Friday, January 13, 2006
Hotheaded High Schooler
Dear Guidance Guy,
I'm a senior this year, and have several teachers I simply cannot respect, combined with a general student body which is, I believe, truly driving me insane.
The teachers provide weak curriculum, at best. The kind where I could ditch school for two months, come back, make up every test and not miss a single point. And I'm a mediocre student, too. Every time I go to class, their inattentiveness to actual learning makes me angry, and it stacks up and gets harder and harder to deal with. Lately, whenever particular teachers come up in conversation amongst my friends, regardless of location (In my journalism class just today, right in front of the teacher) I just blast off on a rant about my not-so-great teachers, complete with colorful profanity whose like may be found on no ship sailing the seas. The teacher who witnessed one of these outbursts is a good friend of mine, so nothing dramatic happened, but some of my friends say that it scares them once in a while. I figure it's an issue.
On the other side of the coin, there are the students who I feel promote this behavior. They describe teachers as good or bad based on how hard the class is-- not based on how well the teacher teaches the curriculum. Some of my favorite teachers have horrible reputations and are the butts of many popular jokes because they teach classes with difficult subject matter (i.e.
AP Calculus BC, AP European History) and their classes are hard, while the teachers mentioned in the preceeding paragraph are glorified and lifted up on high as the best teachers in my school because they essentially hand out the answers to the tests while we're taking them. Just to make things better, all my classes are group-work intensive. So I have to work with these people who don't value the education they're receiving-- only resent the amount of work they have to put forth.
How can I deal with incompetant teachers, and how can I survive the hoards of anti-learning students?
Hothead Student
*****
Dear Hothead,
Let me ask you a question. You're obviously very smart - so why are you a mediocre student? Is it because you aren't interested in what's being taught,or is it because you haven't developed the habits of a good student, or is it that your anger is holding you back from giving school work the attention it needs for good grades?
Since you're a senior about to start your last semester, the short answer to your question is to just ride it out for a few more months. Then your world will change and open up.
One problem, Hothead: if you're going to college you're also going to find students who aren't motivated and teachers (professors) who aren't necessarily the best. And since your grades are mediocre, I'm guessing the Ivy League isn't where you'll wind up. So it will be important to answer your question about dealing with other students and teachers.
First thing I would do is take stock of everything that is GOOD about your education. You're living in a country with enormous options. Your school wants to educate you, even if it isn't doing the best job in every case. You also have some teachers you respect and admire (one is even a friend). And you have fellow students - at least some - you can relate to. Not a bad starting point.
But it gets better! Some of the subject matter is stuff you find challenging. And since the other people in your classes aren't particularly interested in what's being taught, that leaves you with more to do when it comes to group work.
But it gets even better than that! Here's the truth...you'll be competing with this same group of people in the adult world. They'll be going for the same jobs, business opportunities, promotions, etc. The prizes of our economic system go to the people who put the most in, are the most curious and the most effective at what they do. So you have a head start on your competition.
The good stuff also goes to the people who are the most attractive. I don't mean physically - I mean the people who are most pleasant and stimulating to be around. The good stuff goes to the people who make those around them feel good...who build others up, not tear them down.
And I don't think I'm telling you something you don't already know when I say this will be your challenge. It looks like your FOCUS is on what's not cool at the moment.
What if you looked at things a little differently? What if you realized that all the greatest gifts are waiting for you...all you have to do is recognize and be ready to receive them? The ones who are looking for the easy way out? They're great people also. In fact, some of them may be serving you on your way to the top. Honor them for the contributions they will make. It take all kinds!
Some of these people may be late bloomers. They'll get interested in education when they get into a different environment. I was one of them!
I'm serious about this, Hothead! All you have to do is look at things a little bit differently. Lose the "hotheadedness" and watch some amazing things happen.
Have an awesome year,
The Guidance Guy
I'm a senior this year, and have several teachers I simply cannot respect, combined with a general student body which is, I believe, truly driving me insane.
The teachers provide weak curriculum, at best. The kind where I could ditch school for two months, come back, make up every test and not miss a single point. And I'm a mediocre student, too. Every time I go to class, their inattentiveness to actual learning makes me angry, and it stacks up and gets harder and harder to deal with. Lately, whenever particular teachers come up in conversation amongst my friends, regardless of location (In my journalism class just today, right in front of the teacher) I just blast off on a rant about my not-so-great teachers, complete with colorful profanity whose like may be found on no ship sailing the seas. The teacher who witnessed one of these outbursts is a good friend of mine, so nothing dramatic happened, but some of my friends say that it scares them once in a while. I figure it's an issue.
On the other side of the coin, there are the students who I feel promote this behavior. They describe teachers as good or bad based on how hard the class is-- not based on how well the teacher teaches the curriculum. Some of my favorite teachers have horrible reputations and are the butts of many popular jokes because they teach classes with difficult subject matter (i.e.
AP Calculus BC, AP European History) and their classes are hard, while the teachers mentioned in the preceeding paragraph are glorified and lifted up on high as the best teachers in my school because they essentially hand out the answers to the tests while we're taking them. Just to make things better, all my classes are group-work intensive. So I have to work with these people who don't value the education they're receiving-- only resent the amount of work they have to put forth.
How can I deal with incompetant teachers, and how can I survive the hoards of anti-learning students?
Hothead Student
*****
Dear Hothead,
Let me ask you a question. You're obviously very smart - so why are you a mediocre student? Is it because you aren't interested in what's being taught,or is it because you haven't developed the habits of a good student, or is it that your anger is holding you back from giving school work the attention it needs for good grades?
Since you're a senior about to start your last semester, the short answer to your question is to just ride it out for a few more months. Then your world will change and open up.
One problem, Hothead: if you're going to college you're also going to find students who aren't motivated and teachers (professors) who aren't necessarily the best. And since your grades are mediocre, I'm guessing the Ivy League isn't where you'll wind up. So it will be important to answer your question about dealing with other students and teachers.
First thing I would do is take stock of everything that is GOOD about your education. You're living in a country with enormous options. Your school wants to educate you, even if it isn't doing the best job in every case. You also have some teachers you respect and admire (one is even a friend). And you have fellow students - at least some - you can relate to. Not a bad starting point.
But it gets better! Some of the subject matter is stuff you find challenging. And since the other people in your classes aren't particularly interested in what's being taught, that leaves you with more to do when it comes to group work.
But it gets even better than that! Here's the truth...you'll be competing with this same group of people in the adult world. They'll be going for the same jobs, business opportunities, promotions, etc. The prizes of our economic system go to the people who put the most in, are the most curious and the most effective at what they do. So you have a head start on your competition.
The good stuff also goes to the people who are the most attractive. I don't mean physically - I mean the people who are most pleasant and stimulating to be around. The good stuff goes to the people who make those around them feel good...who build others up, not tear them down.
And I don't think I'm telling you something you don't already know when I say this will be your challenge. It looks like your FOCUS is on what's not cool at the moment.
What if you looked at things a little differently? What if you realized that all the greatest gifts are waiting for you...all you have to do is recognize and be ready to receive them? The ones who are looking for the easy way out? They're great people also. In fact, some of them may be serving you on your way to the top. Honor them for the contributions they will make. It take all kinds!
Some of these people may be late bloomers. They'll get interested in education when they get into a different environment. I was one of them!
I'm serious about this, Hothead! All you have to do is look at things a little bit differently. Lose the "hotheadedness" and watch some amazing things happen.
Have an awesome year,
The Guidance Guy
