Wow, I really thought we were in these classes to learn and ask questions about the things we don't understand before getting in the classroom. I have always believed the old saying "the only stupid question is the one you don't ask."
This attitude of old people are sooooooooooo slow and stupid can't we just forget about that and move on, has been building from the start of the summer quarter combined today with the "oh goodie for you" and "how hard is it for you to read" remarks when I asked for clarification on the "whereto' (which is on the erserve templete)of the unit plan today really HURT my feelings. Never fear I know how to let it go.
But it left me with two thoughts, First, I am concerned about the future students of these future teacher. How will those student feel about continually being shot down and dismissed. It is easy to say it won't be that way then and what you are going to do then, but actions have always spoken louder to me.
Yes, in a perfect world I wouldn't be in this program with a family and life. Then I could spend my every waking moment devoted to studying, but that is not realistic for many of us. I do wish some members would have a little more patience or if nothing else be less verbal about how much of your time we are wasting. You know I happen to pay the same tuition for class time as you, therefore I should be able to ask questions without fear.
For individuals that will be teaching others about community in the near future, it sure appears to me this cohort has a lot still left to learn.
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8 comments:
You'd have to be living in a cave not to notice the divide in our cohort. I overheard someone say that we are more divided now than we were in the Spring or the Summer, and I agree. It doesn't have to be so divided, and it is up to us as individuals and as members of the cohort to close that divide. We should not have to lean on professors to close the divide for us.
On that note, I suggest a cohort meeting at the Funplex ball pit. No holds barred. Bring your nerf bats and let's release some tension.
kidding!...?
Don't even get me started on this one! What concerns me is that what happens when these people get into a school and everyone does not think the same as they do? For example, at the prof. seminar conference a couple Friday's ago I was at a table with a few teachers who were paired with fellow cohort members. There was this one teacher who disagreed with everything I was saying that was being done in my dyad but he wouldn't say why. I asked him for his opinion and why he thought "grouping" kids by ability level (for literacy) is wrong and tried to start a conversation on it. I really wanted to know his opinion...I am not a teacher yet and am very interested in learning perspectives of those who have been in the profession for some time. He just completely shut down and was very "that is just the wrong way to do it". It really frustrated and made me think about my first year of teaching. Really we could be walking into a school that has a lot of different views on kids and classrooms than we do. We have to be able to adapt and get along with others. It's just a fact of life. Like you said, we don't have to be best friends with these people but you do have to have some sort of professional respect among you or it just doesn't work.
it is really unfortunate that our cohort is divided. We have been talking that it is really important to have an environment where in everyone feel safe and make sure that members should be respectful. But I do not see this in our cohort. I hope in someway that we could resolve this...12redroses4u, I am really sorry if you feel that way. If there is anything that i could do to make you feel better...let me know...
It does seem to be divided. We can work towards making peace. I don't think that those who don't have to juggle family with school work can ever truly appreciate what we are going through, or realize how lucky they are by not having to juggle so much. However, they also don't have as much appreciation for their family, or the support and love that having a family at home can bring.
Okay, wow. What have I been missing?! I must disagree with the last posting. I am single, without children and have many other issues I have been dealing with. We all do. Laura, our Special Ed. teacher, always used to talk about how we can never really know what others' realities are...we haven't walked in their shoes. And some people have better support systems and coping abilities. That is why I feel it is so important to be understanding and accepting, without judgement. I again must scream, can't we all just get along?! As Sabine said, "yes, we can!" Being positive is good for everyone...what comes around, goes around. And, once again, I am stepping off of my box.
Aggie-- Don't step off your box. Thanks for opening my eyes to another perspective. It was wrong of me to make generalizations like that, and just as bad as those who have not been very accepting in class. I apologize.
I will try to be more positive, more "Yes, we can!", and more understanding of those who are not patient with us old folks. :)
I really love the positivity that Aggie and Sabine keep reinforcing! I truly do try and stay positive but I guess I just feel that it's one more thing added to our plates that we just don't have the time to handle. I mean, we all talk about how we are going to school and still trying to have a life. The really important things get dealt with and the items further down on the ladder are reserved for when you have a spare moment. I guess that's how I feel about our cohort "issues". I just keep asking myself "Will this all matter a year from now?". I mean, we have all created friendships with members of our cohort and I know that many of us will keep those friendships once we are finished with our schooling. But realistically...those are the only people we will really keep in touch with. You know how it goes...it's like when you work somewhere for a long time and then leave. You remain friends with those you became close to but the others were just merely coworkers and your relationship just didn't exist outside the workplace. Does that make any sense? I don't mean for it to sound cold or unemotional, I am just trying to keep things in perspective. We only have a few weeks left of this quarter and then winter quarter....then we are all in the schools full-time and won't even really see each other. I guess I really am not too worried about it anymore. Yes, we all need to get a long and respect each other but lord knows there is enough in this world, and in our lives, to worry about besides this.
Hi Folks,
Just a few words here from Jane. I rarely step into these conversations, but in this case, want to offer a Blogging Etiquette 101 reminder.
If you all are talking openly among one another and working constructively to solve the division that some of you are seeing, then blogging about those issues constructively can help people to clarify issues and to "hear" one another.
But I'd caution against posting personal criticism of your cohort mates in public blogs. This is public writing and you have to consider the impression you're giving of yourself and of the cohort as a whole when writing about such things.
I'd highly recommend using these public blogs to reflect on your own growth. It's fine to write about the challenges of balancing everyone on your plates.
But criticism of others' professionalism crosses a line for me.
I like the positive turn in the many comments that talk about how to solve divisions.
But blogging isn't the place to air complaints and personal criticism of others.
Blogs do give each of us a soapbox -- so at least for blogs that are part of your formal work here in the program, use that soapbox constructively, ok?
Jane
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