This site is a class blog space for new Career and Technical Specializations and Heathcare Science teachers enrolled in the New Teacher Institute (NTI) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Assumptions
As much as I hate to admit it , I have been guilty of making assumptions about the ability of some students. I have always tried to have an open mind about people and tried not to have preconceived ideas, but I believe it is human nature to occasionally assume. One particular situation instantly comes to mind. Last year I had a student in one of my CNA classes who was a special needs student. I was unsure about how well she would do on the state certification test and was really quite concerned. I knew that the test was going to cost her over $100 bucks to take. I knew that it would be money that was hard to come by. She worked so hard and studied so hard for that test. By her own choice, she would even stay after school so that I could help her with some of her skills. After all was said and done, she did a fantastic job on her test!! The state evaluator even commented to me about how well she did on her skills portion of the test. Today she is a State Certified Nursing Assistant!
I am in agreement with you Tonya. We are all guilty of judging and/or making assumptions about our students and for me others. Is this right? I am convicted that I need to give people the benefit of the doubt. As I stated in my post, everyone is capable of succeeding especially with the guidance, understanding, and encouragement. I too have students that will sit for the state exam. I have my concerns about some of them. I am sure that many of them will surprise me as your student did. I have to learn to not look at the outside and look within. I have learned that beneath all of the debris that we see, that are actually jewels in them. I have my days and have had my share of trials and tregedy, but underneath all of that, I am really a good person and I have alot to offer my students and others. You stay encouraged as I will too stay encouraged.
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