Thank God It's Friday

I never thought I'd be saying this, but thank god it's Friday. I'm so exhausted mentally that I'm going to be taking another nap shortly. Teaching is not easy, not by a long shot. However, it does provide you with interesting stories and happenings. 

Today was a B day at the high school, meaning that the students had 4 classes to attend today, while I had to only teach 3 (planning periods are a blessing in disguise). During B days, the classes that are held in the band room consist of band and 2 different sections of guitar. Let the stories begin! Today the first section of guitar was rather chill; they didn't give me any stories to tell.

Band

Today the band class had a test on part of Florentiner March by Julius Fucik, specifically letter U to letter V in the piece. As is to be expected of any high school ensemble, half of the students did not practice their part, while a small majority flat out refused to perform the section. Needless to say, they received Fs for that grade and must play it on Monday for no grade at all.

After hearing how abysmal the band sounded on their assigned test, MT took a moment to express to the students that they needed to practice correctly and fix their mistakes. To do this, MT quoted Shia LaBeouf telling them "Just DO IT" and changing the more calmly spoken parts to reflect the steps that should be achieved while practicing.

Guitar (2nd Section)

This is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of (if not my absolute) favorite classes. The kids work hard and efficiently, to where I don't have to pretend to be strict with them. They're by far the most advanced guitar class. 

Now, in the previous post, I mentioned that there was an influx of new students in the music classes. The reason for this is that an art teacher that was hired has not shown up to instruct her classes, causing the course to be interspersed into other electives, including each of the three guitar classes. The guitar classes are a continuation from the previous semester; as a result, many of the incoming students have never touched a guitar, can't read music, and don't really have a desire to learn. I've been working with it as best I can. Then, I met the student today. His alias on this blog will be Stupid Child (he earned it as a result of his actions).

While I'm waiting for the tardy bell to ring so that I can take attendance, I see Stupid Child walk in the classroom. I call him over and ask, like any reasonable educator would, if he needs help. The response I get is along the lines of "Oh, my art class got canceled, but I'm getting a schedule change because I really don't want to be here." Telling Stupid Child fine, I instruct him to get a chair and a music stand, while handing him the handouts that all the other students had, saying that until he had the definite change in schedule, he'd have to participate in the class just like everyone else. At this point in time, Stupid Child has spotted a friend of his in the percussion class that happens at the same time as his guitar class, and is suddenly happy. He tries to ask me if he can be in the percussion class instead; I direct him to MT who promptly shuts that notion down.

After tuning the class' guitars, we resume our work on Yellow Submarine, much to one of the students, Guitar Fan, great horror. I'll admit, I enjoy tormenting Guitar Fan by playing Yellow Submarine over and over again, listening to his groans of aggravation. While doing this, Stupid Child, whom is waiting for MT to issue him a guitar, raises his hand and asks "So, you marked me here. Can I go somewhere?" Upon being asked where he would go, he replies "Uh... to see a friend, somewhere not here." Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but that is insanely suspicious. I tell Stupid Child no, he has to stay in class. The next time I look over at Stupid Child, I catch him using his phone as a mirror to comb his hair. 

Finally, MT is able to assign Stupid Child a guitar and has Guitar Fan break from class activities to assist him in catching up. Rather than pay attention to Guitar Fan, Stupid Child decides to ask me if he can go talk to his friend in percussion and find out why he's been suspended. I tell him no, that he's supposed to be playing catch up on guitar and has no business disturbing another class. I go back to instructing and see Stupid Child get up, presumably to go talk to his friend. MT sees this as well and tells Stupid Child to sit as well, claiming that Stupid Child being out of the chair makes him nervous and suspicious (excellent reasoning, in my opinion). When Stupid Child is sure that MT is out of hearing range, he states that they will have a problem, and calls MT a 'prick'. Guitar Fan has given up on assisting at this point. As I help bring Guitar Fan up to speed on what we did while he was helping, Stupid Child asks me if I want his guitar, saying "Psych" when I reach for it. 

Astounded by the level of immaturity, I ignore Stupid Child for the rest of class, though it is worth noting that he stared at me the entire time. As class was ending, three students, Guitar Fan among them, came and were talking to me in hushed tones, aggravated at the level of stupidity Stupid Child was exhibiting in class. Seeing Stupid Child approach, I hushed them quickly and asked what I could do for him. The following is the exact conversation that we had.

Me: What can I do for you sir?
Stupid Child: So uh, can you just mark me as here for the rest of the semester, so that I don't have to show up?
Me: I can't do that.
Guitar Fan (turns to Stupid Child): Y'know, if you don't want to be here and you don't want to participate, just don't come to class. It's that simple.
Stupid Child: I'm on probation and can't skip class. (turns to me) You can do it.
Me: You're right, I can. However, I shouldn't do it, so I won't do it, and therefore can't do it.
Stupid Child: You should though. (walks away)

The three guitar students that were still gathered around me looked in shock at the level of audacity that Stupid Child had displayed, able to tell that I was furious with him for displaying such blatant disregard for the course that he will most likely be stuck in for the rest of the semester.

***

With the first month of teaching securely under my belt, I can say that teaching is one of the hardest jobs out there. If you're still in school, I advise you to take the time to realize and appreciate the amount of work and energy that your teachers exhibit, day in and day out. Here's to looking toward the next week, filled with marching in 3 Mardi Gras parades and more classes.

"Intelligence plus character-- that is the goal of true education." -Martin Luther King Jr.

Introduction, Purpose, and Adventure

Upon my decision to be a teacher, I was told that I would have great stories to tell regarding the students I met and taught throughout the years. As a student teacher only 4 weeks into her first semester teaching at a high school, I can see those claims were far from unfounded. I have so many stories to tell already; some are funny, some are stupid, and others still are heartwarming. In order to preserve this experience, I've decided to document the trip I take through my semester of student teaching. This could potentially continue into the following years, where I am in complete control as a teacher rather than an assistant.

After reading that, you're probably wondering who the hell would ever want to be a teacher, and why they would write about the experience. Allow me to introduce myself! Hailing from New Orleans, I am a 22 year old music education senior that was placed in a local high school to intern for the semester. Upon going to the high school, I became promptly in charge of the school's 3 guitar classes, band class, beginning and advanced orchestra class, and music appreciation class (also known as recorder class or HELL). 

The adventures I've had in this school so far are endless. Listed below are a sampling of what you should expect to see me write about. While I will never use real names, know that these happenings are 100% true (I couldn't make some of this up if I tried to).

• Half of the school's population speaks only Spanish, no English. In one day, one of the guitar classes received 9 new students, 5 of which speak solely Spanish. As a result, I've taken to giving my instructions in both Spanish and English as a way to try to keep the class together. I'm learning from the Spanish speakers every day though; they're helping to improve my vocabulary and help me to communicate with them.
• There is a police officer that is paid to be on the high school campus. Some of the students are on probation, have been arrested, and actively do drugs on campus. Two students were caught smoking weed behind the stage, while several band students admit to doing acid.
• Students that are reprimanded by the faculty respond by cursing and antagonization. A girl once called my mentor teacher (known as MT from here on out) an asshole, to which he responded with "I know you are!". At that point, the boy that was with her began trying to antagonize MT, stating that he was going to come over to where we were and bust him up. MT stated go for it, which the kid never did.
  ~   Another called me a bitch in Spanish (puta), only to realize moments later that I completely understood what he was saying. The look of horror on his face was priceless, and he refused to talk to or look me in the eye for a week.
• The students also have an affinity for direct disobedience. They either flat out ignore instruction given, don't bring their class materials, or refuse to take tests. MT told me my first week to pick my battles carefully because some of them weren't worth wasting my time and energy on. I'm going to find a way to get them to want to participate though; I want to see them succeed.
• Severely/profoundly behavioral disordered students reside across the hall. The coach who oversees their well being told me that should I ever see him throw a desk into the hall, I should close the door immediately and without question, as one of his students is having a meltdown. Further more, I was instructed not to open the door, no matter what I might hear happening on the other side.

With all of that, I can imagine that you're staring at the computer in shock, unable to comprehend how a public high school could be in such a state of disarray. I admit, I was taken aback during my first few weeks there, because I'd never been in such an environment. Despite all of the shortcomings at this school, there have been moments that make me genuinely smile.

• A student revealing to me that when I had first taken over the class from MT, he hated me because I was making them work and pushing them to keep playing, whereas in the first semester things had been lax. As the weeks have progressed, guitar has become his favorite class.
• One of the clarinet players in the band has grown attached to me, always coming and greeting me with a hug. When I accompanied the band to a Mardi Gras ball performance, she immediately began fawning over how "pretty" I looked, asking me about my dress, my shoes, my hair, and my makeup.
• The students in the guitar classes and I share a mutual hate for Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl and The Beatles' Yellow Submarine; we have to hear it so many times a day as they work to learn it. It's become a joke among us all to forbid others from playing, singing, and listening to that song aloud at the risk of an eraser being pelted at them.
• The band class has taken up the idea that, while in the season of Mardi Gras, they should follow the King Cake tradition every day that they have class. For those that don't know, inside of the King Cake is a baby. Whomever gets the baby in their slice of King Cake must buy the next King Cake. 
• MT decided that for festival (the band's performance competition), I should conduct a piece. In his words, not many student teachers will get the chance to do this, and he wants me to get as much experience as I can for when I go out and inherit or build a program of my own. 

Well, now that I've explained the basic happenings, strap in! It's a long way until this internship is over, and there will be plenty more stories, be it from rehearsals, classes, or Mardi Gras parades! I hope you enjoy taking this journey with me, as I hopefully learn the secrets to becoming a successful educator in the face of seemingly endless challenges. 

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela