Scene from an elementary classroom this morning.
The teacher having a difficult time getting the class organized and focused–their task to spend a morning session working on test-taking strategies by taking a sample grade-level assessment. A droll reading passage with accompanying multiple choice questions and an open response.
The teacher sitting at the rear of the room at the guided reading table. Two boys sitting in front of him, struggling mightily to keep still in their seats. Straining to talk to each other. Other small clusters of students in various states of disarray beyond that table, with one or two sitting inexplicably under their desks and using their seats as a makeshift desk. (“Hi, Mr. Liou!,” one of those students cheerily chimes as I walk into the room, only sprawled legs and two peering eyes visible). One or two girls dutifully working with their heads down and pencils moving, one working what must have been a three piece wad of gum in her mouth.
Frustration mounting in the teacher from the students’ apparent lack of seriousness of the exercise. “This is your future!,” the teacher calls across the room, targeted at one of the students being particularly squirrel-y in his makeshift nest beneath a student desk. It’s the raised, disciplinary tone and somber proclamation that we teachers use to varying degrees of success. At best, the student is reminded and gets the hint to settle down. At worst, you get the eye rolls which is the more seasoned and cynical reaction.
Which is what made the innocent and earnestly voiced response, made by a different student altogether, to that question all the better. Coming from one of the boys closest to the teacher, one who seemed more than happy to have occasion to talk and think about something other than the practice test in front of him.
‘How is this our future?” he queried–without irony. Hungry for some kind of response.
The Future is… Now?
Scene from an elementary classroom this morning.
The teacher having a difficult time getting the class organized and focused–their task to spend a morning session working on test-taking strategies by taking a sample grade-level assessment. A droll reading passage with accompanying multiple choice questions and an open response.
The teacher sitting at the rear of the room at the guided reading table. Two boys sitting in front of him, struggling mightily to keep still in their seats. Straining to talk to each other. Other small clusters of students in various states of disarray beyond that table, with one or two sitting inexplicably under their desks and using their seats as a makeshift desk. (“Hi, Mr. Liou!,” one of those students cheerily chimes as I walk into the room, only sprawled legs and two peering eyes visible). One or two girls dutifully working with their heads down and pencils moving, one working what must have been a three piece wad of gum in her mouth.
Frustration mounting in the teacher from the students’ apparent lack of seriousness of the exercise. “This is your future!,” the teacher calls across the room, targeted at one of the students being particularly squirrel-y in his makeshift nest beneath a student desk. It’s the raised, disciplinary tone and somber proclamation that we teachers use to varying degrees of success. At best, the student is reminded and gets the hint to settle down. At worst, you get the eye rolls which is the more seasoned and cynical reaction.
Which is what made the innocent and earnestly voiced response, made by a different student altogether, to that question all the better. Coming from one of the boys closest to the teacher, one who seemed more than happy to have occasion to talk and think about something other than the practice test in front of him.
‘How is this our future?” he queried–without irony. Hungry for some kind of response.