Unemployed or unemployable

The significant number of young men that are unemployed because of the lack of needed skills in the work place is growing. Unless they ditch the falls pride that is getting them nowhere and assume their responsibilities for themselves and their family the better it will be.

Many of them do not stand a chance because they are either unskilled or illiterate. This as a glaring manifestation of the problems that has been raised and discussed in various forums across the U.S.A over the past five years or so.

Skill centers and schools like ours are available but are not being utilised sufficiently by our students, school counselors and politicians. What needs to be addressed is the lack of will and motivation by our young men and women to take advantage of these existing opportunities.
Even as these teenagers and young adults grow older they do not advance to higher education and the percentage who return to school to acquire what they should have obtain in high school is very low.

Whatever the cause or causes, the implications for the stability of our society are frighting. The large amount of unemployed and unempolyable young men and women make them easy recuits for gangs drugs and other crimes.

When is enough - "enough"

I have several students in my classes that absolutely have no desire to learn. They will actually turn in their tests completely blank. I have spoken to each one of their parents and their parents all say the same thing - that they will continue talking to their child, but they are having attitude problems with them at home as well.

I have tried motivating these students every way possible, but it seems that I am hitting a brick wall with them. These students are also the ones that I am also having discipline problems with.

I know that a teacher should never give up trying to motivate and influence their students, but when is enough just that - enough!!!! I have other students that want to learn, but are being "Cheated" out of learning because of the distraction these students bring!!!

These students have been given detentions, ISS and their parents have been called. Advise will be greatly appreciated!!!!!

Steven Vinsant

Frustration

It used to frustrate me so much to see my students fail a test. While it still upsets me, I have learned not to let it get to me. When you back up and look at the "big picture", most of them are the kids that don't care about school. They are the ones that sleep in class, do not do their homework, "goof off" during group projects, etc. I also realized that the ones that are failing my class are usually failing all of their classes. Normally my class is one of their higher grades. Just another bit of evidence that career tech is a dumping grounds for kids that don't want to be in school.

I gave a chapter test on Electrical today. This is the same test I gave to my Electrical students last year. I thought I would have the same results as last year with most grades in the 70's and taking the whole class period . Boy was I surprised. Most of the grades this year were in the 80's and low 90's with a couple of 100's mixed in, and it only took half of the class period to take.These are not multiple GUESS test ,they are fill-in-the-blank , discussion and reading wiring diagrams.
At the beginning of this year, I did set my standards very high, and it seems to be working. I explained that this was not an easy class, and if you fall behind, it will be hard to catch up. I also showed the students a couple of websites that they could use at home if they felt like they were getting behind. I try to put the ball in their court, and let them run with it. I've found if you set your standards high from the start your teaching will be easier.

TGIF

I am glad it is Friday. The classes are settling down slightly. Progress reports were given out on Tuesday and quite a few of the students are failing. They are failing and wondering why. I showed them what they had failed to turn in or complete. They then wanted make-up work. Many of these students come to class to socialize. I found out the failing students are failing in all of their classes.

Something to think about...

A few people have mentioned ideas and suggestions for reaching the "unreachables". Yesterday, our school implemented a new program that I thought I would share with you. A couple of weeks ago, I got a note in my mailbox to make a list of the three students who irritated me the most along with three students I saw as loners. Our counselor took the names and typed them up, cut them into pieces and threw them into a jar. Then, she had each teacher pick a name. The purpose of this program (called CAB "Caring Adult in the Building") is to encourage these students who are "lacking love" so to speak, every time we see them. We hope that by doing this, we can reach these "unreachable" students and make a difference!

Should I or They

I didn’t know if we were supposed to do a blog this week or not. If we were, my fault. I’m late. Sorry

So lately, it’s seems like some kids just don’t get it, and then some really do. I have a student who is a freshman. He’s in my Work Place Readiness class. I’m not exactly sure if he has an IEP or not but he is definitely an average student. He struggles in class, but I encourage him all the time. He may come to me and ask me questions on the directions or exactly what needs to be done for the lesson. He wants to make sure there is no room for error and that he comprehends what he is doing. It may take him a bit longer to do his work assignment, but I don’t mind giving him the extra help or time. I also tech him to lift weights once or twice a week when I pop into the weightlifting class. I can tell he is very grateful.

Then I have a kid who is a senior who thinks he knows it all. He was an exemplary student until right after Christmas. He was an A-B student and worked at Callaway Gardens for almost a year. After he entered the Art Institute of Atlanta best teen chef contest his ego became inflated and he had no follow through. Not only has he entered the contest but he applied to the Art Institute right after Thanksgiving and has not heard back from them yet. He was going to do the page one contest but he didn’t finish filling out his paperwork nor did he ask me for a letter of recommendation. He just simply didn’t get to it. Now he is working at the prestigious Chattahoochee River club and I believe he thinks he has surpassed the master. Oh my lord does someone need to knock this kid of his soap box.

My point of this blog is: I would rather have a class full of kids like the first student I mentioned rather than the second. With the first student at least I know I would be giving that child skills for life and be nothing but proud of him/her every day and they would be grateful. With the second student that normally does well when they become sophomoric in nature they become apathetic and ungrateful and begin do disappoint you.

Eh, what can you do? Try – Try – Try, harder. Should I try harder or should they try harder?