WHERE THE HOKEY POKEY "IS" WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT
Rawkkiddoh
Rawkkiddoh
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Vacation

Posted over 2 years ago
Just got done reading a great post by Smooth Hegemon, you can check it out here. http://mog.com/Smooth_Hegemon/blog_post/38986 It got me thinking about my days as a teacher. 10 years I spent in the St. Paul school system, and I don't regret a thing. While the past 5 months have been tough, MOG has been somewhat of a release for me. It has been great to be able to come and discuss things that are not so important in the real world. In the span of 24 hours, it seems a cloud of anger has blanketed this site. Now I agree that everyone has the right to express themselves however they would like, but that is not what this site has been about in the past. The reason why I liked Smooth's post so much is because it reminded me how great children are. They have the ability to move on after someone has pissed them off. Ask any teacher and you will see two kids that hate each other one day, and the next day they are lunch buddies. I feel as adults its something we should really try and implement in our everyday lives. Anyways, I tagged the song Vacation to this post because I was trying to remember back to any songs that really stood out for me when I was in elementary school. I immediately thought of that one. I think it was my first music related crush, and I can remember listening to the album almost every day for that summer break. Although it’s beat up and scratched, I still have it and listen to it when I need to get in a good mood.
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Comments (13)

  1. Smooth Hegemon
    Smooth Hegemon says Thanks for the compliment, Rawk. You did a service to the kids of St. Paul, and now MOG. We who are about to teach salute you.
    Permalink posted 01/15/2007
  2. chulsmith
    chulsmith says i can honestly say that coop was one of the few great teachers that taught because he loved what he did and the impact he made on the wee ones - or not so wee ones, i guess they were 10-12 years old. we need more of those. unfortunately, not to get all political on y'alls arses, the state of education in the US (as i've had no exposure to that outside of the US) is in need of a major overhaul. starting salary is what, somewhere in the $20k range? that's ridiculous considering the amount of public funds that are diverted to other agenda topics. today's kids will be running tomorrow's country. that's a scary thought when articles like "this":http://edition.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/05/02/geog.test/index.html pop up. granted, only 510 kids took the survey. but hopefully, the subjects just happened to be the 'knowledge challenged' ones... (chul steps down from the soapbox)
    Permalink posted 01/16/2007
  3. Marta
    Marta says I hold the utmost respect for anyone who can find the dedication and patience to become a teacher. It was always a dream of mine and I was so upset recently to find I am capable intellectually but not able emotionally to perform what's required. You join my list of heroes, Rawk.
    Permalink posted 01/16/2007
  4. ScottyB
    ScottyB says My mother tought for many years, Rawk, so my hat is off to you as well - It is a thankless job much of the time...But ever so vital... You should have a look through the trades for positions at international schools - There is enormous demand for accredited teachers and unlike teaching in the US public school system, these jobs can be financially rewarding as well...
    Permalink posted 01/16/2007
  5. Marta
    Marta says Come to Australia! In dire need of a few blokes... you know, role models for all the sons of single mother families...
    Permalink posted 01/16/2007
  6. LadyC
    LadyC says a very thoughtful post, you're right about children and the nature of gorwing up and forgetting what it means to be, what it was we lost along the way. we all remember the teachers in our lives that changed how we looked at things or made our learning interesting and captivating, the ones who cared. it seems you have filled that same role with humility, dignity and compassion. it is unfortunate the state of teaching in the states, several friends of mine have been quite vocal about their experiences back home. it is very different here in france and teaching is one of the preferred professions due to the perks and vacation time etc.
    Permalink posted 01/16/2007
  7. mktackabery
    mktackabery says thoughtful post Rawk, thanks. It's important to remember every day the basic innocence of children and try to get back to that in our dailies. You know, just feeling good laughing? I spent time with my nephews recently and they bring me so utterly into the present that there is no way to be unhappy, even when there are tears or momentary upset. Because in a moment, poof! it's gone. And we resume our basically carefree happy life. I bet she was a blonde and winked at you during recess, didn't she?
    Permalink posted 01/16/2007
  8. ivylander
    ivylander says Yep, there is most definitely a gap in this nation between what we say we value (education, literacy) and how we reward it. My first job out of school was teaching English composition to freshmen in what was essentially a glorified community college. The administration wouldn't let me stay longer than after three semesters because if I did, I would have to be tenure-tracked. That would not have fit with their budget-balancing plan of hiring entry-level people, then letting them go before they could actually get a toehold on a career. But it was OK that I left. I realized that you have to have a sense of mission about teaching, and it wasn't there with me. You really have to do it for a while to understand what a demanding job it is. Hats off to you, rawkkiddo, and everybody else who does this and loves it.
    Permalink posted 01/16/2007
  9. ScottyB
    ScottyB says Oh and Mate, I hope you remember this post when the Pats spank Da' Bears in the Super Bowl...
    Permalink posted 01/16/2007
  10. chulsmith
    chulsmith says i worked in the two toughest schools of the inner city minneapolis school district for about 18 months with 4-10 year olds. that's when i experienced that it's hard to make a difference in the children's lives when the support of the parents isn't there. on a regular basis, we were blamed by the parents for some of their kids' actions when what we were trying to teach them should have been taught long before they came to school. but to be fair, i should mention the flip side - there are also the parents in the suburbs of minneapolis who try to involve themselves too much which actually hinders the teachers from doing their jobs. maybe jazzy jeff and the fresh prince were right, parents just don't understand...
    Permalink posted 01/16/2007
  11. Rawkkiddoh
    Rawkkiddoh says Go to sleep and look what happenes. Thanks for the good words here people, and I want to address a few things. Chul, all my kids knew all 50 states, and they knew where Iraq was on a map. You probably alreay knew this, but articles like that make me cringe. Being in the teaching system for so long, you saw the teachers who just showed up to collect a pay check. It frustrated me that no matter what I did in my classroom, I would be making the same amount of money as a teacher who was teaching the same amount of time. Its the only career that doesnt give rewards for the person who goes above and beyond the call of duty. Smooth, I wish you well in your quest to teach. Remember not to lose touch with the kids, and if possible start getting your masters. It makes a big difference in pay. Marta, well Austrailia would be quite the trek, but well worth it from what I heard. I have toyed with the idea of moving continents, just afriad of having to tell people I am american. Sometimes we get a bad rap. Scotty, like I said before, I have thought about those types of options. I had a friend go and teach in the United Arab Emirates, and she said she could not be happier. It seems in most other countries teachers are respected, unlike here in the states. In a recent poll, teachers were one viewed as one of the most non- respected positions to have. Funny with the amount of responsibility we have. Lady C, same for teachers here. Its nice to have summers off, but I have never gotten one. The pay was not good enough that I could take a summer off so it was either summer school, or back to my old bike shop to sell bikes. That was the one thing that irked me when I told people I was a teacher. They would look at me like what are you complaining about, you get summers off. I wish they only knew. Mtka, she was not blond, she was a cute brown haired girl who happened to be the only smalled than me in my class. Theresa Burgland, and for the record, I have never thought blondies were all that cute. Anna, dont kill me. Ivy, the whole tenure thing is something a lot of my friends have been screwed by. It seems the thing to do is keep people on until the last year of their tenure then byebye. Even for an experienced teacher, starting over in a new school is always hard. Back to you Scotty, I hope Mr. Brady gets my copy of vacation I sent him. He will need it after Urlacher seperates his shoulder. Lastly, chul this ones for you..................
    Permalink posted 01/16/2007
  12. LadyC
    LadyC says thank you for the thoughtful post and commentary. i really enjoyed coming back to this one today (stuck at the comp with work!) what i meant to say also is that being a techer in france is a comfortable job in france, so it isn't just the holidays it is many other incentives although teaching in schools in the banlieue (suburbs) is tough as anywhere. but thank you for your insight. you should go to paris and visit chul, then i can take you both out for a well deserved drink!
    Permalink posted 01/16/2007
  13. Rawkkiddoh
    Rawkkiddoh says Seeing Chul plans on living there, that might just happen. First, I need to get the work thing in order, or maybe become a mail order groom to some unsuspecting madam.
    Permalink posted 01/16/2007

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