Carthage Must Be Destroyed

Thanks to one of my classes this semester, I read an article by Garret Keizer in Harper's Magazine September 2011 edition called "The Re-Education of an American Teacher". The idea I couldn't shake came from the end of the article when he references the Romans eventual defeat of Carthage, where they discovered sacrifices of children to Moloch. Is my classroom sacrificing these kids to Moloch, the Pearson standardized testing god? I hope not! So the question then becomes, what do I do to support my students in the best possible way? Our school has certain texts that we teach to the sophomores, but I wonder if they wouldn't be better served by taking away one of those texts and just spending time looking for books they would enjoy reading... I'll keep you updated on my thoughts.

Welcome to my first blog!

I love to teach English. This blog is designed to explore deep meaningful questions, such as "What is the meaning of a high school student?" and "Is it possible to use an Xbox Connect in my classroom to see my students learn more?"

So my first post is a rough introduction to me:

First, you need to know that I believe literature is deeply meaningful, wildly fascinating, and the window to our souls. As a subject to be taught in schools, it has both practical and cultural significance. Reading and writing well can make anyone a powerful communicator. The better you become at expressing yourself, whether in a memo to your company's employees or a research report for a scientific study, the better you become at the career you have chosen.

    More importantly, though, literature helps us find meaning. As a curious species, we are on a constant quest for answers to every kind of question, from soul searching to obtuse inquiries. Where do people turn when they want to find out the meaning of life? They turn to a book. Where do people go when they want to find out who Bella will choose in New Moon? They go to a book. Even if people access the answer online, they are still navigating the written word to do so. My passion is literature and I hope to help spark that fire in students.

    Secondly, I see teaching as a critical profession. There is so much to be gained in a classroom if students and parents are willing and ready to go after it. My colleagues are some of the brightest, most dedicated people I know. We work long hours to perfect lessons, help students who did not understand in class, and organize extra-curricular activities. Summers are not so much time off as they are an opportunity to breathe after a vigorous school year, take workshops with Collegeboard's Advanced Placement program or Folger Library (among many others), and finally get to read the stack of novels that went unfinished during the school year. I have a vision for what teaching and schools could be and I hope to express that with the assistance of my studies as a master of English Education student.