Sorry, Just have to add my $.02. It must be nice to have a choice.
From 1983 until this year I was fortunate to work in a middle school
that was flexibly scheduled. For some reason, that shall remain
nameless, I had to teach 3 classes called 'media' each day without any
kind of curriculum. I chose to address the Language Arts standards and
incorporate technology standards. Each day I see 90 -110 different
students and have to issue numerical grades. Discipline (which I used
to be pretty good with) is next to impossible and I have to issue
grades. I am not financially able to take the high road and quit. Yes
it is babysitting, but I feel I have made something more of it than just
killing time with these students. I tried some new things I haven't
been able to do before. Some were a great success, others a tremendous
flop. Everything is termed 'boring'. I also know the student body
better than ever before (in some cases, better than I ever wanted : )
)Thanks to parents complaining that I am too hard and other parents
complaining there is no time for their children to check out books and
teachers complaining they cannot bring classes for research and have no
time to collaborate, it looks like I'll be going back to flexible. The
people I make a difference for have spoken. I am lucky.
Sorry for the rant. : ) Things just struck a nerve today. I am
grateful in this time of trivializing libraries and librarians to have a
job where I can make a difference. Some days, I just have to struggle
to see that difference.
Heidi
Heidi Lewis
School Library Media Specialist
Guinyard-Butler Middle School
779 Allen Street
Barnwell, SC 29812
(803) 541-1382
(803) 541-1306 - fax
"There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish
sometimes". - Dr. Who
>>> "Dr. Allan O'Grady Cuseo" <library@BKHS.ORG> 4/26/2005 7:19:29 AM
>>>
Well I will be bold and step out and say that I will never work in a
school
with a fixed schedule... Too often it becomes babysitting but more
importantly - everything we teach should be tied in with the curriculum
of
the class in front of you. Too often the fixed schedule requires the
librarian to be very creative and find something/anything to offer.
Allan
Dr. Allan O'Grady Cuseo (Brother Donogh Allan, MGC)
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