Parents and Commuting…the struggle

Commuting is not an easy thing. It puts a burden on you and how you can spend your time wisely. It can also affect your family. There can be some commuters out there who may have families who stress about you coming home and not staying in Chico too long. Maybe not all students who commute have parents like these, but I know I did. My parents would worry too much if I was going to come home or stay in Chico for the day. Sometimes I had to stay in Chico to get some extra studying in or go to group meetings. Having them stress would stress me out and make me leave and never really attend my study sessions or group meetings because I always tried to make my family happy. 

Sometimes you have to realize that your education is more important then always giving your parents what they want. Family is a huge part of our lives and they are the people in our lives who will always be there for us, but we have to realize that school comes first at times. Students who commute know that it is a hassle to get up and drive to school everyday. Sometimes you just want to leave school for the day and relax, but no, we have to drive home for about 30 minutes or more. 

One solution would be moving to Chico, but again there can be some parents who aren't very fond of the idea. Again, we have to do what is best for us and our education. We can get a lot more done if we just lived in Chico. We are able to take more classes and dedicate more time to our studies. Sure some people may not have trouble commuting and finding the time to study, but for some people it can be hard. I am not going to say move out! What I am trying to say is, find ways to make your life a lot easier. Sometimes we have to put our foot down and do what’s best for us. 

Is Technology Taking Over?

Technology is something that has grown so much over the past few years. Have you noticed the difference from when we were in middle or elementary school? It was rare to see someone with a cell phone or an iPod/iPhone.  We lived in an era where we had to communicate face to face and over the phone. Kids today are exposed to so much technology. You see students today in 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade that have cell phones, that have Facebook, that are constantly texting, and always on their video games. I remember when I was in 5^th grade all I had was my soccer ball to play with and my Gameboy advanced. Kids today are being exposed to too much technology. Is this a problem? We have come to an understanding that the world is growing and we need to catch up and get use to it. What I’m trying to say is that, as future teachers do we think that technology will play a huge role in education these next 10 years? Will it play a positive role or negative role to our future students?

Students will most likely have access to a computer at all times. Technology is our future and our students will be living and breathing it. Mrs. Sandberg is a 3^rd grade teacher at Wilson Elementary School in Gridley, California and she talks about how this year she was required to have her 3^rd grade students take a standardized test on a computer. She said it was a whole new experience for her, since she has been teaching for over 20 years. She was personally frustrated, but she said her students were fine with it and worked it out pretty well. International Council ofCommunication Design is an educational website that gives news on our future schools and what to expect. In one particular article they talk about how everything will be developed at a digital level. There is no need for paper and in the next few years we may expect devices to become thinner and faster, to have higher definition images and videos, to support 3D features and holographic capabilities that simulate tangible objects. This means there will be more competition when it comes to job seeking. Everyone will be so advanced in technology that the work force will be seeking for only the best. Students will be expected to know and do a lot when in the work force.

Overall our country is growing and we have to catch up. Technology is taking over and we can't argue with that. Technology will change the education system and making our knowledge obsolete and quicker. As future teachers we have to start preparing now.

~Erick Garcia

“Those Who Can’t Do, Teach."

Most people are familiar with the saying, “Those who can’t do, teach.” Or as the famous Woody Allen once wrote; “Those who can’t do, teach. And those who can’t teach, teach gym”. This statement suggests that people who have failed or would be failures in the world outside of academia end up as teachers. This same statement is enough to make any future, current or retired teacher’s blood boil.

It is unclear to me where the origin of this saying has come from, but I did find some interesting facts that may have led to the discrediting of teachers over time.

In the Middle Ages, knowledge was viewed as God’s gift. Since it was God’s gift, it was seen as wrong to charge for it. Due to this view, teachers at many institutions were not paid at all for their work. They had to rely on the gifts and charity of appreciative students. Sometimes, a teacher was lucky to receive an apple so he’d have something to eat. As a result, it became difficult to develop a mindset that this profession was pursued by people of high capability if the services they were offering were free of charge.

I personally do not see the logic behind this statement. Teaching takes more than a bachelor’s degree, it takes the ability to implement an immense and broad amount of information and communicate it to a diverse group of young students. Teachers are the first step towards an occupation, towards any occupation that is deemed “superior” to that of an educator. One must (typically) complete both primary and secondary education before they can even continue on to the collegiate level, where they begin to mold their career path. And who guides them through all of these levels of schooling, through all of these confusing, information-loaded, hormone-driven years? Educators.

I recently asked a cooperating teacher I have been volunteering with her view on the matter. I asked her what her reaction would be to someone who truly believed “Those who can’t do, teach”. Her reply was simple and straightforward; “work one day in my classroom”. She works in a high school moderate/severe special education class, so some of the scenarios she deals with are on the extreme, but the message is still the same. Those who think handling a classroom of 25-30 children for 6 hours a day 5 days a week addressing the academic, social, and emotional needs of a highly diverse population should spend one day in our shoes. Teachers pursue their career because we are passionate about what we do, and we want to do it right. But doing it right also means doing it legally, and we must accommodate and please the never ending state and federal demands that are placed on education, mainly through the form of tests. So if you think you can easily motivate a child to take a lengthy test when they don’t see the point, nonetheless want to be in your classroom, please, be my guest.

-Lisa Schill

Male teachers, are you out there?

Is it just me or have you noticed that when you go to a school campus the majority of people who work there are women? It almost seems like a stereotype to say that you always see a woman as the teacher. As a student I’ve noticed myself that males in the teaching profession are the minority. It’s always been something that has interested me and why there are fewer male teachers in grades K-6.  Edudemic: connecting education and technology is a website that helps teachers, administrators, and students be informed about schools and what can help within your classroom. According to one of their latest articles, Where Are All the Male Teachers? , male teachers account for 25% of teachers in the U.S. The article talks about how many male teachers don’t feel comfortable working with children from K-6, only because they feel as if they can easily be accused of abuse. There are about 18% of male teachers that teach middle school. Male teachers feel more comfortable around this group age because they can be a little tougher, but know that the students will be able to handle it.

           

I was able to interview two male teachers at a local high school on their experiences and beliefs about male teachers. Mr. Tull was the first male teacher I interviewed. He teaches at Gridley High and has been teaching for over 10 years. I asked him why he decided to teach at a high school level. He responded by saying that he wanted to work with older students. He felt like working with younger kids would be more of a hassle. He loves working with kids, but he just feels more comfortable working with older kids. The second teacher I interviewed was Mr. Bailey. Mr. Bailey has been a teacher at Gridley High School for 2 years and recently transferred to Lindhurst High School. He also feels that teaching at a higher level is best for him. He said that working with younger children is made more for female teachers. He isn’t trying to sound sexist, but he feels that personally he can’t baby children. He wants to be hard on his students, but in a way where they appreciate it. He lets his students know that it isn’t personal it’s just business. Mr. Bailey works hard to make his student’s successful, but when it comes to outside of the classroom he is one of the coolest people you’ll ever meet.

           

Male teachers are something you don’t see everyday. It’s not because it isn’t meant for them, it’s just that they choose to take a different pathway. Education is valuable in our culture and it shouldn’t matter who teaches it.  Share your thoughts in the comments.

-Erick Garcia

Dress to Impress!

Dress the way you want to feel! Dress the way you want to be perceived! While we all pass around the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover", it's not a secret that we do so anyway, especially in a professional setting. So, when you step into an interview, walk through the door looking like a book the panel will want to read!

I've done some research on the do's and dont's of professional attire and have compiled all the information into a simple list. Enjoy!

DOs

Do spend a little extra on the basics i.e. a suit that fits you properly. Go cheap on blouses to wear underneath.

Do tuck it in (directed more towards men). When you walk into an interview with your shirt hanging out, you might come off as a little rushed or indifferent.

Do iron your clothes. This is an indication of preparedness for your interview. 

Do pick a piece to show your personality. This could be a small piece of jewelry or maybe a little color. As long as you don't overdo it, putting a little personality in your outfit is a good thing!

Do a dress rehearsal. Make sure you can comfortably sit, there aren't any parts of your outfit you nervously play with, etc.

DONTS

Don't feel tied to black. People immediately associate professional with all black. You're not in mourning so feel free to throw in a little, tasteful splash of color!

Don't wear bright-colored, fake nails. This is distracting. It's better to go with a more natural look.

Don't pile up on labels. Don't choose clothes with obvious "big designer" names. Wearing nice pieces is great if you can afford it, but flaunting this might send the wrong message.

Don't wear flashy ties. Men, try to stick to a small pin or other accessories. Save your Sesame Street tie for the classroom. The kids will love it!

Don't pull a Napoleon Dynamite guys! Make sure the socks you're wearing under your suit match the suit as well. It is more distracting than you think.

I encourage you to visit websites such as Pinterest or Stumble Upon to explore different wardrobe possibilities. Polyvore even has a section, "Teachers Outfits on a Teacher's Budget." 

Best of luck!

Share the Road

Kelly

It has come to my attention that there has recently been a significant spike in the number of accidents involving bicyclists and motor vehicles. In fact, so many that I felt it would be worthwhile to inform students of the Liberal Studies community about bicycle safety. A little over a month ago I was casually riding my bike home from campus after a PALS meeting. I was on a two-way street in the Avenues as a car entered onto the street coming from the opposite direction. As typical two-way traffic occurs, we were facing one another for a good ten seconds or so before passing directions; naturally, I assumed the driver was aware of my presence. I quickly realized that assuming was quite possibly my biggest mistake. As soon as we crossed paths I heard the tires of the car whip around and before I could even look to move I was hit. The last thing I saw was the front right corner of the car hitting my bike as I was knocked onto the concrete. Oh, and let me add the lovely detail of smacking my head on a parked car as I went down…just awesome. I’ll wrap it up by letting you know that my bicycle and I were okay; just some bruises and the need for a new kickstand.

I went to class the following morning and couldn't help but over hear a classmate of mine talking about how she was hit by a car near campus on her route to school. The following Monday I went to a different class to hear what you ask? YES, another friend of mine had been hit by a car and it had damaged her bike severely; luckily both girls were fine. This was blowing my mind, I had to look deeper. It turns out that in the month of February there were at least 8 similar accidents that were reported to the University Police Department ; and since neither I nor my two other classmates reported our incidents the numbers were definitely higher. There was even an accident between a vehicle and bicyclist on Legion Ave during the campus bike safety event - how ironic right? The point I want to make is that we are all certainly aware of how many distractions can take place while driving a vehicle (music, texting, conversation, road rage, squirrels, etc.). Therefore, as a bicyclist we have to assume the worst from the driver in order to protect ourselves from harm – because trust me, you are not going to win.  As a driver, please be aware of the laws involved in sharing the road and avoid such distractions as much as possible. There’s no need to be a show off as a bicyclist or a driver when it comes to the safety of a human life. 

I have provided a link from the California DMV website about the laws and regulations revolved around bicyclists. http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffdl37.htm

The website states: 

"Each year in California, more than 100 people are killed and hundreds of thousands more are injured in bicycle collisions. Some bicycle related crashes are connected to the bicyclist’s behavior, while others are due to the motorist’s lack of attention.

Here are the four main tips to follow as a bicyclist:

• Maintain control of your bicycle.

• Protect yourself–reduce the risk of head injury by always wearing a helmet.

• Be visible, alert, and communicate your intentions.

• Ride with traffic.

Chico is a beautiful community to enjoy bike riding as either a commute or leisure activity! We as students of the university should feel fortunate to know that the city clearly cares about making an effort to constantly improve safety measures for bicyclists. Many of you returning students may have noticed the new green bike lanes painted in the main areas of downtown – another simple indication to drivers to share the road. It is very unlikely that such additions will be used in residential areas anytime soon; which is where a lot of accidents tend to take place due to lack of road space. 

So remember! Maintain control, protect yourself, be visible in communicating your intentions, and ride with traffic. 

Teaching Abroad

Lisa

Ever have the urge to travel? Ever want to travel abroad but your hectic academic and social calendar never permitted it? Well the Department of Defense can offer you both of these opportunities and more.

The Department of Defense is continuously hiring on a need-base for school staff-positions on American Army bases within the U.S. and around the world. Listings for some of these locations include but are not limited to; Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Tongduchon, South Korea, Wiesban, Germany, Okinawa Island, Japan, and many more. These jobs vary within the field of Education, from Substitute Teacher, to Educational Aid, Guidance Counselor to Child and Youth Program Assistant. The job types and descriptions vary depending on the location and specific need, so you never know what you may find! Job profiles are all located online, as well as the application requirements (most applications are available electronically), as well as the steps required prior and post applying. Travel, relocation, and key requirements of the job are listed, as well at the explicit job qualifications and duties. These qualifications and duties are usually very specific, so that you can get a sense of the exact requirements, as well as age group or interactions you will be working with.

To search more of these job listings, visit either of these two websites:

http://www.dodea.edu

https://www.usajobs.gov

When working for the Department of Defense Education Activity you have the potential to receive the equivalent benefits of a Federal employee, or in short- a Military Personnel. This includes and offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. To find out more about the major benefits offered to most Federal employees, visit http://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/ .

As Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS) Educators are stationed outside of the U.S., they may be eligible for certain other benefits such as allowances, differentials, and transportation agreements. These are all determined by the types of (job) appointment and location of residence at the time of appointment. Each appointment also has a different time requirement, or tour of duty, depending on the location and position obtained.

This opportunity is one that has the potential for both personal and professional growth. It presents the opportunity to travel; possibly far across the globe to a part of the world you have never visited. Here you can apply what you have learned through your education in a foreign country, but on an American base where the people and children you will be working/interacting with will also speak English. You may pick up new skills and proficiencies from your experiences that you can then apply upon your return home to the United States. Teaching abroad is an aspect of your career that is sure to wow future employers and coworkers as well! This is also a perfect opportunity to give back to those men and women who have dedicated their life to the service, by teaching and nurturing their children, helping them grow and develop.