Administrative Apprenhension

Like students teachers are always learning as well; most if not all teachers would agree that learning is a life long process and for that reason must be treated in the similar fashion. This idea is obviously practiced in many ways, professional development, school social events and even disciplinary actions.

Students and teachers have more similarities than differences when the roles are carefully examined. At first glance people always consider the two binary opposites. On a shallow level, yes the two are opposites, one teaches and the other studies the teachings of the teacher. It is more common that not, teachers forget that they themselves feel the same things students feel when in the school community at times.

How often is a student called down to the office? Not often, unless they are often times in trouble. Teachers (depending on the school and the teacher's role) are not often in the office themselves. I myself have been called down to the office for numerous reasons, some good, some...not so good. The office is always a place that is seen as a strictly business area, not much socializing happens around here because of the premises it carries when someone is in the office often.

There are ways to break this stigma of the office but it takes time and a lot of work. It is certainly not a change one would see in the near future or in a larger school setting either. Disciplinary action should not be dealt with in one's office, that is similar to moving into a home where someone has recently passed away (the analogy is quite realistic depending on the area the school is located in); there is a large amount of tension and negative energy that surrounds that space and for those who don't like the term "energy" one can say that the space eventually becomes poisoned.

It is difficult for teachers to play the role of the respectable educator as well as the fun loving individual they want to be with the students. Similarly, administrative figureheads also suffer from the dilemma of "stern administrator" and "work buddy". Granted the term "work buddy" is a rare and formerly used term as office rules and human resource sanctions halt any legitimate human interaction due to our "do and sue" society. I am coining "do an sue" because if you openly admit to "doing" something and that something has injured, offended or impeded on anyone's life in anyway, they are within legal grounds to sue your or whatever institution they deem fit. Nonetheless, the term "work buddy" merely represents an individual which you may confide in at times. Administrators cannot be these people. The simple reason for it is because their is too much at stake, there are people's jobs, families, professionalism, and mental well being involved.

For example, an administrator and a teacher go for a bite to eat at lunch. The teacher at lunch with the administrator begins discussing a specific student or two that has been giving them trouble lately, then its joked that the student could be expelled because of whatever reason. Later that week, the student really irritates the teacher and the teacher (as last resort) sends the student to the office (expecting the student will be expelled) and finds that the student has returned to class the next day. There is now a conflict of interests for the principal, not to mention the social turmoil created between these coworkers.

Yes, this is a terrible teacher or maybe just a teacher who simply had enough but regardless, for argument sake, this is the scenario.

A better example, as human beings teachers and principals have needs and wants as well as vices. A couple of co workers (teacher and principal) make their way "downtown" one night and partake in some activities that are on the fringe in their society. Next weekend the teacher goes out and has fun with other friends, does the same thing as they and the principal did the weekend before, but this time someone had spotted them for whatever reason. The situation is reported to the administrator and he is left to discipline accordingly. Granted, a first time offence and anything short of a felony shouldn't get you in huge trouble but there is always the risk of the bologna permanent record that people are often times concerned about. The principal in the end needs to discipline and write a report regarding the teacher. Morally the principal knows that he himself does not see any harm in the situation but understands the moral roles that the school staff is required to carry with themselves in the public eye. For this reason there is a dispute between the teacher and principal because the teacher knows full well that the principal is just as "bad" as they are said to be.

For reasons like this there is a major blockade between administration and the classroom teachers. There are exceptions but these exceptions need to be studied and explained to create a more consistent routine.

Although I myself, have not been in anything too serious, aside from invigilation issues, field trip supervision issues and electronic attendance submission, and dirty classroom issues; I can still see the possibilities of things like this arising so I understand the stern administrator attitude. When an individual makes no attempt to socialize on a non-department level basis with anyone except people from the department of which they began in the school, there is going to be a lot of negative feedback surrounding the premise of any situation that calls someone down to the office.

It is important for an administrator to remember that yes, their job is an ENTIRE school, yes, teachers need to remember the responsibilities of the Administrators as well however, like a teacher needs to have a level of understanding when a student forgets their books in the locker or is being bullied in another class causing them reason to feel like they need to compensate in a different environment. Teachers require this level of understanding as well, no one is perfect, yes there are things that need to be done but it goes both ways.

Who will watch the watcher?

-C.B.

Teacher Experience: Teaching Overseas (notes from arrival)

Nothing can prepare someone for a new world (year or so later found this was called, "culture shock"), because not only are you teaching some place you have not taught before but you need to take into account all the following, technology reaources, lifestyles, culture, taking care of yourself, expectations, etc. there is so much that we don't realize and so much more that we will never feel prepared for, no matter your prior experience. 

Without even landing yet, the fear of what happens when I get off this plane overwhelms me. Who will be there? What will it look like? Should I have expectations? Will there be others who feel the same way as I do? What comes next?

Without yet knowing how to expect the changes I'll experience I don't want to even wondering if I am going to be a good teacher, these are the moments I wish I knew the answers, but at the same time, this is the biggest adventure of my life, I'll relish each moment of happiness, wonder, and awe.

Teaching and living are both going to be firsts for me here in china, wish me luck.

CB

(2014)

To do Jan 07 2015

Marking exam week after English midterms for my students.

Planning 10 is finished, now imputing marks and report card comments are finished, no I reports, late submissions are in, completed....if laptop would cooperate.

English 10 is half way done, the course is linear and continues until June, the students have written their midterm exam and does not look good.

Students who failed the exam are more than likely looking at a failing grade. If they have a failing grade I need to write I reports -_- send them to administration and then complete the report card marks and comments. 

I need to inquire about receiving a TA for the foods class or English classes I have to help improve everything.

I need to complete a couple of tasks for the foods year plan. Specifically, the holiday homework and first aid certificate.

I need to create handouts for both foods and English for the first two weeks.

There are a ton of ppts I can finish creating for English 10 and edmodo.

I have assignments to upload to edmodo.

There is a guy who is I charge of creating posters for teachers I need to speak to for information in where to do that.

Finally I need to make a word wall in my English class for students to help them with proper terminology. 

Maybe make a writing tips wall as well.

For now...that is all...

BC curriculum (c. 2014)

The BC curriculum and ON curriculum are very similar but the problem is that there is a constant struggle between which is better, any other province in Canada can have teachers easily earn their teaching certificate, BC and ON are the only two that require to jump through many long and mentally exhausting hoops to get verified with. 

BC and ON are two provinces that also cost you nearly a months pay cheque to get situated in.

When applying for any police cheque you need to have a reason for it, if applying for vulnerable sectors you need to provide a letter of request. When applying for BC verification, you would think you need VSC but you don't, stop wasting your time trying to get a letter from them because you don't need it. Just get a regular one and suck up the cost if they turn around after and tell you otherwise. OCT will also ask the same thing.

BC curriculum and ON are very similar, don't worry so much, when switching between the two, the biggest difference is vocabulary of technical documental terminology and the format of the strands or PLOs.

BC and ON have a high standard of English and knowledge in terms of Canadian identity and proficient English learners. The other provinces are obviously at a standard however due to regional differences and cultural needs, some provinces have a stronger focus on the acquisition of basic English language and post secondary preparation knowledge. All high schools and schools obviously are trying to scaffold and prepare you for what comes next, some aspects of culture thouj have made it harder for students to consistently scaffold from year to year. Places that are more rural or built around hands on communities, will need to breakout students from the intergenerational trend and move away or be educated elsewhere. This means students need a little more of a chance to develop their ambitions as well as their skills.

ON and BC use a lot of each orher's materials to build on skills and teaching strategies, assessment and evaluation are the big words up for discussion with teachers and boards, the reason for this is because they are trying to find a way to prove that students who require differentiated learning are getting it so they are not left behind.

It's very much like the standardized test theory; the animals school story? Don't remember?

So, there is a school all animals go to in order to learn how to live in the wild, each  animal had to perform in flying, swimming, climbing and running. An animal who can do one thing really well, like a duck swimming, may not be good at running and instead of being told to use their strengths to get better marks in other ways or just specialize, they are told to focus less on swimming and practice more running.

BC and ON certainly try to adhere to a level of differentiation but still heavily rely on a "non-invasive" standardized test, but really, it is super invasive and needs to be reworked a lot. Just like different parts of canada have different standards of education, each province needs to understand there is different needs between schools, every year.

Sometimes I wondering how long it will be till our reading circles are consistently outside around the fire, and more vocally reiterated/demonstrated between teachers and students.

I don't know I what else I could say about  BC curriculum that I couldn't say about ON other than the fact that I was trained in ON curriculum. 

Maybe I'll have more information after talking to a professor I had in University.

Ciao for now folks :)

CB

Maple Leaf Department meetings (c. 2014)

Oh my goodness. Had my first real department meeting; it gave me some mixed emotions. 

You ever have one thought about the person you are and then listen to other people talk about themselves and then you feel progressively worse and worse about yourself? Ya that slacker thing I have perfected over my many years, ouch. People talking about developing new courses and have taught everywhere and anywhere or people have have gone or are taking their masters, like uhhhh well I graduated from Lakehead andddddd ya happy to be here, wooo *awkward*

Just kidding, sort of...it's good and comforting knowing that you have strong colleagues and co workers, because hey if you are ever in a hard place, there ya go.

You learn a bit, a lot gets refreshed in your mind, the ones here China are a hundred times better than the ones back home, these ones are more active and...maybe it is the department heads, butttttt who knows, it's started with a lot of who are you, these are your new friends, and ya go English department! Well go, ten department lol. 

I'm excited to see what comes next, might join the pro-d committee, you can tell the old birds from North America and the young guns who are like really, are we discussing this information that we know? The old birds, always and I mean always have a comment about something someone else says, even if it is that they agree, it's nice don't get me wrong, but trust me, I wouldn't say what in saying if I didn't thinking was right :p just let's get through this please :p then you know who they are because they just complain about nonsensical hibgs, like really? You are bringing up the use of a pen on one of your tests as a good or bad thing discussion? What!? Idk, I can see the frustrations from folks back home about pro-d, here though, it's novel and a whole different psychology of these students, so there is always something new to learn!

Rant over and pro-d day has started...no! I would never have my cellphone out during pro-d! :p 

Ciao for now!

CB

Chinese holiday

Oddly enough I was looking up what the national holiday in October was based on and found out that actually the idea of a national holiday appeared in China first back in the western Jin dynasty. Usually it was a day that was ascended to te throne or was born.

September 27th - October 7th

October 1-7 is known as the golden week. Large scale activities are occurring throughout the country and people travel all around China. 

The 1st of October (1949) is the memorial day for the day the PRC was founded. The PRC is actually formed September 21st is the first appearance of the PRC (1949).

Tinammon square is the to-be-place during the golden week, there is aarge military parade. 

Shopping malls offer huge discounts and there are calligraphy exhibitions, dancing, many regular festival features :)

If travelling during this time it is really hard to get train tickets, plane tickets and hotel rooms, usually thy are a lot more expensive than usual as well, plan ahead.

Just a brief little bit if information anyone like myself who may be heading over soon.

Cheers :)

CB

Paid for work at MLS

Payment options are established monthly by the teacher and put into affect by the school. 

Salary is determined befor the. Contract and is strongly honoured along with the increases in payment over time served with the school.

So your payment each month allows you to put so many dollars canadian into a Canadian account as well as a Chinese account. The school will allow you to use your current Canadian account and ask you to discontinue a Chinese one (if you have it opened) because they will set you up with their Chinese bank account.

They are trying to scam the teachers, there are just too many unknowns with some bank accounts and to avoid any such problems as a liability and accountability issue, they just rather have all teachers going through the same problem. 

The maximum amount of money allowed to leave the country is around a million q. So, a million of their dollars.

Each month the school subtracts room and board which ranges to a maximum of 550.00$ (from what I understand). Utilities included. The residence (if that is where you are staying) are built to serve a more western culture and if you are not on campus, the school works with agencies around china that can find you a more western culturized home for your time in china.

Visa cards are not really useful there unless you are shopping online or something maybe.

I'm so excited, thanks for following and good luck in your future endeavours amigo!

Cheers! 

CB