Standard #9: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice
Artifact #1
The Story Behind the Story
The year in high school I reflect on is my sophomore year. I attended Gardiner Area High School. Although in my few pictures in the yearbook look happy and peppy, the underneath of my social, physical and psychological persona go much further. I was a varsity cheerleader without the popularity; constantly out casted by my fellow squad members. I was a smart student; made the honor roll ever quarter and in doing so was given free reign privileges. I had many friends and people who cared about me. I was a happy high schooler. Looking at the other students in the halls I would say I was one of the few. I heard constant rumors about teachers selling drugs or harassing students. I avoided these particular teachers at all costs. I didn’t want to be brought down by the many issues plaguing the halls. I kept my head down and pushed through each day with minimal interaction with those outside my social circle. Looking back I should have branched out and networked better. It probably would have made me less of an outsider. My favorite class to attend was AP Biology. Science was my best subject in school. It was a way to escape the continuous drama that ran ramped in the school. Although I have regrets about some aspects of that year I do not look back and want to do it over. The pros outweigh the cons heavily.
The Story Behind the Story
The year in high school I reflect on is my sophomore year. I attended Gardiner Area High School. Although in my few pictures in the yearbook look happy and peppy, the underneath of my social, physical and psychological persona go much further. I was a varsity cheerleader without the popularity; constantly out casted by my fellow squad members. I was a smart student; made the honor roll ever quarter and in doing so was given free reign privileges. I had many friends and people who cared about me. I was a happy high schooler. Looking at the other students in the halls I would say I was one of the few. I heard constant rumors about teachers selling drugs or harassing students. I avoided these particular teachers at all costs. I didn’t want to be brought down by the many issues plaguing the halls. I kept my head down and pushed through each day with minimal interaction with those outside my social circle. Looking back I should have branched out and networked better. It probably would have made me less of an outsider. My favorite class to attend was AP Biology. Science was my best subject in school. It was a way to escape the continuous drama that ran ramped in the school. Although I have regrets about some aspects of that year I do not look back and want to do it over. The pros outweigh the cons heavily.
Reflection
Reflection for “The Story Behind the Story”
Upon reflecting on my time in high school I noticed that the school I attended had very little respect for the students that attended. The teachers didn’t care about the problems the students faced, the halls were filled with violence and drugs and the students had very low self-esteem and respect for each other. I was one of the few who cared enough to keep to myself in fear of becoming the depressed norm for the student population. The school drained any happiness and talent out of the students. In looking at this I don’t feel as though I would care to teach in a school such as this. There is no hope of turning it around. I would prefer to teach at a school where students are encouraged to let their talents shine through, where it’s okay for them to excel and do well for themselves and where the teachers are there to lend an ear to listen or offer advice for those who aren’t sure what to do with their life.
There are a couple of happy memories from my high school yearbook that are worth sharing. The one that means the most to me is that of my high school band trip to Washington D.C.; a trip where talent and individuality was encouraged. We were allowed to act as individuals as a whole to create a very talented group of students. Our achievements were shown in a concert put on for veterans at a national monument. The pride we felt was surreal. Nothing compared to the joy that was created when we were complimented by war veterans.
I feel as though this artifact shows an understanding of Standard 9: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice. The artifact I am presenting is about how my high school environment made it difficult for me as a student to learn due to background issues. Essential Knowledge Principle 9(i) states that teachers understand how personal identity, worldview, and prior experience affect perceptions and expectations, and recognizes how they may bias behaviors and interactions with others. My artifact shows my struggles based on the environment I was provided at this particular school as well as the struggles of the students around me. Talents and group interactions pay a large role in learning and when these principles are being suppressed it makes for low learning abilities and students who stop caring about their education.
Reflection for “The Story Behind the Story”
Upon reflecting on my time in high school I noticed that the school I attended had very little respect for the students that attended. The teachers didn’t care about the problems the students faced, the halls were filled with violence and drugs and the students had very low self-esteem and respect for each other. I was one of the few who cared enough to keep to myself in fear of becoming the depressed norm for the student population. The school drained any happiness and talent out of the students. In looking at this I don’t feel as though I would care to teach in a school such as this. There is no hope of turning it around. I would prefer to teach at a school where students are encouraged to let their talents shine through, where it’s okay for them to excel and do well for themselves and where the teachers are there to lend an ear to listen or offer advice for those who aren’t sure what to do with their life.
There are a couple of happy memories from my high school yearbook that are worth sharing. The one that means the most to me is that of my high school band trip to Washington D.C.; a trip where talent and individuality was encouraged. We were allowed to act as individuals as a whole to create a very talented group of students. Our achievements were shown in a concert put on for veterans at a national monument. The pride we felt was surreal. Nothing compared to the joy that was created when we were complimented by war veterans.
I feel as though this artifact shows an understanding of Standard 9: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice. The artifact I am presenting is about how my high school environment made it difficult for me as a student to learn due to background issues. Essential Knowledge Principle 9(i) states that teachers understand how personal identity, worldview, and prior experience affect perceptions and expectations, and recognizes how they may bias behaviors and interactions with others. My artifact shows my struggles based on the environment I was provided at this particular school as well as the struggles of the students around me. Talents and group interactions pay a large role in learning and when these principles are being suppressed it makes for low learning abilities and students who stop caring about their education.
*In EDU250 we did and activity called Why Teach? This activity asked us to reflect on why we want to be educators. This asked us to look into our thoughts and feelings on teaching as well as what would make us good teachers. After reading other entries on this topic there was a wide range of answers; from wanting to help children understand specific subject area to connecting with the students on a more personal level to help them through their difficulties at home. Our teaching philosophies also falls into the self reflection category. This philosophy not only asked us why we wanted to teach but also about our thoughts on current teaching styles and how we plan to grow and evolve as educators. The final activity that made me think about teaching styles and who answers to whom in the hierarchy of education was that of the Who's in Control forum. I hadn't given much thought to who answered to whom in the school systems. This forum opened my eyes to what goes on behind the scenes of education.