Rules For Posting To This Blog and Weekly Blog Question

1. Only use your first name (no last names, addresses, IM screen names, etc.)
2. Show respect and consideration of others when posting and commenting. This includes individuals, students, organizations, political parties, colleagues, etc.
3. Check all posts for spelling and grammar errors before posting.
4. Protect the privacy of others. Gain permission from other people before you write about them. Avoid sharing someone else's last name. Use job titles or pseudonyms when writing about experiences with your co-workers or students.
5. Watch your language. Use politically correct and non-offensive language.
6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.

FINAL BLOG POST - OUR "DAILY TRIPLE" (DUE 12/1).
This week I would like you to use your imagination. You have just won the lottery and will leave your teaching post immediately to travel around the world. As you leave your keys you meet your replacement. You are asked to give this new teacher just ONE piece of advice. What would that be, and why? Enjoy your world expedition!

Blog Post - Week 7
This past week in my own teaching I felt a little disconnected which prompts my question to you, "What was the moment (or moments) when I felt most disconnected or disengaged as a teacher - the moment(s) I said to myself, I'm just going through the motions here?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 6
For the past couple of weeks you have experienced asynchronous online learning (doing modules by yourself). Previously this semester you have experienced synchronous online learning (all together in the Collaborate room). Which do you think is more effective and why do you think that? Which do you like better, and why?

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 5
This week we have what we call "open mic." You can write a post about anything related to your teaching that you would like responses from your classmates.

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 4
Here is this week's question: "What was the event that most took me surprise this week - and event that shook me up, caught me off guard, gave me a jolt, or made me unexpectedly happy?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 3
Please write a post about the following question, "In thinking about my past week teaching what is one thing I would do differently, and why?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 2
Please write a post about the following question, " In thinking about my teaching activities this past week, of what do I feel most proud? Why?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 1
Describe something you used in your program in the first weeks of school that you learned in the summer NTI program. How did it work? Did it get you off to a stronger start than last year?

Sunday, October 11, 2009

One - Ten

The situation that caused me the most anxiety revolved around a skit we aired this past week. One of my students has a show, or a segment, that airs every week. The segment is called "60 Seconds" and it is just sixty seconds of random stuff. I would refer to it as theater of the absurd. This past segment featured a bunch of students rocking in their chairs with crazy looks on their faces and counting to ten over and over and over. I watched the segment before it aired and told the student who produced it that I didn't get it. It was not funny to me. But, I am "old" and out of the loop. The student explained that it was a parody of a scene from the movie A Haunting in Connecticut. He went on to explain that all of the students who watched it found it hilarious. I gave it the go ahead, and it aired the next morning. The same morning it aired, I was in the front office attending to some paper work, and the head of our Special Education Department saw me and asked me to come into our principal's office. She explained that everyone in her department was deeply insulted by the skit - as it clearly portrayed and made fun of autism. I was shocked. As soon as she said "autism" I understood what she meant. I had not made the connection before, but could understand where she was coming from. Then the embarrassment set in. I listened to her and apologized over and over until she had calmed down a bit. After she left I stayed in the office with the principal as he reassured me that I was doing a good job and told me not to worry. I admitted that I was embarrassed and that I felt stupid for not recognizing an issue before the piece aired. He was supportive and reminded me that this is how we learn, by making honest mistakes. I relayed the message to my fourth block (the students who produce my show and the segment) and they went into shock. The student who produced the segment went to the Special Education Director and gave a long, heart felt apology. She accepted his apology. I feel as if the situation is behind us, but it has bothered me ever since. In the world of media, professionals are used to dealing with a viewing audience who are more socially aware and politically correct than ever. Impressing this point on high school students can be difficult, especially when their intentions are insult free and they are honestly trying to be funny. The producer of the show was crushed by this situation, and I've had to bolster him back up over the last week. I want the experiences of all of my students to be positive and if I can help it, I will never let a situation like this happen again.

1 comment:

Hal said...

Dude, that is rough. That is the most frightening scenario we can face. I watch our show before it airs, but I am always on pins and needles when it goes to air, thinking "did I check this enough, is their anything inappropriate about this?" I hear the horror stories from the other teachers in Cobb, and I keep waiting for my turn to share. I feel like I'm waiting on death to come get me, it's horrible. At least it was honest, my kids tend to try and poke fun and do harm, and that really upsets me. I can only hope that when it happens to me, it's at least honest.