations after us. I love the Edward Gorey quote. Really awesome guy. I love his illustrations. That statement of his really emphasizes the person first attitude that teachers need to have. In order to work in a service job like this one, you have to be humble and realize that it's not all about the art and the agenda. A teacher has to show students how to live. Even though it's not simple, someone has to do it.
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