TTCTW-Chapter 12
This chapter was such a good summary to our semester. There were many things in this chapter that made me reflect and/or connect to things we’ve learned through GSU or things in my own life. I loved the quote mentioned at that beginning of the chaper by Alice Walker to “keep in mind always the present you are constructing. It should be the future you want.” A first year teacher mentioned that quote when talking about making a difference in her students’ lives. It’s neat to read the excitement in the first year teachers’ quotes throughout this book, as well as the motivation they all seem to have. I remember having that eagerness, excitedness, and motivation. I remember during my first few years of teaching, I was hoping I would get the kids that others thought of behavior problems. I just knew that I would be able to pull them in under my wing and turn them into happy, well-behaved children. I was so motivated and eager about things and feel that as my teaching career continued, my motivation and eagerness began to wane. This chapter, as well as things we’ve talked about in class, have brought back some of that eagerness. I feel less naive and more knowledgeable. I feel as if I really can make a difference or a change.
Throughout the chapter, many negatives of teaching were mentioned, such as lack of training, teacher attrition and shortages, pay, etc. I felt so lucky after reading on page 476 that some teachers “point out that deteriorating facilities, overcrowding, inadequate materials, lack of time to meet and plan with colleagues, and the absence of professional autonomy and respect prevent them from doing the job they were prepared to do.” I love my school and the teacher and administration that I work with. I feel so sorry for teachers that have to teach in conditions such as those mentioned. It’s something that is hard for me to even imagine. It makes me sad that teachers just like me dread going to work when if something so simple as being in a different building would make them love their job. I hate to think of all the wonderful teachers that quit because of reasons as those. I guess the main thing that bothers me about my job is the lack of respect from parents. I think a lot of the parents of my students think of me as a full-time babysitter instead of a teacher.
I liked reading about the strategies to change the world. I highlighted almost every word in the “Become a Social Justice Activist” paragraph. How motivating! Making social justices part of the curriculum was also interesting to read about.
