Last night, I had an experience I never want to forget. One of my students- a guy in his 30's with at least one kid that I have met, came to me and said he wanted to be a psychologist.
This is a guy who just got his GED three months ago and since then has made Honor Roll in my class and was Student of the Month in June.
Why the late start?
Because, when he was younger people told him he was not "college material".
What the heck?
Where do people get off saying things like that?
That is what I love about my students at this particular school.
They not only beat the odds- they are doing it with full time jobs, families and coming to class four nights a week sometimes until 10:30.
Me?
I am just along for the ride.
I impart whatever knowledge they need for this journey and correct their quizzes.
I am in awe of every last one of them.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Bullet-In
Through no fault of my own, I have to teach my criminal justice students how to shoot.
This brings up several problems.
One: I cannot shoot a gun- this by the way is a cultivated ignorance as stopping someone's life by inserting a bullet in to the interior of their body and thereby destroying vital organs has never been a goal of mine.
Two: I do not like guns. This is not a moral decision. I do not like golf clubs, weedeaters or electric razors either. I am an equal opportunity "don't liker".
Three: This is supposed to be a course in Criminal Justice and, unless we have reverted to the Wild West...I do not get it. But the students get a kick out of it- and that worries me even more!
But, those who write curriculum for my school felt the need to invest vast quantities of cash in a life size video game that is supposed to teach students how to decide when to shoot- so there you have it
When the Rangemaster from a local police department came in to train me, and I saw him virtually gun down the first fifteen year old who was holding other kids hostage, my first reaction was: Wait! I want to talk to him! I want to find our why he is so angry.
This is going to be interesting....bang bang.
This brings up several problems.
One: I cannot shoot a gun- this by the way is a cultivated ignorance as stopping someone's life by inserting a bullet in to the interior of their body and thereby destroying vital organs has never been a goal of mine.
Two: I do not like guns. This is not a moral decision. I do not like golf clubs, weedeaters or electric razors either. I am an equal opportunity "don't liker".
Three: This is supposed to be a course in Criminal Justice and, unless we have reverted to the Wild West...I do not get it. But the students get a kick out of it- and that worries me even more!
But, those who write curriculum for my school felt the need to invest vast quantities of cash in a life size video game that is supposed to teach students how to decide when to shoot- so there you have it
When the Rangemaster from a local police department came in to train me, and I saw him virtually gun down the first fifteen year old who was holding other kids hostage, my first reaction was: Wait! I want to talk to him! I want to find our why he is so angry.
This is going to be interesting....bang bang.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Forever Blowing Bubbles
There is something not missing in my life and it is troubling
What is not missing is bubble bath
On the contrary- the bottles of foamy fragrance seem frozen at their present level
This is not good for obvious reasons- the most basic of which is that I am not taking time for a bubble bath.
The bubble bath has a particular place in my life and a perfected ritual.
It includes some favorite books that I do not mind marring with a bit of water, a plastic faux wine glass filled with faux wine and twenty minutes or so of uninterrupted peace when I am not teacher, wife, pet owner- you get the picture.
I eyed those filled accumulating bottles of bubble bath this morning (they tend to accumulate because I tend to collect them) and committed to their demise via drowning in tubs of soothing water.
Bubbles be gone- you are about to meet your Waterloo.
What is not missing is bubble bath
On the contrary- the bottles of foamy fragrance seem frozen at their present level
This is not good for obvious reasons- the most basic of which is that I am not taking time for a bubble bath.
The bubble bath has a particular place in my life and a perfected ritual.
It includes some favorite books that I do not mind marring with a bit of water, a plastic faux wine glass filled with faux wine and twenty minutes or so of uninterrupted peace when I am not teacher, wife, pet owner- you get the picture.
I eyed those filled accumulating bottles of bubble bath this morning (they tend to accumulate because I tend to collect them) and committed to their demise via drowning in tubs of soothing water.
Bubbles be gone- you are about to meet your Waterloo.
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