The Adventures of Pete and Pete...revisited

Recently, my favorite childhood show had a little cast reunion in New York. I was able to watch it on youtube and I was very pleased to hear some of the stuff that went on behind the scenes. The show only lasted three seasons, but it dramatically changed my life; I hope for the better. While watching the cast reunion a few of their comments really stuck with me. I'd like to share some thoughts...now.

When the show was on television the writers and producers were continually being asked by people why two brothers had the same name, where did the younger Pete get his tattoo, and where did Artie the Strongest Man in the World come from. Out of all of the times that question was asked, they reported that the only ones asking those types of questions were grown-ups. The kids who watched the show didn't care, they just enjoyed what was put in front of them and enjoyed being in a world that was made for them.

This really made me start thinking about my students and every young student in the U.S. today. The thing that I enjoyed while going to school isn't being taught in the schools now because we don't have enough time for that anymore. We are throwing history by the wayside because kids need to be practicing for end of level tests. These tests are important because they determine their value as a student and my value as a teacher. I don't ever recall being stressed about taking a standardized test while in school. I don't recall my teachers making a big deal out of it either. So why have we suddenly relied on tests as the measuring stick of success in this country?

Here's where Pete and Pete wrap back into this rant. Kids need to be kids. I've heard it before and I've said it before, but I even catch myself playing the role of Captain Hook when it comes to my own classroom. This isn't because I want to, but it's because I feel I need to so I fit in with the rest of the school and faculty.

Pete and Pete was an original show because the creators did a show that they wanted to do. It almost wasn't made because early reviews were bad, but they made it anyway and people ended up liking it. They tried something new, even though data showed that it was not going to do well. Whether it was successful or not didn't matter to the creators because they made a show that they enjoyed putting together and they believed in the final product. I don't feel that way about my classroom. I don't like my final product. I enjoy my students and some of the things that we do in there, but it's not MY classroom. Slowly, I'm trying to figure out a way to make it my own and not a classroom put together by data and administrators. This is tough seeing as how these administrators determine if I have a job or not.

This whole post has kind of just rambled on, but seeing as how I might be the only one reading it then I don't care. The point is I want to be a better teacher. The only way I can do that is by teaching in a style that correlates with the type of person I am. Right now that is not happening because I am somewhat forced to follow the crowd. I want to step outside the box and try some new things, but I know that is looked down upon in a system where we want everyone to test to the same number. I have a problem with being average and having my kids be average. If we're supposed to celebrate individuality, then why not do that on an educational level as well. I don't mean differentiated instruction, I mean allowing kids to struggle and fail in areas that they don't like or understand. I don't like sour cream, but do I have to eat it to be normal? I'm not good at art, but do I have to perfect it if I'm going into a mathematical field? I wish I could write down what my mind is thinking, but I can't for some reason. Enjoy this clip that expounds on some of my thinking.

Big Bad Bullies

There is a movie coming out fairly soon about bullying in our schools. I've seen the preview (above), read the articles, and even noticed it in my own school. When my school turned 115 years old my brother asked people from every decade, who were still alive, to share experiences they had from school. One man shared an experience about being bullied because he had new glasses on. As he told the story the memories came flooding back to him and he started to get emotional. It's amazing that an experience like that, which happened more than 50 years ago, could still have such an impact on this man.
Bullying is a part of our culture whether you like it, or not. I don't like it, but I did enjoy Roger Klautz from "DOUG." It's amazing how many major characters in television and movies are bullies. What would "Back to the Future" be without Biff? So, as I sit back and reflect on what I can do in my own class to stop this act, a few individuals come into my mind. One student I had last year had all the makings of a kid who should've been bullied. All he did was read the entire day, wear glasses, and he also had some peculiar mannerisms. By all intensive purposes he should've been bullied, but the kids actually liked him. Even though people would say things that he could've taken as hurtful, he decided to not care about it and just take it as a compliment. Soon enough, the kids admired his ability to read a large quantity of books in such a short amount of time. He took something that could've have been looked down upon and made it a strength that kids wished they had. Kind of like Rudolph the Red-Nosed-Reindeer I suppose.

Now fast forward to this year. I have a student who has been beaten up in the past and has moved schools for that same reason. As he's adjusted to my classroom this year, I've had a hard time making sure kids don't laugh at him. My class has been learning rap songs all year and this student doesn't quite know all of the words yet. He is trying really hard to fit in with the class by singing louder to overcompensate for his lack of word memorization. This, in turn, makes it even more awkward. He draws attention to himself and he doesn't realize that what he's doing is a little weird. I can see it, the students can definitely see it, but he can't. I've tried talking to him about it, but this problem keeps occurring. I'm not saying being loud is a problem, or THE problem, but it gives certain kids something to attach to and make fun of. I don't see this problem ever going away for this student. I'm mostly concerned for his transition into middle school and high school where he will spend a lot more time in the halls and locker rooms where bullies seem to form and gain power.

My point in this is that some kids will always be the victim. I can only do so much and the administrators can only do so much. We are there to create a safe learning environment at school, but in this day and age where problems follow kids pass the bus stop and onto the internet, I ask the question; How far is our reach supposed to stretch? Teachers are constantly being given new things to discuss with their classes because they aren't getting the message at home. How responsible are we in the end?

Back to the Future!

I went to a training today that was about the new iAuthor program for the iPad. It was a good training and I felt I took enough away form it that it was worth my time. The whole meeting there was discussion about the possibilities that technology creates in our classroom. So many different tools and resources at the swipe of a finger.

As our session was wrapping up a member of our district discussed the possibility (a realistic possibility actually proposed to a school this year) that they wanted to try a one-to-one program with the iPads. Teachers were on board and wanted to try it, but it came with a price. The only sacrifice they would have to make is that they would have to get rid of their copy machine and become a totally paperless school. They changed their minds quickly. PAPERLESS!? Can you even imagine an elementary classroom without paper? I can't...yet. I believe we are moving in that direction, but I don't think we will ever hear a teacher paraphrase Doc by saying, "PAPER? Where we're going, we don't need paper." The day I hear that is the day I have my new hoverboard and shoes that light up with have power laces. GREAT SCOTT!

There are many that say this is cheaper and better for the environment. I don't believe that. The way things are being priced and distributed, it looks like this is going to be more expensive. And yes, we won't be killing as many trees to make the paper, but trees are a renewable resource unlike a lot of the products used to make iPads and Mac Books. Also, I haven't researched this, but I'm sure the makers of paper don't have to install suicide prevention nets outside of their buildings to make sure people don't die as they jump off of their building. I'm not trying to take a side in this issue because I truly believe we need to integrate more technology and less paperwork/worksheet related materials. Shouldn't we be using all of this stuff together so that we can use ALL of the resources we have at our disposal?

Well, some people (High Tech Big Wigs apparently) have already been resorting back to the traditional way of teaching their children by enrolling them in private schools that refuse to have technology in any of their classrooms. It seems like the world is always in this momentum shift of doing new things and then going back to old school styles of thinking. I see it in the way people shop for food. They are trying to do more organic gardening and shopping. I've also seen it in the way people workout. No more big machines, but it's back to the basics of lifting heavy tires and doing pull-ups. Isn't it interesting that Back to the Future used the same model when they went back in time, then into the future, then back in time again. Seems to be a formula for awesome (I love those movies). I wouldn't be surprised if I see this kind of teaching philosophy change 4 more times while I'm in the teaching profession.