Sub stories - from the trenches

I used to work as a substitute teacher a few years back. I have a few degrees in education, but I am so beyond disillusioned with our "education" system that I barely put those degrees to use. I know a lot of teachers who are amazing at what they do. They really care and they do their best to be creative and try to keep the attention of their students  - many of whom were raised on sugar and video games. Yet, the teaching field is becoming more and more challenging as teachers are being forced to teach to tests, they are dealing with serious behavioral issues, they have to put in their own money for supplies and their job goes home with them. How many teachers can get all of their papers graded, teach full schedules and plan their classes while filling out non-stop paperwork for the state before the end of their work day? Not too many.

While on a trip to Antarctica, I met a man who worked for the State Department whose job was promoting our education system abroad. I couldn't fathom this. I've attended schools in other countries and can tell you, their education systems are far better than what we're doing here. This is a person who never taught (yet his mother was a teacher) and considered himself an expert. I think we have too many "experts" in the higher up positions and not enough people with the ground experience to say this is what works and this is what needs changed.

I can remember when I subbed for a home economics class, the lesson plan was how to use a microwave - SERIOUSLY???  No wonder the high school kids were so bored and despondent. How about teaching them real life skills like how to balance a check book, how credit cards work, how to do your taxes, how to balance your diet and grow your own food...?

Another time I subbed for a high school science class and the kids had a group test to take. The fact that it was a group test boggled my mind. I caught them cheating as they were able to find the test online and were using their smart phones to tell them the answers. They all laughed when I took their tests away. How about teaching ethics in school?

During a language class that I was subbing, a boy made the comment that he was going to beat the crap out of another student at lunch. I had a quick talk with him about what the consequences would be if he did it and how it wasn't worth it. After the kids left for lunch, I called the office to give them a heads up. When the students returned from lunch, I asked where the (angry) student was and they said he was taken away in handcuffs for punching another student. How about we teach kids how to resolve their problems without resorting to violence? How about we teach our kids how to deal with their emotions?

My last story is about the time I subbed for a  social studies teacher. The A.P. classes played on their phones, talked to each other and refused to engage in the classroom discussion. These are our future "leaders." Yet, the "degenerate" class engaged in a meaningful conversation about present day politics. These were the "misfit" kids, yet they showed more intelligence, respect and critical thinking than any of the other classes. A classic case of never judge a book by its cover. These are the kids who are shunned. Why aren't we teaching kids how to engage in dialogue with those different from them? To understand that their views matter too?

Our education system needs a massive overhaul and more testing is not the way to go. We need to bring humanity back into the picture. We are more than our brains. Bringing back the arts, teaching critical thinking, allowing for the expression of creativity, teaching empathy, teaching techniques on how to handle the stresses of life - these are all things that would put our children on a better path for a better tomorrow. How much further are we going to go down this slippery slope before we decide to generate real change?

Forever learning LOVE, Adrienne :)