Term paper, Philosophy of Education (a.k.a. what I’ve been losing sleep over this week)
This spring, Quebecers went to the polls in a provincial election. Political scientist Henry Milner took the election as an opportunity to conduct a study, the purpose of which was to determine the efficacy of financial disincentives. For the study, Milner recruited 143 students from Vanier College, and offered them $25 to cast their ballots – but also asked them to complete two sets of questions about the main issues and candidates involved in the campaign. The study concluded that money was “not conclusively” a voting incentive (Howarth); more to the point, it revealed an alarming ignorance of local politics among college students. In interviews with the students, Milner learned that few students engage in political discussions with their parents; clearly, students are not discovering their political world in the home or the classroom. If students are not learning about the politics that shape their lives – politics that determine the content of the courses they are taking, the standards against which their success will be measured, the wage they earn, the age at which they can drink or drive or consent to sexual relations – how will these same students become engaged, motivated, contributing members of a democratic society? Regardless of detractors who would have us believe that politically engaged teaching amounts to indoctrination, educators must accept that one of the most crucial roles we play is that of model citizen, and that our job is not only to provide our students with knowledge and skill, but also to initiate them into life outside the academy.
Something more of quickness than my sisters?
IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that a married woman in possession of a good wit must be in want of a blog.
Courtesy of Clare, a.k.a Elinor.
On Authority and Classroom Management
Dynamics & Diversity in the College Classroom
Journal #1
When I read Savage’s “Establishing teacher leadership and authority,” I was reminded of some of the first instances in which I realized that teacher authority is not automatic.
Before I began my career at the Cegep level, I worked as a substitute teacher at the elementary level. I was never under any delusions about making elementary school a permanent home; I took the job in order to build up my resumé with some teaching experience. Prior to the Performa program, I had no training as a teacher, but I was able to consult with my aunt, who is an elementary school teacher. Armed with her suggestions, and the lesson plans of the teachers I was replacing, I thought I was ready. After two months of fairly regular work, I told the school to take my name of the list, and I’m ashamed to admit they were only too happy to do so. I had no control over those classes, and found myself frequently resorting to coercive authority, with very little effect. In retrospect, it’s clear that the students were quick to peg me as some one who did not merit expert authority – not only did I have no teacher training, I was asked to substitute for teachers at all levels, from Kindergarten to Grade 6, and more than once, for the gym teacher. Because I so often resorted to coercive authority, I didn’t merit any referent authority, either – in short, I was doomed!
Scary monsters
Yesterday we made our season passes to Laronde worth it with a second trip. In the last few months, Colin has become addicted to RollerCoaster Tycoon II, which is something like the Sims games, but based on Six Flags amusements parks (and the marketing genius of this boggles the mind). The last time we went, Colin said he wanted to ride the Monster, the huge wooden rollercoaster, and one of the few really big rides that he’s tall enough to ride. So we headed over to line up, but as soon as he got close and realized just how big the thing really is, he changed his mind. We went through a few “I want to ride it … never mind”s, and eventually decided that he’d try it ‘next time.’
Colin and I ride the Monster for the first ~ and last ~ time
To his credit, this time he did not waver, even during the 50-minute line-up (an experience richly enhanced by the frickin’ idiot who kept wrestling with his frickin’ idiot girlfriend, crashing into me no less than FOUR times). During the ride itself, he was too terrified to even scream; he just clung to the safety bar, a look of absolute terror on his face the whole time. When we got off the ride, we bought the photo as proof that this time, he did it.
Next time, the Boomerang!
Fish in a Barrel
This past semester, the M.Ed. course I took was on the philosophy of education, which turns out to be fascinating. I remember really liking philosophy in university – I did two courses in my undergrad with a remarkable teacher; I enjoyed these courses so much that I considered doing a minor in Philosphy, only to find that I couldn’t stomach the professor of my third course.
The following is a paper I’ve submitted for the current course. The assignment was to critique an article, in this case, Stanley Fish’s ‘Always Academicize,’ originally published last fall in the New York Times.
In ‘Always Academicize: My Response to the Responses,’ Stanley Fish’s November 2006 response to critics of his earlier post regarding the role of teachers, Fish argues that “the redress of injustice and the inculcation of … values are worthy activities, but they are not academic activities, and they are not activities academics have the credentials to perform” (par. 1). As such, Fish believes that teachers should do “the job they are trained and paid to do,” exclusively (par. 1). The questions that arise, before one can accept Fish’s dictum, are threefold: what are academic activities, what credentials are in fact required to “redress” social issues, and what is the job that teachers are paid and trained to do? To agree with Fish, one must agree with his stated or implied answers to these questions; however, this agreement is not as straightforward as Fish would have us believe.
Why hockey is hot
When it comes to hockey, I’m a fair-weather fan; furthermore, since Dr. T is not into blood sports, we tend not to watch. Last night, though, he was away for his usual Wednesday evening of Scrabble, and I was hosting my usual Wednesday card night, the participants in which are true hockey fans. So I tuned in to CBC just in time for the pre-game chatter, and am delighted to present the award for best out-of-context line to the following gem:
He’s got really soft hands, a great imagination, and a bit of a mean streak. He’s hard to handle.
My kind of guy.
Turns out the commentator was talking about some hockey player, but whatever. Regardless, however tempted I may have been to watch the rest of the series as a result of that line, I have decided I cannot watch the cup go to the Mouseketeers. I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed that someday soon, nos glorieux will rise again.
A video, courtesy of my friend, Justin T.*
*Trudeau, not Timberlake. Yes, he is my friend. Facebook rocks.
Note to any disgruntled readers
I know, I know. It’s been two weeks without anything new here on the old blog. I’m sorry.
I realize this is no excuse, but I’ve been working. Correcting essays, setting make-up tests, correcting those, reviewing my files to be sure I haven’t missed anyone’s assignments, preparing book orders for next semester, etc., etc.
Also, I’ve had more than a few meetings, including a couple for the Valedictorian selection committee, which has been a blast so far, because we get to talk to students who love school and everything about it, and want to shout it from the rooftops (or at least from a podium on a stage).
Oh, and I discovered facebook.
Anyway, tomorrow morning I’ll be on campus to collect the last of the stragglers’ papers, and then this semester will officially be put to bed. Or put to sleep, whichever metaphor makes more sense, once I’ve read those last papers.
I still have a few things to wrap up for the philosophy course I am taking this term, and the new one, on ‘dynamics and diversity in the college classroom,’ starts tomorrow afternoon. In other words, things are slowing down, but they have not come to a halt yet.
We’ve been having a great time with our weekends, which is part of the delay in getting all the work stuff taken care of ~ last weekend we took the boys to Laronde (in fact, we got a season family pass, so count on a few more visits), and this weekend, while Dr. T. was defending his Montreal Scrabble Tournament championship (unsuccessfully, unfortunately), the boys and I headed off to the family cottage, where we had a great time getting the place ready for the season, along with my parents, my sister and her crew, and my cousin, Brian. We raked, we mowed, we scrubbed, we painted, we weeded, and we drank a lot of good wine and barbecued the biggest chunk of cow I’ve ever seen (sorry Patra!).
Anyway, I’m not promising daily posts; I did want you to know that I haven’t collapsed under the weight of the essays or moved to a remote island without Internet access (as if).
Something to keep you busy while I correct all these essays
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Your Birthdate: June 22 |
 You tend to be understated and under appreciated. You have a hidden force to do amazing things, doing them your own way. People may see you as strange and shy, but they know little. Your unconventional ways have more power than they (and even you) know. Your strength: Standing up for what you know is true Your weakness: You tend to be picky and rigid Your power color: Silver Your power symbol: Square Your power month: April |
I would challenge some of these claims, but I don’t want to come across as picky and rigid 😉
via Dina.
Hot town, almost summer in the city
This weekend was one of those that renews my love affair with this city – Montreal is home no matter what the weather, but when the skies are blue and the air is warm, the city sparkles and makes me fall in love all over again.
On Saturday, Colin and I hopped on the Metro and rode all the way to Laval, to check out the three new stations that make the upper island accessible to us downtowners.
We stopped at Atwater on the way home and bought Colin a new spring jacket, and then had to have Dr. T. pick us up, as the Metro system was SNAFU, thanks to a fire at Lionel Groulx*.
We got home in plenty of time to get ready for our first official barbecue of the season, with T&I along for the experience – nothing says “summer” quite like barbecued burgers, skewered veggies, and a cool glass of rose. We’re choosing to attribute the fact that we ate inside to our ‘new’ dining room furniture, and not to the fact that it was still, really, too chilly to eat outside comfortably.
Yesterday was even more summery – Colin and I went for a bike ride, to see if the nearby ice cream stand was open for the season yet (it was), and explore a few trails we missed last year. Then, after lunch, we took both boys downtown for a haircut, then stopped at the sports equipment store and picked me up my first real pair of rollerblades. As soon as we got home, we all strapped on our blades, and sped (kind of) off to the ice cream place, and rewarded ourselves with the first cones of the season.
Yay presqu’summer!
*the Metro SNAFU was not part of the “why I love this city” theme ~ nor is the impending transit strike ~ but I choose to see such events as the bitter counterpoints required to enhance the sweetness of the good things. Yeah, that’s it.