Rather a pity but not surprising given my enthusiasm for putting thoughts to text.
Its interesting reading what I wrote and I wish I had come back and read it more frequently to remind myself that I want (am trying) to be an exceptional teacher. Now that sounds contradictory.
So, what is my story? I think this is best answered by talking about what has been on my mind the last few weeks of the final term of 2013.
These issues are: role models for boys, respect for rules, cultural approaches to maths and the deprioritisation of Information Technology at a time when IT is in your face, so to speak. Talk about existential stuff.
What are the role models for the boys that I teach? I'm referring to the Upper School students. I know TP really admires Mark Shuttleworth but I think that for most boys their role models are not scientists or engineers or their fathers. I think they are celebrities or sportsmen. Celebrities mostly being hip hop stars. I wonder, do their fathers feature? Why do I think this. Well, mainly because scientists and engineers and fathers or not "cool". They don't sing about the fact they do drugs, have lots of girls, or swag, or consume conspicuously. What role does social and mainstream media play in promoting such a consumerist celebrity driven society? Or is it normal for teenagers to want these kinds of role models and I'm just getting older? I don't know, but I want to know what other teachers think.
On to respect for rules now. Last Friday was "Daring Dads Camp" and it was quite clearly stated that alcohol was not to be brought on to the Lebone campus. Many dads ignored this request and consumed alcohol quite openly. This also happened last year. What kind of role models are they? Why is it acceptable to disrespect this rule? And what should the school do about it? I don't have any answers other than to say that George put his message across very well when he spoke about some of the Matrics behaviour at their Matric Dinner at their Valediction Service. He said what needed to be said.
Why is South Africa ranked to slow when it comes to science and maths education? The World Economic Forum puts us second last! Yes our teachers are poorly qualified and the provincial education departments are disorganised. But I am worried that there is more to it. I think we think we can't do maths so we don't do maths. I grew up in a very privileged environment so I may be being unfair. But if we are going to improve our maths education we need to change our attitude. Usain Bolt is a champion because he believes he is the best. Similarly for the All Blacks. We need to believe in ourselves again.
And finally. Lebone no longer offers IT! The more I think about this the more upset I get. This world is technology driven and we understand how technology works less and less. Steve Jobs famously said: "I think everybody in this country [USA] should learn how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think." Isn't that what we are really trying to do in a school? There are many types of thinking skills, and algorithmic problem solving is one of the increasingly important ones. Yet our students are no longer getting the opportunity. Well all I can say is watch this space.
Its interesting reading what I wrote and I wish I had come back and read it more frequently to remind myself that I want (am trying) to be an exceptional teacher. Now that sounds contradictory.
So, what is my story? I think this is best answered by talking about what has been on my mind the last few weeks of the final term of 2013.
These issues are: role models for boys, respect for rules, cultural approaches to maths and the deprioritisation of Information Technology at a time when IT is in your face, so to speak. Talk about existential stuff.
What are the role models for the boys that I teach? I'm referring to the Upper School students. I know TP really admires Mark Shuttleworth but I think that for most boys their role models are not scientists or engineers or their fathers. I think they are celebrities or sportsmen. Celebrities mostly being hip hop stars. I wonder, do their fathers feature? Why do I think this. Well, mainly because scientists and engineers and fathers or not "cool". They don't sing about the fact they do drugs, have lots of girls, or swag, or consume conspicuously. What role does social and mainstream media play in promoting such a consumerist celebrity driven society? Or is it normal for teenagers to want these kinds of role models and I'm just getting older? I don't know, but I want to know what other teachers think.
On to respect for rules now. Last Friday was "Daring Dads Camp" and it was quite clearly stated that alcohol was not to be brought on to the Lebone campus. Many dads ignored this request and consumed alcohol quite openly. This also happened last year. What kind of role models are they? Why is it acceptable to disrespect this rule? And what should the school do about it? I don't have any answers other than to say that George put his message across very well when he spoke about some of the Matrics behaviour at their Matric Dinner at their Valediction Service. He said what needed to be said.
Why is South Africa ranked to slow when it comes to science and maths education? The World Economic Forum puts us second last! Yes our teachers are poorly qualified and the provincial education departments are disorganised. But I am worried that there is more to it. I think we think we can't do maths so we don't do maths. I grew up in a very privileged environment so I may be being unfair. But if we are going to improve our maths education we need to change our attitude. Usain Bolt is a champion because he believes he is the best. Similarly for the All Blacks. We need to believe in ourselves again.
And finally. Lebone no longer offers IT! The more I think about this the more upset I get. This world is technology driven and we understand how technology works less and less. Steve Jobs famously said: "I think everybody in this country [USA] should learn how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think." Isn't that what we are really trying to do in a school? There are many types of thinking skills, and algorithmic problem solving is one of the increasingly important ones. Yet our students are no longer getting the opportunity. Well all I can say is watch this space.
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