Sexual Misconduct Plagues Schools

It is common knowledge that the media extrapolates everything negative in society and, of course, education is no exception. I recently came across an article from the Associated Press about sexual misconduct in schools. The article says the number of teacher-related sexual abuse cases with students has increased and is more or less ignored by all levels of the educational system. Teachers who are accused of sexual misconduct are either dismissed of charges because of lack of evidence or quietly “fired” by their school system while still maintaining their teacher license, and therefore, still eligible to get another teaching job in an other school systems. While the article does cite viable cases of “mobile molesters” proving this is a real problem in our schools, I am honestly just tired of hearing about it. I don’t mean to sound like a heartless “B”. I am not trying to side with the teacher child molesters, and in no way do I think its right that these acts are able to slide by unnoticed only to ensure more innocent victims. The article, in all its facts and points, is the most likely the awful truth and inarguably discomforting; however, my problem lies in the fact that this is the type of information we are hearing over and over again in the media. These “teachers” make up such a small percentage compared to the overwhelming number of REAL teachers who do have a positive impact on students, yet media stories such as these seem to group teachers together in one huge category, which cast shadows on the teaching profession as a whole. I remember, not too long ago, when I told people I was going to be a teacher and they would tell me how honorable they thought it was. Now when I tell people I plan to teach high school, their demeanor suddenly changes to a disconcerting look followed by “ohhhhh….well you need to watch out for those boys, you know how that is nowadays”. No more, I’m so proud of you…now its negative warning, as if I just told them I was going to be a pole-dancer. I know some of their concerns are legit. I know I’m young. I know how teenage boys can be. But seriously, it’s not that bad. All teachers aren’t vultures waiting for fresh meat and all teenagers aren’t looking to score with their teachers. The media has stretched this  to the point that I feel the respect for all teachers is slowly and unfairly dwindling. I want to reiterate the fact that I am not saying sexual misconduct by teachers is not a problem in schools (I even know of some teachers from my high school)….I guess I’m just tried of the way the media portrays the issue…

Midterm Review

I think this class is going pretty smoothly so far, especially since we are all the guinea pigs. I will have to say that I think adding this course was a major plus for the English Ed. program! I love when learning is relevant (wish I could say the same for some of my other courses)! As requested though, here are a few suggestions for improvement for the future:

• Keep Richardson, throw out Postman (or only require specific excerpts for discussion)
• Smaller groups (2-3 people instead of 6)
• Keep in-class group work time
• Showing different examples really helps (such as digital projects, commercials, ect.)
• Required weekly blog postings- hard to keep up with unless given a topic to explore & write about
• I like the projects so far, although Wikipedia administrators frustrate me!

That is all I can think of right now. Hope it helps!

KL

ranting and raving….

So, it’s almost midterm, and I can definitely tell. I am so overwhelmed with classes right now…midterms, papers, projects…all pretty much due in the same week! Such is life. I’ll stop complaining…sort of. For this class, the problem is that as the semester goes on, I am finding it harder and harder to remember to write in this blog unless it is a “required” post. I usually find inspiration in just surfing the Internet and finding interesting articles, but where’s the time now. Seriously.
ANYWAY- there is one thing that I do want to share. This past weekend I met some business majors from KSU, nothing against business majors at all , but these particular ones were a little too harsh when I told them I was an English Education major. I really wish I could be like Taylor Mali and go off on them, but it really caught me off guard. They gave me the “you’ll be making crap” and when I said, “well that’s not what it’s about” they just came back with “oh yeah, it’s about making a difference but that’s what they all say to make themselves feel better. We will be rolling in the big bucks while you have meager life with a teacher salary even though we both will have a degree from KSU”. They claimed to be just kidding with me, but I got really defensive. I hate how ignorant people can be towards the power of education and the potential impact on childrens’ lives. I hate when people think the best part of being a teacher is the summer off (when in actuality “summer off” is “summer planning”). I guess all occupations are scrutinized in one way or another, but call me crazy, I just never realized how much some adults really do not appreciate teachers. To me becoming a teacher will be so much more than a “job” and despite what they think I know my life will be far from “meager” (at the least I will not be stuck in a cubicle). . I really want to thank all my professors and fellow education majors for creating such a positive and motiviating environment in all of my education classes…it really gives me reason and encouragment to stay strong and be PROUD to be a future teacher!

On that note: This is a forward I got and thought some of them were true & kinda funny:

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TEACHER?
by Jeff Foxworthy

1. You can hear 25 voices behind you and know exactly which one belongs to the child out of line.
2. You get a secret thrill out of laminating something.
3. You walk into a store and hear the words ‘It’s Ms/Mr. _________’ and know you have been spotted.
4. You have 25 people that accidentally call you Mom/Dad at one time or another.
5. You can eat a multi-course meal in under twenty-five minutes.
6. You’ve trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day: lunch and prep period.
7. You start saving other people’s trash, because most likely, you can use that toilet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom.
8. You believe the teachers’ lounge should be equipped with a margarita machine.
9. You want to slap the next person who says ‘Must be nice to work 7 to 3 and have summers off.
10. You believe chocolate is a food group.
11. You can tell if it’s a full moon without ever looking outside.
12. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says ‘Boy, the kids sure are mellow today.’
13. You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public.
14. You believe in aerial spraying of Ritalin.
15. You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.
16. You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.
17. You can’t pass the school supply aisle without getting at least five items!
18. You ask your friends if the left hand turn he just made was a ‘good choice or a bad choice.’
19. You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils.
20. You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer.
AND LASTLY:
21. You understand instantaneously why a child behaves a certain way after meeting his or her parents.