What do you make of the way that the teachers (interviewees) tended to talk about teaching and being a teacher? Were you surprised by anything? Worried or disturbed?
Riley B- I wouldn't say I was surprised by the things they were saying however I am worried for our education system as a whole. It seems like everyone collectively does not like the curriculum as well as some of the rules in place, and I'm hoping it will begin to change. I am glad that these teachers seem passionate and dedicated to their job which is extremely important because not all teachers are AT ALL.
I'm not sure if anything surprised me, but what made me very happy about the education system was how much better they have accommodated children with IEPS. When I was in school I had an IEP and it was a struggle for me, teachers would help with my accommodations, my case managers wouldn't meet with me, and they would forget to send out the needed paperwork. It was a constant struggle for my mom and me to get the help that I needed to succeed in public school. While I did the interview I talked a little bit about IEPS, the interviewee told me that the education system has gotten a lot better at helping students and advocating for those who can't, it made me really happy to know that children who need that help to succeed are actually getting it. It shouldn't be a struggle for kids to get the education they deserve and it was really validating to hear her speak on that topic in such a positive manner.
Cady Ayers Most of the things that were covered in my interview weren't too shocking, but one did catch me by surprise. My interviewee talked about the toxicity that can take place within the workforce. Favoritism not only affects students, but also teachers. If a teacher were to be more favored by the principal, it's possible that their classroom would have more access to better supplies/opportunities. Aside from that, I've already been enlightened of the typical 'cons' of this career.
Halie Murphy- The teacher I spoke to seemed a little frustrated or jaded with the way higher ups interact with teachers. This made me a bit worried that I would also feel frustrated over time and feel like I didnt have a day in the way I was teaching. I was not surprised, my whole family are teachers and I have heard some stuff.
I'm not surprised by how the teachers were talking, things are unfortunately going downwards. This worries me as a whole for the future of education and system because we should be moving forwards. It's extremely frustrating knowing that I'm heading into this by choice, and by the time I'm a teacher, I doubt that things will be better.
Mia :) I was not surprised about how a lot of teachers were talking about their work. I think the discussion of how hard teaching actually is, is talked about way more now. Although it's rough, I do think teachers get more appreciation than they used to.
Claire Cook: Throughout the interviews there is a sense of frustration that teachers have towards the people in charge of what teachers are required to teach, and what they're supposed to do/not do in the classroom. Teachers are just upset that there is much control over them in their classrooms. That, sadly, doesn’t surprise me. I think there have always been issues with teachers feeling controlled with no freedom to choose much in their day to day schedule.
Yuritzy: Although there are many ups and down in education, each individual teacher seemed to have the passion to have to make change and questioned what they can do to make their classroom and students environment better. The district my school was in was very well off and had way more advantages than other schools which made me worry about other schools and I question why schools are so different based on where they are. I believe they should all the get the same resources, and in my school, it was sad to see other schools didn't have the resources we did.
Alistair here: I felt like my interview was an outlier in data compared to the rest of the class. Teaching University is much more different than grade school level, and my interviewee reflects that. They talk about the freedom they have with curriculum and class structure, as well as other responsibilities of the job outside of the classroom. They acknowledge that a lot of the heavy lifting in development is done in k-12, so it makes their job easier. This is perhaps why I would like to pursue this level of education, as it is less pressure and handling more formed students (Hopefully).
Nida Hadi- I think someone in the one of their blog post mentioned frustrated, and I would say that is one of the tones I got from just simply noticing the amount of much needed reform within our education systems, and that teachers are while passionate about fostering a nurturing environment where students can flourish and succeed, they are also exhausted from the same old flaws within our system that seem to be persistent year after year. My interview with my professor was much of a discussion about how we wished certain areas within our education system needed improvements, and areas where other ideas of a new system are plausible. I think one thing I was worried and disturbed by from my own interview was when my professor and I know were talking about given the current political developments in DC, under the current administration, whether these DEI initiatives and the dismantling of the department of education would be possible and the profound effect it will have not only on our teachers and students but also our economy and our future. I would have hoped that my interview ended on a positive note. However, it took a dark, grim turn, and a vision I did not exactly hope for our education system.
Rosalyn: My teacher spoke about teaching with a mix of passion, honesty, heavy sarcasm, and frustration, which really revealed how complex and exhausting the job can be. What stood out was how much they care about their students, but also how disillusioned they’ve become with a system that expects teachers to solve deep social issues while being under-resourced and overworked. I was surprised by how openly they criticized the structure of public education, especially how it prioritizes speed and control over actually meaningful learning.
I think it made me super excited to teach--hearing from her experiences made me feel like the job was aligned for me and my interests. It did highlight the huge task of introducing the love of learning to students which something I hold in high regard. It made me feel like I have a great responsibility and a great power to encourage the students in my classroom to be the best that they can be. I think the disciplinary aspect makes me the most nervous but it's a big part of teaching. I just don't want to step on any toes but sometimes it has to be done.
Elise Ginn, The teachers that I've talked to have been super excited and joyful about their job as well as not sounding one sided or biased against anyone or anything. Their super informed and are super good at thinking on their feet. I wasn't necessarily surprised but more newly informed on certain subjects. Shining a new light on certain things with the questions I asked. New perspectives and things I can apply to my own classroom one day. The person I interviewed never worried or disturbed me what was disturbing is how there's little to no creativity that can be involved with some lectures but that's my opinion.
Mack Mboh I definitely wasn't surprised that a lot of teachers shared the negatives more than the positives. There was a lot of frustration shared and exclaimed, however, it doesnt worry me. I am going into this knowing that I will be frustrated and upset at times, if not most times. My teacher that I interviewed shared her frustration with a language barrier, which I hadn't even started to think about. I do tend to worry about the future, but I am mentally preparing for the challenges this job brings.
Charlie Campbell: I was concerned to hear a teacher being ruthlessly targeted by students in RPS because of his orientation and administration doing nothing about it. He was also the 19th person at his elementary school in Richmond to quit/transfer that year. I may have not been as aware at the time but *back in my day* I remember it was a big deal to even lose a single teacher mid-year.
I was also concerned about the attitude being spread in the teachers lounge of *getting on the same level* as the students i.e. if they give you sass you give it right back.
On the positive side reading these teachers interviews it does seem like there are a lot of really passionate and thoughtful educators out there.
I just really worry about how technology is affecting students learning and attention spans like hearing there are laptops in even elementary school classrooms and an almost constant cycle of taking or preparing for standardized tests.
Danny Trainham: After interviewing a teacher, I am deeply concerned about the influence of politics on education. Government policies shape the curriculum and impose restrictions on the topics teachers are allowed to address. With the recent removal of DEI, institutional groups that supported marginalized groups are now being disbanded. Additionally, the federal government plays a significant role in determining educational funding, which raises serious concerns. Politics and education are undeniably interconnected, but decisions about students' learning should be left to educators, not politicians.
Peyton Plummer Throughout my interview there were not too many surprises, I know the teacher that I interviewed fairly well on a personal level, and we often talk about topics surrounding the teaching industry. However, one topic that I found interesting was her stance on the qualifications of long-term subs in the teaching industry which led to a bigger conversation about teacher retention. Because why go through all the education and certification to be a teacher when you can do much less than that to be a long-term sub and make near the same pay with the exception of benefits. Which I felt was a great point and a conversation that I feel needs to be discussed more often.
Throughout my interview I felt a sense of pride and love for her progress, involvement, and ability to empower children to view the world from a positive place. It amazed me just how passionate she was about her children and their development. While I certainly understand the drawbacks such as pay, appreciation, overwork/underpaid, and stress that comes with the job, I believe that her positive mentality about the impact that she makes on children far outweighed the negative aspects which is why she is ultimately so passionate about her work and the overall positive outlook of her position. I really was not surprised by anything that was discussed other than the having to come out of her own pocket at times in order to cater to the needs of the children. It was a bit off putting to hear that but I can certainly relate in any job that I have taken part in. The negative aspects usually don't outweigh the positive when you love what you do. If you feel true value in the mission you are trying to accomplish, it seems that some of those negative aspects really don't impact you as much. It concerns me how much teachers are having to fill roles left by the shortages but in time that will have a fix (I hope) with all of the new things put in place to draw more teachers in with bonuses, easier paths to teacher qualifications and increases in pay in areas.
Jordan Dent: Based on the way the teachers talked about teaching and being a teacher, it’s clear that many of them view the profession as deeply meaningful. A recurring theme seemed to be a strong sense of purpose and dedication to students, but also frustration with systemic issues, such as lack of support, unrealistic expectations, or the pressure of standardized testing.
What stood out, was that some teachers spoke about not just teaching, but also supporting students’ personal well being such as mental health or how to manage boundaries with parents.
It was a bit disturbing to hear about burnout (among students and teachers) and salary. While they expressed love for teaching, it seemed like that passion was being taken advantage of.
The way the interviewees were talking about teaching/ described it didn't necessarily disturb me, but it did worry me a bit. Not that I wasn't already worried with everything going on right now, it was more impactful to hear the interviewees that have been teaching for longer periods of time talk about how teaching used to be, almost as if they lost their spark. It's just sad to hear passionate teachers lose interest in their career because of policies and politics.
Veronica Here: I wasn't surprised, honestly. I expected Things that were said from here because she touched on them in class or when we'd talked during our free time together.
Talia Gose: Talking to my teacher I was a little surprised about how he got into teaching. It sounded like he knew he was going to become a teacher, but didn't want to at the same time. He also talked about how his experience teaching was something he found to be rewarding, but also extremely constraining with the micromanaging of super intendents, lack of student engagement, etc. It didn't find myself disturb more just kind of sad. I wish that teaching conditions were better overall for all the the teachers that genuinely find fulfillment and have passion.
From my interview, I found my teacher and some others spoke of teaching as something that is meaningful in forming young lives, and I found that very beautiful. I was slightly surprised by this, because I feel like now teaching I spoken about in a different light, that being that it is very demanding for low pay and sometimes isn't worth it. This viewpoint on teaching I found I could relate to, my outlook on teaching being that its important to help form and support kids and young adults. I found the only worrying part being the idea of pay, and teachers being seen as almost not people. This topic mainly made me sad, hearing about how teachers can be overlooked and not seen as valuable parts of peoples lives that deserve proper recognition.
I wasn’t really surprised by what the teachers said, but it did make me think more about how hard their job really is. A lot of them talked about being frustrated with the curriculum, not having enough support, and feeling like their voices don’t matter. That’s pretty upsetting, especially if it makes great teachers want to leave. But at the same time, it was really nice to see how much they still care about their students. Even with all the challenges, most of them still seem really passionate about helping kids learn and grow, and that’s something I really respect.
I was honestly not surprised by what was said when I completed my interview. I was actually impressed because you hear these things, but never right in front of you. Knowing that teachers are dealing with these specific issues and being able to talk about them and advocate for change is very unfortunate, but also beautiful to see. Seeing that they still have hope while also dealing with it on a day-to-day basis just shows how truly strong and committed they are.
Franky Mattos I wasn’t really worried or disturbed about anything she was saying, I was however a bit shocked that she reconsidered being a teacher, but when she explained why it was that she had her doubts I found them reasonable enough. I found it interesting how she spoke of the “off days” towards the end of the school year where both students and teachers alike are eager to be done but need to push through for the final couple of weeks, which I can understand.
Riley B-
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say I was surprised by the things they were saying however I am worried for our education system as a whole. It seems like everyone collectively does not like the curriculum as well as some of the rules in place, and I'm hoping it will begin to change. I am glad that these teachers seem passionate and dedicated to their job which is extremely important because not all teachers are AT ALL.
I'm not sure if anything surprised me, but what made me very happy about the education system was how much better they have accommodated children with IEPS. When I was in school I had an IEP and it was a struggle for me, teachers would help with my accommodations, my case managers wouldn't meet with me, and they would forget to send out the needed paperwork. It was a constant struggle for my mom and me to get the help that I needed to succeed in public school. While I did the interview I talked a little bit about IEPS, the interviewee told me that the education system has gotten a lot better at helping students and advocating for those who can't, it made me really happy to know that children who need that help to succeed are actually getting it. It shouldn't be a struggle for kids to get the education they deserve and it was really validating to hear her speak on that topic in such a positive manner.
ReplyDeleteCady Ayers
ReplyDeleteMost of the things that were covered in my interview weren't too shocking, but one did catch me by surprise. My interviewee talked about the toxicity that can take place within the workforce. Favoritism not only affects students, but also teachers. If a teacher were to be more favored by the principal, it's possible that their classroom would have more access to better supplies/opportunities. Aside from that, I've already been enlightened of the typical 'cons' of this career.
Halie Murphy-
ReplyDeleteThe teacher I spoke to seemed a little frustrated or jaded with the way higher ups interact with teachers. This made me a bit worried that I would also feel frustrated over time and feel like I didnt have a day in the way I was teaching. I was not surprised, my whole family are teachers and I have heard some stuff.
I'm not surprised by how the teachers were talking, things are unfortunately going downwards. This worries me as a whole for the future of education and system because we should be moving forwards. It's extremely frustrating knowing that I'm heading into this by choice, and by the time I'm a teacher, I doubt that things will be better.
ReplyDeleteMia :)
ReplyDeleteI was not surprised about how a lot of teachers were talking about their work. I think the discussion of how hard teaching actually is, is talked about way more now. Although it's rough, I do think teachers get more appreciation than they used to.
Claire Cook:
ReplyDeleteThroughout the interviews there is a sense of frustration that teachers have towards the people in charge of what teachers are required to teach, and what they're supposed to do/not do in the classroom. Teachers are just upset that there is much control over them in their classrooms. That, sadly, doesn’t surprise me. I think there have always been issues with teachers feeling controlled with no freedom to choose much in their day to day schedule.
Yuritzy:
ReplyDeleteAlthough there are many ups and down in education, each individual teacher seemed to have the passion to have to make change and questioned what they can do to make their classroom and students environment better. The district my school was in was very well off and had way more advantages than other schools which made me worry about other schools and I question why schools are so different based on where they are. I believe they should all the get the same resources, and in my school, it was sad to see other schools didn't have the resources we did.
Alistair here: I felt like my interview was an outlier in data compared to the rest of the class. Teaching University is much more different than grade school level, and my interviewee reflects that. They talk about the freedom they have with curriculum and class structure, as well as other responsibilities of the job outside of the classroom. They acknowledge that a lot of the heavy lifting in development is done in k-12, so it makes their job easier. This is perhaps why I would like to pursue this level of education, as it is less pressure and handling more formed students (Hopefully).
ReplyDeleteNida Hadi- I think someone in the one of their blog post mentioned frustrated, and I would say that is one of the tones I got from just simply noticing the amount of much needed reform within our education systems, and that teachers are while passionate about fostering a nurturing environment where students can flourish and succeed, they are also exhausted from the same old flaws within our system that seem to be persistent year after year. My interview with my professor was much of a discussion about how we wished certain areas within our education system needed improvements, and areas where other ideas of a new system are plausible. I think one thing I was worried and disturbed by from my own interview was when my professor and I know were talking about given the current political developments in DC, under the current administration, whether these DEI initiatives and the dismantling of the department of education would be possible and the profound effect it will have not only on our teachers and students but also our economy and our future. I would have hoped that my interview ended on a positive note. However, it took a dark, grim turn, and a vision I did not exactly hope for our education system.
ReplyDeleteRosalyn:
ReplyDeleteMy teacher spoke about teaching with a mix of passion, honesty, heavy sarcasm, and frustration, which really revealed how complex and exhausting the job can be. What stood out was how much they care about their students, but also how disillusioned they’ve become with a system that expects teachers to solve deep social issues while being under-resourced and overworked. I was surprised by how openly they criticized the structure of public education, especially how it prioritizes speed and control over actually meaningful learning.
I think it made me super excited to teach--hearing from her experiences made me feel like the job was aligned for me and my interests. It did highlight the huge task of introducing the love of learning to students which something I hold in high regard. It made me feel like I have a great responsibility and a great power to encourage the students in my classroom to be the best that they can be. I think the disciplinary aspect makes me the most nervous but it's a big part of teaching. I just don't want to step on any toes but sometimes it has to be done.
ReplyDeleteElise Ginn,
ReplyDeleteThe teachers that I've talked to have been super excited and joyful about their job as well as not sounding one sided or biased against anyone or anything. Their super informed and are super good at thinking on their feet. I wasn't necessarily surprised but more newly informed on certain subjects. Shining a new light on certain things with the questions I asked. New perspectives and things I can apply to my own classroom one day. The person I interviewed never worried or disturbed me what was disturbing is how there's little to no creativity that can be involved with some lectures but that's my opinion.
Mack Mboh
ReplyDeleteI definitely wasn't surprised that a lot of teachers shared the negatives more than the positives. There was a lot of frustration shared and exclaimed, however, it doesnt worry me. I am going into this knowing that I will be frustrated and upset at times, if not most times. My teacher that I interviewed shared her frustration with a language barrier, which I hadn't even started to think about. I do tend to worry about the future, but I am mentally preparing for the challenges this job brings.
Charlie Campbell: I was concerned to hear a teacher being ruthlessly targeted by students in RPS because of his orientation and administration doing nothing about it. He was also the 19th person at his elementary school in Richmond to quit/transfer that year. I may have not been as aware at the time but *back in my day* I remember it was a big deal to even lose a single teacher mid-year.
ReplyDeleteI was also concerned about the attitude being spread in the teachers lounge of *getting on the same level* as the students i.e. if they give you sass you give it right back.
On the positive side reading these teachers interviews it does seem like there are a lot of really passionate and thoughtful educators out there.
I just really worry about how technology is affecting students learning and attention spans like hearing there are laptops in even elementary school classrooms and an almost constant cycle of taking or preparing for standardized tests.
Danny Trainham:
ReplyDeleteAfter interviewing a teacher, I am deeply concerned about the influence of politics on education. Government policies shape the curriculum and impose restrictions on the topics teachers are allowed to address. With the recent removal of DEI, institutional groups that supported marginalized groups are now being disbanded. Additionally, the federal government plays a significant role in determining educational funding, which raises serious concerns. Politics and education are undeniably interconnected, but decisions about students' learning should be left to educators, not politicians.
Peyton Plummer
ReplyDeleteThroughout my interview there were not too many surprises, I know the teacher that I interviewed fairly well on a personal level, and we often talk about topics surrounding the teaching industry. However, one topic that I found interesting was her stance on the qualifications of long-term subs in the teaching industry which led to a bigger conversation about teacher retention. Because why go through all the education and certification to be a teacher when you can do much less than that to be a long-term sub and make near the same pay with the exception of benefits. Which I felt was a great point and a conversation that I feel needs to be discussed more often.
Throughout my interview I felt a sense of pride and love for her progress, involvement, and ability to empower children to view the world from a positive place. It amazed me just how passionate she was about her children and their development. While I certainly understand the drawbacks such as pay, appreciation, overwork/underpaid, and stress that comes with the job, I believe that her positive mentality about the impact that she makes on children far outweighed the negative aspects which is why she is ultimately so passionate about her work and the overall positive outlook of her position. I really was not surprised by anything that was discussed other than the having to come out of her own pocket at times in order to cater to the needs of the children. It was a bit off putting to hear that but I can certainly relate in any job that I have taken part in. The negative aspects usually don't outweigh the positive when you love what you do. If you feel true value in the mission you are trying to accomplish, it seems that some of those negative aspects really don't impact you as much. It concerns me how much teachers are having to fill roles left by the shortages but in time that will have a fix (I hope) with all of the new things put in place to draw more teachers in with bonuses, easier paths to teacher qualifications and increases in pay in areas.
ReplyDeleteJordan Dent: Based on the way the teachers talked about teaching and being a teacher, it’s clear that many of them view the profession as deeply meaningful. A recurring theme seemed to be a strong sense of purpose and dedication to students, but also frustration with systemic issues, such as lack of support, unrealistic expectations, or the pressure of standardized testing.
ReplyDeleteWhat stood out, was that some teachers spoke about not just teaching, but also supporting students’ personal well being such as mental health or how to manage boundaries with parents.
It was a bit disturbing to hear about burnout (among students and teachers) and salary. While they expressed love for teaching, it seemed like that passion was being taken advantage of.
The way the interviewees were talking about teaching/ described it didn't necessarily disturb me, but it did worry me a bit. Not that I wasn't already worried with everything going on right now, it was more impactful to hear the interviewees that have been teaching for longer periods of time talk about how teaching used to be, almost as if they lost their spark. It's just sad to hear passionate teachers lose interest in their career because of policies and politics.
ReplyDeleteVeronica Here:
ReplyDeleteI wasn't surprised, honestly. I expected Things that were said from here because she touched on them in class or when we'd talked during our free time together.
Talia Gose:
ReplyDeleteTalking to my teacher I was a little surprised about how he got into teaching. It sounded like he knew he was going to become a teacher, but didn't want to at the same time. He also talked about how his experience teaching was something he found to be rewarding, but also extremely constraining with the micromanaging of super intendents, lack of student engagement, etc. It didn't find myself disturb more just kind of sad. I wish that teaching conditions were better overall for all the the teachers that genuinely find fulfillment and have passion.
Tola Reasons-
ReplyDeleteFrom my interview, I found my teacher and some others spoke of teaching as something that is meaningful in forming young lives, and I found that very beautiful. I was slightly surprised by this, because I feel like now teaching I spoken about in a different light, that being that it is very demanding for low pay and sometimes isn't worth it. This viewpoint on teaching I found I could relate to, my outlook on teaching being that its important to help form and support kids and young adults. I found the only worrying part being the idea of pay, and teachers being seen as almost not people. This topic mainly made me sad, hearing about how teachers can be overlooked and not seen as valuable parts of peoples lives that deserve proper recognition.
I wasn’t really surprised by what the teachers said, but it did make me think more about how hard their job really is. A lot of them talked about being frustrated with the curriculum, not having enough support, and feeling like their voices don’t matter. That’s pretty upsetting, especially if it makes great teachers want to leave. But at the same time, it was really nice to see how much they still care about their students. Even with all the challenges, most of them still seem really passionate about helping kids learn and grow, and that’s something I really respect.
ReplyDeleteAniyah Johnson-Lee
ReplyDeleteI was honestly not surprised by what was said when I completed my interview. I was actually impressed because you hear these things, but never right in front of you. Knowing that teachers are dealing with these specific issues and being able to talk about them and advocate for change is very unfortunate, but also beautiful to see. Seeing that they still have hope while also dealing with it on a day-to-day basis just shows how truly strong and committed they are.
Franky Mattos
ReplyDeleteI wasn’t really worried or disturbed about anything she was saying, I was however a bit shocked that she reconsidered being a teacher, but when she explained why it was that she had her doubts I found them reasonable enough. I found it interesting how she spoke of the “off days” towards the end of the school year where both students and teachers alike are eager to be done but need to push through for the final couple of weeks, which I can understand.