tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post2381611013979219867..comments2024-03-21T05:30:03.220-04:00Comments on Science teacher: "Meaningful careers" or meaningful lives, Arne?doylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12901661320505882735noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-44411318869453239922010-11-23T11:06:32.949-05:002010-11-23T11:06:32.949-05:00Keep fighting the good fight, Doyle. How indeed? M...Keep fighting the good fight, Doyle. How indeed? Maybe that's at the art and craft of teaching. I know I'm a better teacher because of twenty years between my undergraduate BFA degree (I finger-painted in college) and my masters in ed. Maybe teachers spend too much time having to reflect on whether or not they themselves are "educated" and bolster the professional label. I don't know. A student asked me yesterday why we were learning mythology. Here was my response:<br /><br />Your comment made me think: How does learning to analyze characters, reading mythology, and understanding help us in “real life?”<br /> <br />1. Real life is a made up of conversations, relationships, and thinking skills, right? So it is logical to think that if we learn about archetypes, and how people/cultures explain their ‘big questions,’ we will be better able at our own relationships.<br />2. Mythology is made up of stories that are referred to constantly in television, movies and other books. These are called ‘allusions.’ Allusions are things that are in stories/television that refer to something else. For example, when I think someone is being a narcissist, that ALLUDES to the story of Narcissus who was arrogant. If you know the story of Narcissus and Echo, you know what someone is acting like if they’re being narcissistic.<br />3. Analyzing characters in literature/movies develops our thinking skills – if you can really dig deep in your thinking and show what you’re thinking, you will impress the world with your thinking skills and intelligence. You will be better able to express your thoughts and opinions if you have the thinking skills to back them up.<br /> <br />I can think of many more reasons why this helps you in ‘real life.’ The stories are called myths because they are told across cultures and talk about bigger themes and ideas, and can apply to even news stories and current events. It just takes thinking and consideration. If you can’t figure out how something applies to ‘real life,’ then ask yourself those deeper questions.<br /><br />What is obvious to me in his question wasn't obvious to him: learning how to discuss, analyze, and probe all manner of questions, is what being educated means...and having the common sense to know when the cow needs milked, the dishes need to be done, and how to scrub a toilet. <br /><br />Thank you again for your wonderful post -Kelly "Sitting By the Dock of the Bay" Lovehttp://blog0rama.edublogs.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-48379101465582094452010-11-22T19:07:51.597-05:002010-11-22T19:07:51.597-05:00So how to we make them "better educated"...So how to we make them "better educated"? I worry that I'm giving them worthless information that will make them "well educated" without really benefitting them outside the classroom--particularly those who don't pursue higher ed.TheHousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01532270244428320414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-39221343686527501602010-11-21T22:01:46.667-05:002010-11-21T22:01:46.667-05:00I feel like I value my teaching job more than care...I feel like I value my teaching job more than career teachers because I had a career before it. I also know that it's made me a better teacher than I would have been otherwise. I wish all the teachers I worked with had the perspective of a private sector career to draw from.Mr. David M. Beyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15345070503492764652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956989639073843954.post-35604348527839867292010-11-21T16:48:06.640-05:002010-11-21T16:48:06.640-05:00Amen!
The best thing I ever did for myself was t...Amen! <br /><br />The best thing I ever did for myself was to quit college in the last quarter of my senior year (I was flunking out) and work for 8 years before completing my BA by completing courses I needed and petitioning for my diploma. I then worked for another 10 years before I went back to school to earn my masters. Like you, I can list a variety of jobs from camp counselor, camp cook to a hunting camp, to instrument "man" for survey crews.<br /><br />I agree, I don't think that everyone needs to go to college to have a meaning career and that a meaningful career is not the most important of goals. I have 14 year olds in my classes that are parents but don't know how to control their own behavior, don't know how to cook, clean or keep a job. They don't know how to read themselves, or value it, so they won't read or teach their children to value reading. They don't value learning (which is far different from valuing formal education) so they won't teach their children these things. <br /><br />I, too, am now in the classroom and I have told my kids repeatedly that, while I will use my content to do so, the highest goal I have is to challenge them to think on their own, take risks, learn from their mistakes and to try again. This is what learning is.b chasehttp://TheNatureSchool.netnoreply@blogger.com