The high school from hell
So as part of my experiences as a grad student, I decided to get some teaching experience.. and who better to teach than willing high school students who cling onto every word you say, and whose minds are waiting to be moulded into engines of thought..
ok.. its a little over-dramatic.. but its my firt time actually teaching in a school, and I was really psyched about it!
Besides, the over-dramatization makes what I'm about to say ever so much worse..
So this is a big high school on 33rd and Park Ave.. pretty 'hoity-toity' location..
I entered the school.
To get into the main building, you have to pass through a metal detector, and they frisk you with that weird looking cattle prod like device they have at airports.. then you put your bag through an actual baggage scan!!
and who's monitoring this?? Not some security guards, but acual NYPD policemen.. it was INSANE.. After about ten minutes (which is how long it took to get into the damn building), I walked upto the classroom..
Begin : nightmare no2.
Far from eager minds waiting to be moulded, I saw a whole load of tenth grade kids without minds.. And honestly, I don't blame them..
Begin : nightmare no3.
The TEACHER.. Miss Bonus (irony?) was probably the most incompetent woman on the face of the earth.. She looked like one of those people who did drugs all through the 70s which left her mind so thoroughly screwed up that she was doomed to remain stoned for all eternity..
to cite an example, lemme jot down a conversation i had with her in the class..
*I was demonstrating how bacteria which express GFP glow when you expose them to UV light*
her: thats a UV light?
me : yes
her: where can u buy one?
me : I dunno.. I guess through some research company like Biorad
her: ahh... (she looks at the lamp).. Is this one of those lights they have at discos and clubs?
me : yeah yeah.. this is it!
her: ohh.. it makes things which are white become fluorescent! thats why they tell you not to wear white bras and panties to a club..
me : *silence* (!)
her: you know... otherwise your bra and panties would glow and everyone would see them..
me: errr.. ok..
How can this woman actually TEACH other people???
Now... I can't blame it totally on her.. some of the kids were outrageous..
kid: miss bonus.. you've got a really big ass!
her: *marginally reproving look* sit down everyone!
kid: uhh.. don't look at me like that.. you know you do!
WOW! I could just see myself getting kicked right outta my high school for saying anything remotely like THAT!
In the end, I dont think the kids really learnt a lot, but they saw some glowing bacteria, and did a little experiment of thoer own.. If any one of them goes on to do anything remotely scientific, I'll give myself a pat on the back :-)
ok.. its a little over-dramatic.. but its my firt time actually teaching in a school, and I was really psyched about it!
Besides, the over-dramatization makes what I'm about to say ever so much worse..
So this is a big high school on 33rd and Park Ave.. pretty 'hoity-toity' location..
I entered the school.
To get into the main building, you have to pass through a metal detector, and they frisk you with that weird looking cattle prod like device they have at airports.. then you put your bag through an actual baggage scan!!
and who's monitoring this?? Not some security guards, but acual NYPD policemen.. it was INSANE.. After about ten minutes (which is how long it took to get into the damn building), I walked upto the classroom..
Begin : nightmare no2.
Far from eager minds waiting to be moulded, I saw a whole load of tenth grade kids without minds.. And honestly, I don't blame them..
Begin : nightmare no3.
The TEACHER.. Miss Bonus (irony?) was probably the most incompetent woman on the face of the earth.. She looked like one of those people who did drugs all through the 70s which left her mind so thoroughly screwed up that she was doomed to remain stoned for all eternity..
to cite an example, lemme jot down a conversation i had with her in the class..
*I was demonstrating how bacteria which express GFP glow when you expose them to UV light*
her: thats a UV light?
me : yes
her: where can u buy one?
me : I dunno.. I guess through some research company like Biorad
her: ahh... (she looks at the lamp).. Is this one of those lights they have at discos and clubs?
me : yeah yeah.. this is it!
her: ohh.. it makes things which are white become fluorescent! thats why they tell you not to wear white bras and panties to a club..
me : *silence* (!)
her: you know... otherwise your bra and panties would glow and everyone would see them..
me: errr.. ok..
How can this woman actually TEACH other people???
Now... I can't blame it totally on her.. some of the kids were outrageous..
kid: miss bonus.. you've got a really big ass!
her: *marginally reproving look* sit down everyone!
kid: uhh.. don't look at me like that.. you know you do!
WOW! I could just see myself getting kicked right outta my high school for saying anything remotely like THAT!
In the end, I dont think the kids really learnt a lot, but they saw some glowing bacteria, and did a little experiment of thoer own.. If any one of them goes on to do anything remotely scientific, I'll give myself a pat on the back :-)
posted by Hamlet at 2:22 PM
5 Comments:
hey, you don't know me, but I feel like I can ease your anger a little. I have recently done my first share of teaching as well, and I found that the kids are usually not that bad. it's the teachers (and the parents at home) who constantly underestimate the children's abilities, and then, of course, kids get bored and start a riot. I, too, hate those lame old teachers who said goodbye to idealism 20 years ago and try to mask their own laziness as a laisse fair attitude. but then again, there is others. and we, the young ones, need to be firm and, most of all, patient:)
I hope this doesn't make me a smartass, it's just that I could relate to your experience quite well. cheers from germany, j.
I bet you were wearing a sweater-vest...
jonathan : I totally understand where ur coming from.. If whatever little each one of do helps just ONE kid, it'll be totally worth it!
isabell : lol! I decided against the sweater vest :-)
Hahaha! Priceless.
Its sometimes just a fleeting instant which can change your life/direction .....
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