i'm not angry asian man, but...
The woodshop teacher at the middle school I'm working at offered to show my co-workers and I around his classroom today. He was proudly pointing out all of the projects his students had created, from sketched drafts of 3-D objects ("This is how they learn fractions!") to mini-houses ("Look, they made a working flagpole!"). Then he points to a chinese checker board and says, "An Oriental kid made that... He didn't speak any english but I just set him up and he went at it."
Was it the word "Oriental" that pissed me off? Or the fact that he bragged that an "Oriental" kid made a Chinese Checkers board? Or was it just that this guy was macho and pompous and had "Little Man's Syndrome"? I don't know. Either way, the meeting left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Looks like we're not going to be working with the woodshop teacher this year.
8/21/2002
8/13/2002
Citizen Schools
For the next two years I've committed myself to being a part of Citizens Schools, a very innovative after-school program for middle school students. This is the first year they're starting up a site in San Jose and I'm part of the first team. I know, I know, it's not what I studied in college and it's nothing like what I had planned on doing when I graduated. But after last year, I know that it's not always the straight and narrow path that teaches you the most. I've decided to take the route with the hairpin curves.
I'm sure many of you (okay, maybe 1 or 2 of you) are wondering what the heck I'm doing working with kids, as I allegedly "hate" kids. It's not simply a ploy to prove to the public that I'm indeed fond of the tikes. I'm not pulling a Michael Jackson-Lisa Marie Presley. Kids are swell (as long as I only have to be around them for a few hours each day).
When it comes down to it, there's so much more to this experience than just playing with or tutoring a bunch of 10 to 14 year olds. It's an opportunity for me to learn more about the educational system, policy related to education, possibly earn a masters degree in education and help establish a unique program in my community.
Ah, It's going to be another one of those years. At least I'll have some colorful stories to post. Stay Tuned.
For the next two years I've committed myself to being a part of Citizens Schools, a very innovative after-school program for middle school students. This is the first year they're starting up a site in San Jose and I'm part of the first team. I know, I know, it's not what I studied in college and it's nothing like what I had planned on doing when I graduated. But after last year, I know that it's not always the straight and narrow path that teaches you the most. I've decided to take the route with the hairpin curves.
I'm sure many of you (okay, maybe 1 or 2 of you) are wondering what the heck I'm doing working with kids, as I allegedly "hate" kids. It's not simply a ploy to prove to the public that I'm indeed fond of the tikes. I'm not pulling a Michael Jackson-Lisa Marie Presley. Kids are swell (as long as I only have to be around them for a few hours each day).
When it comes down to it, there's so much more to this experience than just playing with or tutoring a bunch of 10 to 14 year olds. It's an opportunity for me to learn more about the educational system, policy related to education, possibly earn a masters degree in education and help establish a unique program in my community.
Ah, It's going to be another one of those years. At least I'll have some colorful stories to post. Stay Tuned.
8/12/2002
bobbing for gumdrops
I spent last Wednesday afternoon participating in relay games, playing pictionary and step dancing with almost 25 middle school students from Boston. One relay game involved each member of our group racing to a tupperware container filled with water and gumdrops at the bottom. The objective was to dunk your head into the container, bite into a gumdrop and remove it from the container. From there, you had to dip your wet face in a bowl of whipped cream to find another gumdrop. Oh yeah, and it was all being timed against other teams. Imagine doing this after 20 other 9 to 12 year olds had already dunked their sweaty faces and oily hair into the murky water.
The whole week was unbelievable. I interviewed and been offered the job the previous Thursday, decided to take it on Saturday and hopped a plane on Sunday to Boston. I spent last week learning more about what I had signed up for and came away from the week excited but nervous.
I'll explain more about what I'm going to be doing next time. I'm still jet-lagged and I need to get some sleep.
I spent last Wednesday afternoon participating in relay games, playing pictionary and step dancing with almost 25 middle school students from Boston. One relay game involved each member of our group racing to a tupperware container filled with water and gumdrops at the bottom. The objective was to dunk your head into the container, bite into a gumdrop and remove it from the container. From there, you had to dip your wet face in a bowl of whipped cream to find another gumdrop. Oh yeah, and it was all being timed against other teams. Imagine doing this after 20 other 9 to 12 year olds had already dunked their sweaty faces and oily hair into the murky water.
The whole week was unbelievable. I interviewed and been offered the job the previous Thursday, decided to take it on Saturday and hopped a plane on Sunday to Boston. I spent last week learning more about what I had signed up for and came away from the week excited but nervous.
I'll explain more about what I'm going to be doing next time. I'm still jet-lagged and I need to get some sleep.
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