It is very easy to become cynical about teaching in a high needs area. Most of the time my kids are unmotivated, disrespectful, and incredibly confrontational. However, with each day there are inevitably bright spots. For instance, Mr. Mill and I (mostly Mill) have been sponsoring a very informal chess club. We are actually starting to generate some excitement. We now have about four somewhat legitimate student chess players coming to Mr. Mill's room after school. We have two consistent participators and both kids are a pleasure to be around. I cannot express how nice it is to be around kids who act like human beings and appreciate the game of chess. The chess club that Mr. Mill has created has given these two kids an opportunity to escape the world of insanity that is North Panola High School. It has allowed them to act like real kids, making geeky references to Star Wars and Spongebob Squarepants. And these are not geeky kids. They are legitimately funny, interesting people. Unfortunately for them the environment at North Panola doesn't often provide an outlet for interesting people. Our chess club provides a brief escape from the rough environment they must face every day. Now perhaps I am not being too clear in this blog, but I think most teachers will know what I mean.
I think so. My home state of Mississippi needs the help. Mississippi needs talented, cultured, and motivated individuals in its school systems.
Anyway, many other MTC bloggers have written much more eloquently on this topic than I am capable of. Check out Propaghandi's manifesto for evidence of that. In this blog post I will not attempt to comment on all the problems of Mississippi, because for the most part I cannot even begin to wrap my mind around all that is wrong with our state.
I will instead comment on a singular, positive aspect of MTC. The Friendships. Since I joined MTC, I have made several friendships which I feel will last me a lifetime. I know. I know. I shouldn't be writing on something like this. I should instead be pondering the problems of "the system". But like I said, other people have written much more eloquently on that topic. I also feel that another blog post on what qualities a teacher should have to come to da' sip is unneccessary.
Should you be a hardworker if you want to join MTC? Yes.
Should you want to teach? Yes.
Should you be a good teacher? Yes, probably.
To tell you the truth, I feel pretty inadequate as a teacher. I do not have the self-motivation that it takes to become a great teacher. I am decent, but definitely not great. One of the positive things I have gained though my experience with the MTC however is my interaction with a diverse group of people. I have met interesting, talented, and hilarious individuals from every part of the country while I have been teaching. I now have friends from such Yankeeish places as Boston, New York, and Michigan. By the end of the program I will probably have made some of the best friends of my life.
Anyway, thanks for reading. If you need teaching advice, ask someone else.
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