Back in the saddle

Well, my nearly two week vacation ended today. Summer school is in session. I am back to the grueling four-hour work day. Instead of four one-hour classes, I have two two-hour classes.

I do not understand teachers who think teaching is so difficult. This is the easiest job I have ever had, and the pay better than someone with my skills (or lack thereof) would make working a 9 to 5 job. I am home when the kids get home from school. ("Do your homework!")

On top of that, the power that be changed the schedule this summer. In the past, we taught four days per week and finished at the end of July. This year, we are teaching five days per week and will done in the middle of July, which translates to nearly a month off before the start of the fall semester. I must say, though, that I really liked the three day weekends.

The Big Wind Down

The semester is winding down. This time it is on two fronts for me: teaching and studying.

As far as teaching goes, the semester has been incredibly average. Nothing great, but nothing awful. I did make a student cry, today. With finals coming up next week, I gave each student a note letting them know what they need to make on the final to get their desired grade (A, B, or C). Some students have no chance. One who has no chance left the room crying. I tried to console this student, but to no avail. I feel terrible about it, but I am not a magician.

This also concludes my first semester as a graduate student, but only attempting one class. The thing I loved about this class: no tests. The thing I did not like: fuzzy expectations (we never received a syllabus). I have to turn in my final review essay by next week. I just have to take the chainsaw to it, as it is ten pages rather than the suggested five to eight pages.

The light is at the end of the tunnel, and it is the summer sun.

A Few Thoughts on Being Responsible

I am going through a "grumpy old man" phase right now. As my profile indicates, I teach developmental math in a community college. I love my job. I love teaching. (Can you see the "but" coming?)

However, I am more and more concerned about the lack of personal responsibility that students have or take. (I could probably blow up the Blogger server with the amount of space required for all the stories.) I have a couple examples.

First, instead of collecting paper homework, I require homework to be done on-line through a service offered by the textbook company. I have had students whine about doing homework that way before, mostly because they are either cyber-phobic or they whine about everything. This semester I have one student who has offered numerous complaints. They range from the internet connection being slow to not having time. Tough. Use the open lab at school, or make time or whatever. Just do it. If someone did not have paper access, I would not let them off the hook (if I were requiring paper homework).

Another is test related. You must have an excused absence (doctor's note, court summons, etc.) in order to make up a test. Here is how the conversation goes:

Student: When can I make up the test?
Me: Do you have an excused absence?
Student No, but I was sick.
Me: Do you have a doctor's note.
Student: No, but I was sick.
Me: I am sorry to hear that, but you need a doctor's note to make up the test. That is what the syllabus says.
Student: But...
Me: I am sorry.
Student: So, it's a zero.
Me: Yes.

Like I said, there are more. As a parent, my instinct is to try to rescue my kids when they are in trouble, but I have to learn to let them learn life lessons. Our actions have consequences. If I run full speed into a brick, what will happen? I want to do it and not get hurt. The reality is, despite what I really want to happen, I will get hurt. Actions have consequences, no matter how we wish they did not.

The End is Here!

The end of the semester, that is. I wrapped up finals today, turned in grades and attendance reports. I am looking forward to a nice break.

This was a long semester. I had a couple really good classes, and a couple that I would rather forget.

Dress Codes

Our kids' school district is dictating what each student can wear starting next year. The dress code outlines what pants and shirts are appropriate to wear in school.

The school district has prescribed district wide the color of pants shall be khaki, navy blue and black. The shirt shall be white. The schools are then allowed to choose two more shirt colors. Our kids' school chose burgundy and hunter green.

Who on earth chooses white shirts for kids? That person is stupid. Anyone who has ever raised a boy knows that the shirt will be gray by the end of September.

Why are dress codes necessary? I see no reason, other than to turn our kids into robots. Generation upon generation has gone to school without being dictated what colors they can wear and done just fine.

The schools should be more concerned about teaching our kids math, English, reading, history, science and other academic matters.

This Was Unintentional

I was looking at the schedule I made up for some of my classes this semester. There are two test dates that are somewhat ominous. It was unintentional. I just filled out the schedule, and it worked out this way. The first ominous test date is: September 11. The second ominous date is: December 7.

The question is--and I don't mean to be cynical--whether the students will have the sense of history to even realize it.

Being Computer Savvy

I am not the most computer savvy person in the world. I know about enough to mess everything up.

The problem is that we live in a world that is almost completely dependent upon a computer. The gas pump, ATM, cash register, and about everything else built in the last 10-20 years has some computer chip in it.

To be successful in any line of work, you need to know how to use a computer. As a teacher at a community college, I am tasked with the job of educating many non-traditional students. These are students who have been out of school for any number of years. I have had students who graduated from high school in the 1970s, before the advent of the four-function calculator. Many of these students are "cyber-phobic." (That is a term coined by my Intro to Computers instructor in college.)

The problem is that many do not have a computer at home. They have worked jobs that did not require the use of computer. Now they are entering a world where computers are all-pervasive.

All of the homework for my classes are on-line. Many students struggle with how to type an Internet address in the bar. Some do not know how to type an e-mail address (i.e. they leave out the "@" or the ".".)

We need better technological integration in our educational system. We need to "force" students to learn and gain computer skills. That goes beyond how to play solitaire.

My Mom

Mother's Day was last Sunday, and we celebrated with my mother.

My mom has been a powerful influence in my life. She has pushed and prodded me my whole life. When ever I would get a bad grade in school, she would simply say, "Son, you know you can do better." Oh, that would cut me to the heart. And, I knew I could do better.

She worked her tail off for the family. She provided. She had fun.

Tonight, my mom is being recognized for something grand. She is receiving her GED. Her parents thought in only necessary for girls to have an 8th grade education, so that's all she received. For someone with only an 8th grade education, she did very well. Last year, she started working toward her GED, after a mere 55 years after finishing the 8th grade. She got done in a little over 8 months.

For that I am proud as can be.

The Finish Line

It's the end of the semester, almost. I have one more day of finals. This semester has been somewhat trying. My biggest frustration is the lack of motivation on the part of the students. It seems that they lose focus at the end of the semester. Many students who are on the border of "Pass/Fail Land" seem to be coasting to the finish line, and many will not make it. I had a number of students who should have been A or B students, but will sit through the class again because of being motivationally challenged.

Well, now it's a couple weeks off before summer school. At least summer school is only Monday through Thursday.

Am I crazy?

I hope the answer is "no."

For some time, I have been struggling with what God wants me to do. It has been for the better part of a year now. I do not feel that God is calling me to move at this time. Ministry opportunities are limited to pretty much volunteer.

I am seriously considering going back to school to my master's degree in history. It is to the point where I am about to go buy a book to study for the GRE exam.

It will take me some time, as I will have to continue to work. The local university does not offer on-line classes or summer classes (except for Thesis).

I am a little worried about the workload. I am a slow reader.