A huge wave is about to crash in these parts and there is nothing much I can do about it except wait. The next ten weeks will be hell, I expect, and will determine what I will doing for the next five years of my life. If it turns out to be worse than hell, I'm afraid that I'll have to close this door and try my hand at something else. I hope it will not be worse than hell.
They have assigned me the most difficult class of that level. Repeatedly they say to me, "Very difficult. Discipline problems. Rebellious. They will tell you off, swear at you. Remember not to engage them in verbal wars. Remember `Hands off '." And I nod and smile, and steel myself for the scenario.
Then I think, "Don't worry! You can assign interesting texts. You can make it engaging and fun." And I look at the magazines they subscribe to and the textbooks they kinda sorta follow, and everything looks superficial, dumb and boring. And I fret about finding a single thing to say.
The road to hell is wide, but not wide enough for a U-turn.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
The road to hell is wide
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10 comments:
wah, dont tell me u've also become a teacher? contract ah?
i'm on my practicum already, wanna run also cannot, haha.
dont worry if u cant control the so-called "worst class" - if seasoned teachers cant do it, dont expect yourself to work miracles.
you could become a mail carrier!
You know what's funny, Billy? I applied to library too, but didn't get in. I guess we're both wanna-be-librarians. :) I'm envious that you're on practicum already.
Yes, a mail carrier! It sounds like it will easier to do in S'pore than where you are, since we don't have snow and flying turkeys. :) I would really like to a flower or pizza delivery person for some reason.
I'm a firm believer in the saying "those who can, do"; "those who can't, teach". U sound quite talented from your blog; so y waste time with mass humanity? If u must teach, create yr own class-room, yr own syllabus and teach a select few. The masses just waste 10 to 12 of the best years of their lives in a place where the hardware may be excellent but the software is absolutely questionable.
Hi anon, thanks for your remarks. My own teacher was a fan of that quote by Shaw as well, but I think he said it with a bit of irony.
I am not convinced that the 10 to 12 years they spend in the system is a waste. Mine was not a waste in any case.
About choosing a few to teach, that isn't quite my cup of tea, 'cos my mission is precisely with what you call the masses. I suppose I do hope to make a difference somehow..
Yaay! You're on the side of angels! All the best; you WILL make a difference.
it will be difficult but what an experience it will be! 3 months b, just enough time to get a glimpse of hell then hopefully comes a fork in the road.
To anonymous:
Be a little more thankful to the people who you think "can't do and chose to teach". By choosing the "mass humanity", they helped to educate and shape you into who you are today.
Really, a little gratefulness and positivity will make our society more gracious and a better place to live in. =)
To mis_nomer: Glad you have the heart of an educator. You WILL make a difference! The going WILL be tough, since not everyone you teach wants to be helped, but stay anchored in the fact that your efforts made a difference to the ones that choose to learn.
And for those who are "lost" now, at least you have sown some seeds of goodness in their lives. Hopefully, one day, those seeds will blossom! =)
Thank you all for your kind and encouraging comments. :) I hope to make it good.. all we have are hopes eh? :)
Dear Ant:
"a little gratefulness and positivity"?? U mean "gratitude" and "positiveness"? That's what happens when "those who can't, teach" choose to teach the masses. ;)
Home-schooling is one answer against the tidal wave of the great unschooled trying to teach the unteachable.
I admire Mis-nomer's spirit but really wish she would apply that spirit in more focussed fashion. String multiple strands of pearls rather than cast pearls to the wind and hope that someone, somewhere will gather enough to make even a quarter bracelet!
Sigh! I am the voice of experience (cf Blake)
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