I spent twenty some odd or even years of my life wondering how in the world some people got certified to teach what-have-you in the public school system that I managed to call home for just over twelve years of my young life. I went on to wonder who in the world found it necessary to hire certain individuals who attempted to instill various aspects of knowledge in me in this institute of higher education that I now refer to as my place of employment. It's not that I now think that these individuals were better qualified for the jobs that they held throughout the process of my education than I did at the time; far from it. I consider many of them to be just as inept as I had originally feared, some of them even more so than I ever imagined. Something in me has changed, however, as I now understand a fraction of what these people went through on a daily basis.
For those of you not in the know, I'm currently instructing aviation students at a to be unnamed state university in a rather windy state just to the west of "the natural state." I currently have eight students that I am flying with, and twenty-eight that sit in a classroom with blank looks on their faces as I try to instill in them the knowledge necessary to be a professional commercial pilot. It's a tough job, it doesn't pay very well, and it's downright disheartening at times. How you ask? Try being motivated enough to prepare a good lesson and continue to genuinely care for the well being of students when it is obvious that they would rather not be there. I make the class as interesting as I can. I break up monotonous information with funny or interesting stories, I try to encourage class discussion, and I even borrowed a great idea from an educator that I have only recently begun to realize just how good he is at his job. (I threw Tootsie Rolls just like Mr. Kopecky) I can still hear crickets chirping when I ask a toss up question to the class, and everyone looks like they aren't even present in mind, just body. One person even went to sleep, and promptly woke up when I beaned him with a Tootsie Roll. Why do I even bother anymore? It's actually quite simple. Every now and then after class someone (usually the same few people) comes up to me and asks a question about aerodynamics or regualations and this prompts a ten minute discussion going above and beyond the material covered in class, and I see them smile and say, "thanks." Little moments like that make teaching worth the headaches. It's the same feeling I get when after fifty botched landing attempts something clicks in the student's head and he finally greases in a landing without me having to do anything to save life, limb, or property. They smile, their eyes change from sheer frustration to almost pure elation and they usually say as nonchalantly as they can muster, "that's not so hard afterall..."
Where am I going with all of this you might ask? (I'm assuming quite a few questions, because once again, allow me to point out that none of you care enough to ask them.) Teaching isn't as easy as you think, especially when you go out of your way to make your teacher/professor think that you don't want to be in their class at all. Do me a favor, if you don't want to be there, don't show up. I'd rather have a class of five students who wanted to learn than thirty kids who would rather be playing Halo 2. If you don't show up, don't complain about your grade. Drop the class, or better yet, change majors.
In addition to using entirely too many commas, I hope that I have provoked some thought in individuals who may have recently become disgruntled with school. Please don't think I'm coming down hard on you, I've been there myself, I know what you're going through. Interestingly enough, we all have, even the teachers that you may not wish deal with anymore. I'm not a musically incliined person myself; I need a bucket to carry a tune. On the other hand, I did notice that music was not the only thing taught in band. A great deal of my problem-solving, leadership qualities, and social skills were all incidental learning that came out of my otherwise wasted music education. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
It's time for bed. I've got some a lot of work and a little bit of liberal bashing to do tomorrow.
Jeff C.
Cut Your Teachers Some Slack...