The proverbial “they” say that the best
way to learn is to ask questions. Not to break my own arm patting myself on the
back, but if that’s the case, then I’d have to say I was at Einstein level
learning from an early age. My favorite response to anything was “Why?” Not the
crossed arm tantrums pout why of a toddler, but more the wide eyed
innocent just curious about the world type of why. Sure, it was
annoying. I’m sure my mom and dad grew tired of explaining why feet smell, why
people had to die, and why our family dog scooted across the carpet like that,
but they always explained the world to me. It’s also no surprise that shortly
after I could read I receive The Big Book of Questions as a gift so I
could look up my own questions and let my parents enjoy their episode of The
Cosby Show.
It’s no surprise then as an educator
that I to this day remain a question asker. Sure, my colleagues and
administrators I’m sure are as worn down as my parents were, but they too give
me answers and ask even more in return. And sure, my students are probably
tired of me asking their opinion on things, but they also find the power in the
well phrased inquiry. So my first blog, I figured I’d start where all good
lessons do: questions. Below are 5 of the more important questions I have been
asked in my educational career.
1. Why aren’t you going to be a teacher?
To
keep a long story short, I actually started college as a pre-med major. I knew
I loved working with kids and I sort of liked science, so pediatrics seemed a
logical step. I dissected my worms and cow hearts, worked through millions of
organic chemistry problems and found myself in a volunteer position working
with pediatric oncology at the local hospital. After a particularly grueling
day where I had to watch a mother hold her son while he got sick after a round
of medicine, I couldn’t do it. I had to walk away. Sitting on the porch of my
dorm that night with a good friend, I explained how badly I wanted to change
the life of kids, but how I was too empathetic to ignore their sickness. I was
not strong enough to not take it personally when a kid failed. The daughter of
a school teacher, she said her mother struggled with the same thing but more
often than not saw the success of her hard work. And that’s when she turned to
me and said… “You know, for someone who wants to help kids so badly, why
haven’t you thought of teaching?” The rest, as “they” say, is history. (As to
why I ended up in English and not science? Perhaps and other question for
another blog.)
2. Why would you use that?
Once
I got my first teaching gig, I jumped in with both feet. I helped advise
several groups at the high school I was teaching at, including the Renaissance
team. (Short plug… if your school doesn’t have a Renaissance program, go here http://www.jostens.com/educators/edu_svcs_cp_get_started.html.
It’s one of the best things you’ll ever do at your school.) I co-advised with
several other teachers and our principal, Dwight Carter. While trying to figure
out a way to engage our student body more, I suggested we use Facebook. After a
few moments of thought, he turned and gave me a polite, no. Being the new
teacher I was, I foolishly continued to push the issue until he asked me “Why?
What could it do?” Anyone who knows me knows I’m a bit of a tech junky (a
novice for sure, but a techie all the same). I use technology daily in my
classroom and daily life, so to me it made sense. We had used Facebook in
college for organizing programming board meetings, advertising student
government events, and engaging our student body in asking what they needed. So
I was quick to whip up a PowerPoint (Isn’t it funny how even though this was 3
years ago, PowerPoint seems a bit… dated?) of my proposal. To his credit, he
accepted and now the Renaissance Action Team uses Facebook for all promotional
events, group reminders and group discussions. I am in no way taking credit for
sparking a light in the incredible visionary and now very social media savvy
@Dwight_Carter (who also now blogs at http://dwightcarter.edublogs.org/
and at http://glhsprincipalspage.blogspot.com/
... And runs a school now named Best in Tech http://www.gahannaschools.org/NewsDetail.aspx?article=9863169
… See where I’m going here?) But like Dr. Frankenstein, I am both proud of my
question and fearful of the monster I’ve created. (Much love, chief. It’s only
because I can’t tease you to your face daily any more.) Technology will be a
big part of my blog and this moment of questioning was the first time I needed
to stop and think “Why?” and defend my stance. It was both healthy and helpful.
3. Why would you give a child a zero if you want them to
learn?
This
question came from one of my dearest friends and best educational minds I’ve
ever worked with, Jeni Hawkins-Newman. We were talking about the idea of zeros
and what they convey. (See Carter’s great post about it http://dwightcarter.edublogs.org/2011/06/27/no-zeros-until/)
I was of the somewhat dated mentality that if a kid doesn’t turn something in,
it’s a zero. Sure, I was more lenient than my peers regarding due dates and I
could hound a kid for a paper like it was a life or death situation, but there
were still zeros in my gradebook. That was until Jeni turned to me during the
discussion and asked “What is your job as an educator?” Skeptical at best, I
replied “To teach kids.” She smiled, knowing she had me where she wanted me and
said “Right. So if a student gets a zero and never completes an assignment, how
are they learning?” If you can’t tell from this quick antidote, Jeni is one of
the few people who can get me to shut up and think. I am ever grateful for
that.
4. Why are we reading this?
My
seniors asked me this upon starting Macbeth a few weeks ago. To their defense,
they had for the most part openly accepted the heaping spoonful of Brit Lit I
had put on their plates. A grumble here and there, yes, but they obliged. But
for some reason they dug their heels in hard. Seniors, for anyone who hasn’t
had the pleasure of working with these magnificent creatures, can be a stubborn
tribe of people when they want to be. And this was their day. Despite my plea
to give it a chance, (Witches! Murder! Lady Macbeth! Psychological breakdowns!)
they still grumbled on like the cast of Grumpy Old Men. To best honest,
I had the same question. So it wasn’t until a student asked me on Facebook (See
the transition there? Carter was right to listen!) that I started to think why
we teach the “classics.” The following is our conversation:
A: I kindly
vote we stop reading Macbeth now.
Chris
Wagner: Provide me with the reasoning for your thoughts please.
A: I have read 5 plays by him so far. Romeo
and Juliet. Julius Caesar. Othello. As You Like It. and A Midsummer Night's
Dream. I clearly understand that he was a revolutionary writer. I understand
the significance of his writing style. But Macbeth just bores me. I don't think
anything has been significantly interesting yet. And another beef I have is why
do we spend all this time reading his work when we are obviously just doing to
do appreciate his significance in the literary world. Otherwise, you wouldn't
give the story away before we even read it. But I'm saying that there are SO
many new books that bring new, deep literary ideas to the table. Why be stuck
in the past so much. Why are there no "Classics" from 1990-onward?
Did classics just dead stop with The Catcher In The Rye? I Guess I just hate
being stuck in the past when there is so much good in the future. Book wise.
Chris
Wagner: This is why I appreciate your presence in my class, A. I
mean that. I like students that ask these kinds of questions and can give
support other than to say "It's boring" or "I don't understand
it." I guess I see it this way, just because you enjoyed Fight Club didn't
mean that you just assumed all Palahniuk novels were the same. Like each of his
books, each play has a different strength. His topics are universal. Macbeth in
particular helps us get insight into the powers of suggestion and the depths to
which we explore doing what we want vs. doing what we know is right. Lady
Macbeth is perhaps one of the strongest female characters of his time. She's
very Palahniuk to be honest... she breaks the mold and does as she wishes and
let's nothing get in her way. Perhaps I am not conveying that in class. As for
"ruining" the story, it's actually how his stories are meant to be
understood. Shakespeare's audience would have known the story of Macbeth,
including his downfall. It's why he lets us know that *spoiler alert* Romeo and
Juliet
Chris
Wagner: That being said, I 100% agree about the modern novel. (I'd
say 140% but Hoslar I'm sure would tell me that's not a possible number.)
That's why I've been such an advocate for doing 50/50 with choice and classics.
It's fairly radical. It's also something I've been arguing since I sat in my
high school English program. I HATED my teacher for ruining The Scarlet Letter
by overemphasizing symbolisms. I just wanted the text to be as I read it and
interpreted it. That's why I avoid saying "no... you're wrong, this is
what it means." If you can support it, it's right. (The key being IF)
There is something to be said for the feeling of reading something that challenges
you. Older texts are challenging. Do they frustrate? Sure. But that's healthy.
But I agree that there are "new classics" being written every day.
The key is that we all recommend them to each other and expose each other to
new authors all the time. For example, I've got the book you were reading
loaded in my Kindle for my next read. THAT is more important than me assigning
a text
Chris
Wagner: Out of curiosity, what would you add to the list of "new
classics" that every high schooler should read?
A: Well thank you for telling these things to me
Mr. Wagner, because I was, infact, very frustrated. As for new classics, I
would suggest things that open doors in the way people think. Or in plot
twists. ( I REALLY like good plot twists.) Watchmen, although being a 'comic',
is one of the greatest things I've ever read. Each character is so down to
earth. V for vendetta, because (unlike the movie) there is no fighting in the
book, but it is intellectual and challenges you to think a new way about
government. Of course, I have to say Fight Club, there is just an overwhelming
sense of, I guess, coolness in the book. The narrator is funny. The way the
sentences are fragments, like the real way people think. The only thing the
movie didn't do justice to was Tyler himself. In the movie, which I greatly
respect ( David Fincher being one of my favorite directors) it portrays Tyler
as crazy, wild and free. But in the book, I felt he was more James Dean -
Badass- esque. He had the answer for everything. He took care of everyone. He
knew what to do. I think the book does a little more justice than the movie in
that respect. And even though it's old (and a classic), it still throws me that
we don't have to read 'A Clockwork Orange', because it's so good. The reason I
like Palahniuk is, prior to his books, I disliked reading. It's safe to say I
hated reading. But with new classics like this, it opened my eyes that books
dont have to be all about B.S. love stories and trivial plotlines. A book can
deliver an experience that no other medium can.
This simple conversation lead on to
several more with A of course, but you get the picture. Without having asked
the simple question of why, we both would have remained frustrated with the
situation. With that one question, I knew more about A and he about me, than we
could have hoped.
5. Why aren’t you writing more?
This
last one actually came from myself. I love the way words fit. The way you can
feel someone’s voice through what they write. I’ve always loved writing. I have
a measly talent at being sometimes humorous on a good day and a more decent
talent at saying what I think. I am not the keeper of the secrets. I learn and
grow and change on a daily basis because I ask “what could I do differently
next time?” I love learning something new and love it even more when it comes
from a colleague or student. I am writing this blog both as a reflective tool
for myself but also a space where I can explore and ask questions. A place
where fellow educators can ask me questions and challenge me on my
beliefs/ideals/thoughts/lessons. No one grows without feedback. I want to write
to maybe change something, someone, somewhere.
With
all of these questions the biggest one remains… what to write next!?
Until
next question, all my best,
CW
