Invaluable Knowledge, Advice and Friends

From the beginning of last summer to the current time, I am so blessed and fortunate to be a part of the NTI family. Dr. B, Jessie and the other NTI teachers, I know I can't wear a hat in school, but if I could, I would tip my hat to you folks! You have taken a Polish person who knew nothing but the world of CNN and given him invaluable information and educational material to be able to convince the wonderful people at Lassiter High School that I actually have a clue about teaching Broadcast Video Production. The comradery (sp.?) at NTI is irreplaceable. My fellow Broadcast Video Production teachers have no idea how huge of an impact they have made upon my classroom. I will never forget our tearful laughter. For as much as I always did not look forward to going to class on Monday or a Saturday, when I walked into those classrooms, my spirit and attitude was immediately lifted because of the professional and personable instructors at NTI. Combine those people with my fellow CTE teachers/friends and life was a lot happier than I would give myself credit for. ........so, "thank you" in Polish is........." dziekuje"

From CNN To The Classroom

Today I was observed by Jennifer M of NTI. Over the past few weeks (minus the Spring Break) we have done Friday morning announcements "live" at L High School. It is a skeleton crew without teleprompter, but it is an environment that gets me "pumped". In the few short weeks we have done this, my students have created an "open" that features many shots from around the school and the music "rocks". The principal and other administrators speak very highly of what we have done in a few short weeks. I knew I had my observation today within my classroom, but it was a pleasure to have Ms. M watch and be a part of the excitement of the studio and control room. She witnessed a control room in a "live" environment with mistakes being made witnessed by thousands of viewers at the school. No "F" bombs were set off, but several students realized the pressure of being "live". Through many years of making mistakes that have been witnessed by millions of people, I immediately stressed the fact that, "you are angry with yourself because our "air" was not clean....... but, be ticked at yourself after we are not "live".....regain your composure and do your best. I didn't think about it, but Ms. M complimented me on how I went from a "Live" television atmosphere and returned to the classroom atmosphere that morning and continued with the lesson plan. It was a rewarding day. And if anyone needs a set induction.... I recommend the song "Dead Skunk In The Middle Of The Road".

Here They Come...Around The Stretch

I, too, must comment on what is upon us for the next month and a half. This past week I have not been at a condo in Florida or a Spa in the Carribean. But I have gone camping with my daughter and roller skating with her too. I have a game plan for the rest of the semester and I have every intention of surviving it. Am I pleased or satisfied on how I have performed as a teacher? Not on your life. My class observations from Jennifer Mims and my principal, Chris shaw, have gone well. But, I am my toughest critic. I hope at the end of May I can look back and ease up on myself. These blog entries from my fellow NTI students/friends have been an incredible assest to me as a teacher and a human being. They will continue to carry me through the end of the semester. If you've finished your spring break..... I feel your pain of getting back into the routine of teaching. If your break is coming up (Lin), please enjoy it and get some mental rest.

Spring Break May Lead the Blog Entries

Hello All,

This entry is coming to you from very late within the Boyland household. BUT, myself and a little girl of 9 years of age are excited because we have the following week off. My fellow teachers have asked me what I am going to do to relieve the stress from first year teachers' blues. And when I respond.........I will complete assignments due to NTI and promise to have no fun, they are sympathetic and cordial. I had an unscheduled observation by my Principal yesterday, that went very well. My daughter was very proud when I posted my "report card" on the refrigerator next to hers.

My proudest moment was when my Principal walked into the TV studio, with a Coke in his hand, and every student whispered..."Mr. Shaw has a drink in the studio area." And then the Principal walked into the Control Room and the students yelled...."Mr. Shaw has a drink in the Control Room!" Mr. Shaw wondered about the excitement. I explained that he was in trouble and...........I was very proud that my students recognized that no food or drinks were allowed in the studio or control room. If anyone from NTI is on Spring Break this week...................Please Enjoy! If you are not on break or have had your break.................I hope your brain and body recovered.

Lights.......Cameras........ Action

This morning Lassiter High School did their morning announcements "live" from the recently installed studio and control room for the first time in school history. It was not a major production that would have involved teleprompter, video sources and graphics. But it did involve 2 cameras, a news desk and a chroma-key curtain. I was, probably, more excited than the students. My adrenalin was high enough to feel like I was doing a "live shot" from The White House. Many students and faculty had positive comments. But what I tell my students is, that if people have good things or bad things to say, it means our viewers our watching and our Nielsen Ratings our high. It is just the beginning of what I expect to accomplish within the world of Broadcast Video Production at Lassiter. For as heated and tense that a control room and studio can get because of a "live" environment.................... no "F-Bombs" are allowed!

I Need Vaseline!... I Don't Think So

I feel some of Chad's pain/post after today. A student by the name of Chase enters my second period class today and proclaims that he needs to go to the clinic as soon as possible because the ink in his new tatoo requires vaseline to stay moist and fresh. I ask him why he didn't go to the clinic before my class and he proclaims that he "forgot". I pointed out that if this medical emergency was so important that he would be at the clinic right now and not speaking with me. He glared at me and I glared back and responded that I am not responsible for the healthy procedures that are required to maintain ink within your skin. The class went about their business and continued to edit their projects. But I looked him straight in the eye (which he didn't have the backbone to do) and told him.........I will always be there for my students regarding their health and medical issues, but, "Do Not".....I repeat.."Do Not" try to "get away" with something because I am a first year teacher. We talked and his tatoo is alive today!

A Dose of Teenage Reality

Every 33 minutes a teen-aged student dies in an automobile accident. Today Lassiter High School gave their student body a real taste of real life teen age driving statistics. We had an assembly in the football stadium that involved Cobb County Fire, Police and Emts. We also had a Life-flight helicopter land in the stadium to take "critically injured" students to the hospital. We had "big-wigs" from Federal Judges to our Cobb County Superindendent Fred Sanderson speak. More importantly, we had fire and police officials really "lay it on the line" about teenage driving. There was a demonstration that involved freeing students from a vehicle with the "jaws of life". And placing students into a hearse because they were dead. During classes, every 33 minutes an Administrator would announce over the PA system that a current student had died in an automobile accident the night before. And,yes, the Grim Reaper would accompany these dead students around the school. As the Broadcast Video Production teacher, naturally, we had 2 cameras videotaping the events in the school and in the stadium. As the students filed into the stadium you could feel the energy that it was a Friday and they were going home after the assembly. But when the demonstration began with the "jaws of life" and the helicopter landed, I looked up into the stands and saw every face (student and faculty) totally concentrating and recognizing the severity of the demonstration. This sobering day was purposely scheduled because the Senior Prom is one week away. My last comment is, that as a teacher, I knew what was scheduled and planned, but I was wrong, the student body took it alot more seriously than I had anticipated.

Reasons That I Don't Teach for Money

Another week of teaching/training. I have been with my students 2 days this week and training in the studio and control room 3 days. It continues to feel awkward because a substitute teacher is there, but I am about 30 feet away in the same room. Periodically I have to walk through the classroom to take care of business. My students know I am very close by and, fortunately, they do their best not to disturb me. But when I walk through the classroom and hear several excited and encouraging comments from them, I can't help but realize that this is an excellent example of why I am a teacher. Several students will peek around the chroma-key curtain to see what I am doing. They will ask that I tell the people that are training me that my students say "Hi" to them. There will always be the ones that try to "get away with something" because a sub is there. But, for the most part, my students give me a reason to smile and feel proud that I am making a difference in a teenager's life.

Training................. What Training?

This posting can be greatly appreciated by Linda Y. But if anyone else has had their lab upgraded or newly created, they may feel the pain. We had 3 days of training in the studio and control room at Linda's school only to find out that many scenarios/equipment were installed incorrectly, so our time was spent troubleshooting instead of utilizing the lab. This is combined with the fact that the vendor who is responsible for at least $300,000 worth of television production equipment is making the teachers "us" feel responsible for the problems. Finally, on the 3rd day we were able to train on the equipment and perform some mock newscasts. But, "holy cow", I've never felt so wrong for wanting something to work correctly! And I felt even worse for Linda because this was her new lab. Needless to say.................. the same vendor is at my school correcting the same problems. And if Jesse reads this.....................sorry for my previous e-mail that just confirms (and I mean no disrespect to Dr. B) that my Polish brain does get the better of me sometimes.

"Just Say No To Drugs", Faculty and Administrators

My thinking at this point in time is to scream out STOP!! As the studio and control room get closer to being finished, everybody and their brother wants some sort of video project to be completed for their class or curriculum. I am still unable to transmit from our control room to the whole school. But, I constantly hear "what have you done for me lately". Many fellow teachers encourage me to say "no". Bless the heart of my Department Chairperson. She tells me that Mr. Shaw (our Principal) needs to be reminded that I am not certified yet, taking college courses and training in a studio, control room and production switcher environment. So I will spend this 3 day weekend totally ignoring my NTI responsibilities so I can concentrate on pleasing everyone at Lassiter. Just kidding Dr. B and Jessie!

Hello Puppy Dog!

On Thursday at the start of 3rd period our Principal spoke over the PA system instructing everyone to stay in their rooms and no one was to leave the room until further notice. He informed us that it was not a lockdown or an emergency. So I spent the rest of the period telling my students that I had no idea what was happening. Then it became very obvious what was happening. In walks 3 Cobb County police officers and a very cute black Labrador Retriever. The students were told to keep their hands out of there pockets and line up in the hallway. I, immediately, didn't make the police officer a very happy guy. I am a huge "dog lover", so when I saw the black lab I whistled and yelled out "hi puppy dog!", which made the dog look at me and wag his tale. So for a moment I had distracted this dog from his/her drug sniffing duties. The dog got back "on task" and sniffed many book bags and areas of the class. 3rd period ended with the dog not finding any drugs and I was not charged with obstructing justice.