First Day of School

  

    Today was my first day back on campus and wow was it a busy day. Started off the morning with the alarm going off at 6:00am (got up 4 times with April during the night), mad dash out the door (thanks to patient husband who helped me with the kids), first day of daycare and a full load of classes. Even with all that work to get there, It was really nice to be back on campus. I have been working on my bachelors degree in Secondary Social Studies Education for 6 years. I had to lighten up or take off a semester now and then to have my daughters (who conveniently had due dates around finals or shortly there after). So my goal of school had to be put on hold. Well now two kids and a husband later, I am now on my final semester on campus and it feels great. Then off to student teaching in Fall 2013 (missed a deadline so I'll have spring 2013 off, oops!) and ill be a college graduate with my teaching license. That day can't come soon enough.
     I discovered my calling to teach back when I was in high school. I had some really great inspiring teachers who were passionate about their content areas and touched the lives of their students. Whether or not you want to admit it, a teacher has touched your life too.  Think for a moment.. How many Nobel prize winners can you list? or Supreme Court Justices?.. I bet not many off the top of your head. Now let me ask you this... List 5 names of teachers you had growing up?  I bet some come to mind right away!
    A Professor of mine (who I aspire to be) read our class a few statistics from a randomly selected nation wide survey of 11th graders about social studies. The students where asked these questions: 
            1.  What lies directly north of the United States? 48% of  the students questioned didn't know the name of Canada and most thought it was the Pacific Ocean.
            2.  What country did the 13 colonies free themselves from during the Revolutionary war?  Less than 40% knew the right answer .. England.
            3. Who is Joe Biden?  Only 34% knew that he was the Vice-President.

These were some of many questions that students simply did not know. May I remind you that these are 11th graders! This kids are about to go out into the world in less that a year. This just breaks my heart.  I wish that this generation of kids will realize that life happens and education gives you choices in life. They are our future. That's why I hope when I get a teaching job I can change this, and empower students to find their drive to learn.    Oh enough about my ranting about education. Moral of the story.. I'm glad to be back learning :)