Education Expense

This post connects with a post I published a few days ago.
Students working toward an Education degree are required to do classroom components for their major--they must observe or teach in a school in the community as part of their requirements.
Today, one of the full-time faculty was talking with me about a student who has been corresponding via email regarding her placement site. The student claims that the reason she chose to come to our college was because she works during the day and is able to take classes at night. She had no idea she would have to do classroom components. What?! Why would she possibly think that by being an Education Major, she wouldn't have to work in a classroom? Her additional argument is that she currently works in a public school, and she wants to do her observations in the school where she works.
For everyone out there with this situation, doing observations/student teaching in a school where you currently work is not the way to go about getting a well-rounded education. Taking care of classroom requirements in your place of business is called a biased environment. Besides that, getting experience in other schools will give students a varied perspective of schools in the area. No school is the same, and through obtaining your education, it is up to you to get as many different perspectives as possible. This will broaden your spectrum as a student and open your eyes as an educator.
College is not meant for taking short-cuts. College is meant to provide you will all the training and instruction necessary to make you a well-rounded member in your field.

Paradise

Monday: Secretary (Day) / Server (Night)

This is a different type of week. My mom left for Cancun early Sunday morning. My mother has not left her five children in 25 years. I closed at the restaurant Saturday night and pulled an all-night-er to take her and my three aunts to the airport by 5:00 a.m. Because this is the first time she's actually inaccessible, she felt more comfortable if I stayed at her house. My two brothers are still at home, and although they are 15 and 19 years old, they still need someone here. Not only that, but they're lazy, sloppy teenagers who would destroy my mother's house by the time she gets home.

I came back to mom's and finally fell asleep around 6:30 a.m. I tried to bring everything so I don't have to traipse back to my house. I did forget a few things (like my phone charger!), but so far, so good.

It's funny because I find myself in "mom" mode. Last night I was doing laundry and gathering some things, when I realized that it was passed the dinner hour and wondered if my brother had eaten. He's 15! He'll eat when he's hungry, but like I said, I'm in "mom" mode. He chuckled when I asked him, so I "checked" myself.

I'm just really communicative: I want them to know where I am, and I expect that they'll let me know what they're up to...I don't know...parent stuff. :)

It's weird because I'm not a parent to any degree. I was watching my 6 month old niece this weekend, and I was struggling carrying a crying child, lugging her seat, and trying not to lose the diaper bag. I know that I have a maternal instinct, but I just don't think I'm cut out to be a parent. I can't even remember to feed my brother! (Shit, and I've been thinking about getting a dog...I guess that idea's out!)

Tomorrow: Secretary (Day) / Off (Night)

Summing It Up

Thursday: Secretary (Day) / Server (Night)

My thoughts today are geared toward society and its obsession with technology. Society's obsession with technology is what created my obsession with the tangible (the silver lining, I suppose). What I mean by obsession is that I think we're taking technology too far. My mom even thinks we're going to run out of electricity, and she claims that everyone will be sunk because there's no Plan B. I think she's right, for the most part.

Although I try to take advantage of technology, I'm not crazy about most of it. I remember what it's like to not have it. But because technology has been developing, I've been changing with it...if that makes sense...

Working at the college, we have been presented the idea of doing telecourses (courses taken from the computer, never meeting in a classroom). I work for the Education Department--they teach people how to teach people. How can anyone possibly think that an online education is credible when the degree concentrates on socializing with children? I feel the same about any online program that is geared toward an occupation that deals with human beings (counseling, psychology, nursing, etc.).

The notion of telecourses got me thinking about the human race and it's development connected with technology. There is no doubt that technology has affected our ability to socialize. We are becoming independent creatures, absent from direct communication: no tone, no physical connection. Technology is desensitizing the world. I'm sure it's been said before--I agree. Tie this point in with telecourses.

People need the college experience. Yes, online courses can be helpful for a person who works, I agree; however, getting your entire degree online is kind of ridiculous. (Question: Who really knows if the person who is enrolled is the actual person completing the assignments?) In addition, I think that college is a commitment, and you illustrate your commitment by lugging the books to class, sitting through lecture, and getting a tangible perspective. Going to class allows for interaction, networking.

I commended two of my students because they had apparently exchanged contact information. Over the weekend, one of the students had a question, but she emailed me Saturday night, and I wasn't able to respond until Sunday. She then decided to contact her classmate, and they were able to help each other through...The End. My point is that people become resources for the present and the future. The people we meet are the people who are there to help us through--in many forms. It's okay to ask someone for help. It's okay to learn, and it's okay to make sacrifices for the things you want and need.

It took me six years to get a four year degree. I paid for it myself, with help from Uncle Sam. I got no tuition reimbursement, and I had to purchase books on my own. I worked between 1 and 3 jobs my entire college career. It can be done. Getting a degree that I am proud of was my ultimate goal, and I made the commitment to get it. I think that this "desensitizing" is also affecting our ability to be decisive and make commitments. Without human contact, commitment becomes meaningless.

Deep Thoughts... :)

Friday: Secretary (Day) / Off (Night) Yay!!!

Saturday Dramatics

Saturday: Off (Day) / Server (Night)

Tonight started off slow, but then we got slammed, and the night flew by! I went in for my shift in a great mood, and I was ready to make money. Tonight's crew was pretty lazy, but my tables were good (no one too weird), and they were appreciative, which is a little unusual, but considering some of them waited 2 hours for a table, I suppose they were just happy to have a competent server. It was a good night.

I was closing, and there are always three servers closing the restaurant. As a closer, we check everyone's section, side work, and silverware. I'm always assigned to check sections because I prefer it, and I'm good at it. When people know I'm checking sections, they do their shit--or I make them do it. I'm not messing around. If they don't do it, closers have to do it, and we already have enough to do.

Well, because it was so busy, we didn't die down until about 9:30. The MOD still hadn't put cuts up, when the hostess approached me and told me that she had to seat me with a five top because "some server" didn't want anymore tables. I told her that was fine (I was closing, I didn't care), but one thing you DO NOT do is tell the hostess to stop seating you before cuts go up. That is a hell-to-the-no-no! The kicker: This server is a trainer! All the fights I've had with management about my being a trainer, and this girl pulls this! Unbelievable. What's even more unbelievable is that she is notorious for trying to get out of doing shit!

Because this sort of thing happens all the time, I decided that I wouldn't say anything to the server, but I did say something to a friend of mine because I was pissed. Well my friend ended up saying something to the Hella Bitch Bartender who thinks she runs every shift. Hella Bitch decided she would seat the trainer with the next table. Well, I guess Hella Bitch didn't think this was enough, so she told the MOD.

MOD was pissed, and called the closers to a meeting. He wanted to know if it was okay with us if he waited until really late to put cuts up. He wanted to make her sweat a little and it affected the entire team. We only had an hour until close, and we agreed that cuts would not go up, but us closers would just take any incoming tables. (We should've sat the fucking trainer again, but that's not the way MOD wanted to do things.)

This hurts everyone because they'll get started on their silverware, side work, and sections, but none of the silverware they do counts once cuts go up, and they can't get "checked out" until cuts are up either.

MOD said he confronted her, but he couldn't write her up because he was not a direct witness.

MOD didn't put cuts up until about 10:45 (we close at 11), and everyone was pissed. Then he gave them each 100 silver to do. It was bad. People were cranky and insubordinate. MOD said he confronted trainer and that she had no rebuttal--not even an apology. He said he used the dreaded, "I'm...disappointed..." He was disappointed, but he knew that phrasing it that way would make more of an impact on said server. I think he handled it well, and I sure as hell hope that trainer realizes what she's doing next time.

That's all I've got! It's crazy-late, and I've got to get to bed!

Tomorrow: Off (Aunt Day!)

ServerLand

Thursday: Secretary (Day) / Server (Night)

My focus sharpened once I entered work and learned that I would be sharing a 20-top (which turned out to be 15) with a fellow-server. It was a bridal shower (oh, how I loath any kind of party with the word "shower" in it). These women drank, had appetizers, drank some more, had dinner, drank a little more, had cake. They ended up leaving us $50 over gratuity, which was unexpected and pretty freakin awesome! It really made my night because other than that table, it was dead. I had three other tables before the big-top...that was it. The women were a little weird and bossy, but otherwise normal and harmless.

We ended up paying another server to clear and reset the tables for us, so I was still home by 10, with a little bit of cash! Yay!

Tomorrow: Secretary (Early Day) / Off (Night)

ADD Through the Work Day

Thursday: Secretary (Day) / Server (Night)

Well, my attention span has dwindled to nothing today. I just CAN'T concentrate on ANYTHING!!! I have work to do, but it has been....quiet...lately, so the work I have is filing or organizing.
Don't get me wrong--my OCD tendencies LOVE to organize, but today, for some reason, I'm over it. I just don't feel like doing it. Sooo, I've been checking my email, responding to emails, checking facebook, looking up words on Urban Dictionary, etc. It's really not a good thing, but I guess every now and then, a day like today isn't a terrible thing.
I also have to work at the restaraunt tonight, which I'm not really looking forward to, but I don't have any money, so at least I know that tomorrow I'll have something green in my pocket...

For that reason, I hope it's busy tonight!

Wish me money!!!

Love What You Love

Wednesday: Secretary (Day) / Instructor (Night)

I love teaching. Although sometimes I say things that sound stupid, my students relate to me, and I think they like me. I mess around and joke, but they know (already) when I mean business. Tonight I heard one of my student's complaining about the amount of homework. My response: This is NO joke--this is YOUR education! You cannot put a dollar amount or a time limit on what it means for you to be successful.
The argument to that was that there is a dollar amount, but I clarified by saying that it took me six years to get a four-year degree...at that time, it was not the money that mattered, it was the information I walked away with.
I like the way I feel when I leave. I had two girls compliment my teaching style tonight, and it is both flattering and humbling; however, I'm just being me! That's the thing! I think I'm just a natural teacher--I like to give people different perspectives on the way to look at things. I also like pointing out the things that I find interesting, in hopes, that my interest will inspire.
Who knows.
Tonight I gave the first writing assignment of the semester, and my students were confused and disgruntled (some of them) when they left. I make myself available through email only (because I'm only part time), but I'm on the computer pretty much all day, so getting my email isn't a problem. They'll be fine! Everything just seems more overwhelming when it's getting thrown at you for four hours straight!

Secretary-ing this morning was a breeze--no major issues, one of the DCs (Department Chairs) was out, and the other was super-busy; we had no student issues (now I think that jinxes tomorrow). So, all is good.

Now, if only I can somehow make fifties pour from the sky, this will be an awesome day!

Tomorrow: Secretary (Day) / Server (Night)