I just realized that many students, even in today's world, do not own a computer nor do they have access to one at home. While in a post before, I stated that if a student doesn't, they need to use the resources at the colleges they attend, I am learning that the more rural students in Tennessee can't get the internet because they are so rural. It's just NOT available. Does this mean they should give up on college? No. It means that they will have to schedule time to be at school more often, to use the computers there. It will take an extra bit of effort. With laziness being so prevalent today, this may cause students to not do their work. Again, while I am sympathetic to their plight, I think that they need to step up to the plate and get to the college to do their work. Most papers are typed. Most work is online. Knowing this may help a student decide on how to proceed with college.
I think a great way to solve some of the issues is to start class with an index card. Get the information on who has internet and who doesn't. Get who has a computer or not, too. This way the teachers can help the students that don't, by showing them the resources, and by printing out copies of what those students need, if something is online. Maybe this will help.
I tend to forget that Tennessee still has hollers, where people are unable to get any service, like cable or internet. We should still keep these students in mind, when teaching in rural areas, and not disclude them the class.
It's certainly something to think about.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Tuesday
A little bit more on students...
I am lucky to have a few students who make me smile on a daily basis. They work hard. They are smart and want to learn. These students keep me coming back to teach each semester. The few who ruin it, the ones who ultimately drop out, exist only for the moment, and I never remember their names. I remember instances but not the student. I do remember the good student's names. And, most of the time, we stay in touch after class has ended. It's wonderful to have that connection.
On another note...
What is up with people living with their parents well into their late 30s? It's disgusting to me. In America, we are expected to live on our own, when we turn 18, possibly having roommates, until marriage or some other sustainable career. But today, it appears that many people are choosing to stay at home forever. The parents are also responsible for this, since they allow it. I call this enabling. Look if you are 35 and can't handle being on your own, there is something wrong with you. It may be that you've had a rough patch; I get that. But if you do need to return home, for whatever reason, make sure that you don't stay there for over a year. Actively try to get out. Otherwise, you look like a loser, in our society.
Another issue I have with this is that parents tend to coddle their kids. They need to stop. I know a 20 year old who doesn't even know how to pay her car insurance. How is this possible? Her mother pays for it all. Does it all. For her. Sad, really. When we produce young people who can't even set up an electric bill, what are we producing for the future of the U.S.? Laziness. Scared people. Fear based ignorance. Great, just what we need.
I saw a woman on Larry King Live the other night. She was yelling at us that we need to educate all our kids to be afraid of anyone they meet outside the family. They need to scream if someone they don't know talks to them. This is exactly the wrong thing to teach. Kids need to learn how to distinguish between what is OK and what is not. In order to do that, we should have some films to show them what we mean. We also should do more role playing with them. So, they can figure out what is OK and not. But to make them afraid of everyone? Well, that's going to make them paranoid, and eventually, they will have to go on klonopin for anxiety issues, later in life. I just heard the pharmaceutical companies cry out with joy.
We need to step up our game with our kids. What I mean is, we need to teach them independence and responsibility. We need to make them work for their toys and gadgets. If we don't, we, as parents, are promoting laziness, neediness, and irresponsible behavior. In real life, they will fail, and ultimately, they will end up living at home forever.
I am off. Time to grade some papers.
I am lucky to have a few students who make me smile on a daily basis. They work hard. They are smart and want to learn. These students keep me coming back to teach each semester. The few who ruin it, the ones who ultimately drop out, exist only for the moment, and I never remember their names. I remember instances but not the student. I do remember the good student's names. And, most of the time, we stay in touch after class has ended. It's wonderful to have that connection.
On another note...
What is up with people living with their parents well into their late 30s? It's disgusting to me. In America, we are expected to live on our own, when we turn 18, possibly having roommates, until marriage or some other sustainable career. But today, it appears that many people are choosing to stay at home forever. The parents are also responsible for this, since they allow it. I call this enabling. Look if you are 35 and can't handle being on your own, there is something wrong with you. It may be that you've had a rough patch; I get that. But if you do need to return home, for whatever reason, make sure that you don't stay there for over a year. Actively try to get out. Otherwise, you look like a loser, in our society.
Another issue I have with this is that parents tend to coddle their kids. They need to stop. I know a 20 year old who doesn't even know how to pay her car insurance. How is this possible? Her mother pays for it all. Does it all. For her. Sad, really. When we produce young people who can't even set up an electric bill, what are we producing for the future of the U.S.? Laziness. Scared people. Fear based ignorance. Great, just what we need.
I saw a woman on Larry King Live the other night. She was yelling at us that we need to educate all our kids to be afraid of anyone they meet outside the family. They need to scream if someone they don't know talks to them. This is exactly the wrong thing to teach. Kids need to learn how to distinguish between what is OK and what is not. In order to do that, we should have some films to show them what we mean. We also should do more role playing with them. So, they can figure out what is OK and not. But to make them afraid of everyone? Well, that's going to make them paranoid, and eventually, they will have to go on klonopin for anxiety issues, later in life. I just heard the pharmaceutical companies cry out with joy.
We need to step up our game with our kids. What I mean is, we need to teach them independence and responsibility. We need to make them work for their toys and gadgets. If we don't, we, as parents, are promoting laziness, neediness, and irresponsible behavior. In real life, they will fail, and ultimately, they will end up living at home forever.
I am off. Time to grade some papers.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Students from a Teacher's Perspective
Most of you suck. No, really, you do. If you think that by having things given to you all your life, i.e., your parents buying you everything they didn't have when they were young and more, then you are setting yourself up for failure in college.
Here's why:
First off, college, even community college, expects you to work for your grades. This means you will be reading, writing, doing math and other various forms of science. You will be required to actually show up to class and participate. You will take tests. You will have instructors you may not like, but in reality, this will happen when you are employed so get over it. When these expectations are not met, you will fail the class. Of course, being spoiled by your parents, you will probably whine and blame it on the teacher. Or, like many students today, you will come up with random excuses as to why you missed 9 classes or why the work wasn't done on time. Heck, you might even kill off a family member to get out of the work and responsibility. It's been known to happen. I have had one student say they were sick for an entire semester with the flu. The FLU!
Generally, teachers have a syllabus that dictates what the student needs to keep up with, week to week. However, many will lose it. Or they won't even read the thing, complaining that they "didn't know" when something was due. Most of us are smarter now, and we place the syllabus online as well. Then, though, the student will say, "I don't have access to the internet." Look, if a student doesn't have internet access, in today's world, then guess what? You need to make a choice. Either you go to the school library and access their computers, or you should NOT be in college until you can get a computer with internet service. It's that simple.
There are the few students out there that really want an education. They work hard for good grades. These are the students that make teaching awesome. The rest of the student body, though, is lacking in motivation and FULL of laziness. If you are lazy, don't go to college. It's not for you. Accept it and move on. Maybe when you are older, you might be able to truly respect what college is all about.
Until then, stay in bed and let your parents take care of you.
Here's why:
First off, college, even community college, expects you to work for your grades. This means you will be reading, writing, doing math and other various forms of science. You will be required to actually show up to class and participate. You will take tests. You will have instructors you may not like, but in reality, this will happen when you are employed so get over it. When these expectations are not met, you will fail the class. Of course, being spoiled by your parents, you will probably whine and blame it on the teacher. Or, like many students today, you will come up with random excuses as to why you missed 9 classes or why the work wasn't done on time. Heck, you might even kill off a family member to get out of the work and responsibility. It's been known to happen. I have had one student say they were sick for an entire semester with the flu. The FLU!
Generally, teachers have a syllabus that dictates what the student needs to keep up with, week to week. However, many will lose it. Or they won't even read the thing, complaining that they "didn't know" when something was due. Most of us are smarter now, and we place the syllabus online as well. Then, though, the student will say, "I don't have access to the internet." Look, if a student doesn't have internet access, in today's world, then guess what? You need to make a choice. Either you go to the school library and access their computers, or you should NOT be in college until you can get a computer with internet service. It's that simple.
There are the few students out there that really want an education. They work hard for good grades. These are the students that make teaching awesome. The rest of the student body, though, is lacking in motivation and FULL of laziness. If you are lazy, don't go to college. It's not for you. Accept it and move on. Maybe when you are older, you might be able to truly respect what college is all about.
Until then, stay in bed and let your parents take care of you.
Allergy Hell
While waiting to see yet another doctor (finally an allergist), I have to suffer for a full week of no antihistamines. This means I will be stuffed up, headachy, and grumpy for the duration. I've gone to 2 GP's, a GYN, and 2 eye doctors to find out what is up with my left eye. After all this, no one could tell me what's wrong or even fix it. It's been over a year and half now that my eye has been puffy underneath it. It comes and goes, so it's not a "fixed" age thing. I have a partial deviated septum on that side, so I figure the allergies hit it harded than the other side. Of course, I am not a doctor.
We have a dog, and everyone says that I am allergic to him, but we've had him for 4 years now, and this just started a year and a half ago. Otherwise, I've had allergies during certain times of the year and self medicated, using nasal sprays from Canada, to OTC stuff. Nothing works. So, I figure it's time to be an adult, spend the money, and find out exactly what is going on. That said, no matter what this doctor says, I will not get rid of my dog. I would rather get shots once a month, than give up this little joy in my life. We shall see what happens next week.
We have a dog, and everyone says that I am allergic to him, but we've had him for 4 years now, and this just started a year and a half ago. Otherwise, I've had allergies during certain times of the year and self medicated, using nasal sprays from Canada, to OTC stuff. Nothing works. So, I figure it's time to be an adult, spend the money, and find out exactly what is going on. That said, no matter what this doctor says, I will not get rid of my dog. I would rather get shots once a month, than give up this little joy in my life. We shall see what happens next week.
First Post
After having LiveJournal for so long, 9 years, I decided I needed a change. I was tired of the drama that came from having a public/private journal because people felt that they knew you, personally, when in fact they don't. Now, I have a FB account, for students mostly, and a Twitter account.
I find that having these other forms of social media available, it limits the amount of personal information we can put out there for others to read and judge. At the same time, however, I have a lot to say. So, I decided to try the "blogging" thing. It's a test run of a new media for me.
I hope that this will be a way to communicate random thoughts, information about travel, since I've been to 17 different countries, and other information, like cooking, reading, etc...
Let's see how this works.
I find that having these other forms of social media available, it limits the amount of personal information we can put out there for others to read and judge. At the same time, however, I have a lot to say. So, I decided to try the "blogging" thing. It's a test run of a new media for me.
I hope that this will be a way to communicate random thoughts, information about travel, since I've been to 17 different countries, and other information, like cooking, reading, etc...
Let's see how this works.
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