Just For TV Teachers

Okay, one of my students hassled me a couple of weeks ago about my recent complaints regarding her blog. I kind of criticized her lack of “voice” and “honesty” in her latest post.

So we bickered back and forth, and finally I told her I would do a blog soon that would provide my reader(s) with more details about me. Kind of a put-up-or-shut-up thing. So this is it, my true confessions blog. Things you may not know about me. Brace yourself.

*I do not go to movies. Modern movies almost always disappoint me. I see one a year, maybe.

*I do not read the newspaper anymore. Our local paper is now just a shadow of its former self. I check it out online maybe twice a week. Maybe.

*Regarding local news, I am tired of the young reporters they bring in from other places who know nothing about this town or the Ozarks.

*I never watch network news unless I know Les Rose or Steve Hartman have something coming up on CBS. I do like “Sunday Morning” with Charles Osgood. I DVR it now and then, but it is a little artsy for me at times. I am not artsy.

*You could not pay me to watch CNN, MSNBC, or Fox News. And PBS? Not my cup of tea, but I admire the effort. I tried to watch Ken Burns’ “Baseball” and “Civil War,” but got bored after a while.

*He’s obnoxious, and often childish and crude, but I do listen to Imus in the Morning almost everyday.

*Jim Rome cracks me up, and is one of the better interviewers on the radio. I listen to his show when I can.

*I hate beets and broccoli. I can stand broccoli if it is smothered with melted cheese. I also don’t like most fruits.

*TV shows I never watch: Lost, CSI, Grey’s Anatomy. TV shows I always watch: Friday Night Lights, 24, House.

*I do not like animated movies. Never seen: Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Up, Toy Story, WALL ‘E’, The Lion King, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, etc.

*Student and faculty IDs are a waste of money.

*I hate politics and can barely make myself vote. I skip some elections.

*As I get older, I get less and less excited about broadcast contests and awards, and more excited about just doing good work. We need to be better in May than we were in September. That is pretty important. Contests are often about the teacher’s ego, not the kids.

*I think young teachers are probably better than we veterans give them credit for, but experience does bring wisdom, which is something the 20-somethings should keep in mind.

*I feel like we have turned the presidency into the office our best and brightest will never seek.

*I don’t drink, and I do think it’s probably wrong. But I don’t hold it against those who do partake. Just don’t hold it against me that I don’t.

*People who smoke should stop. They are dying a little every time they light up. But I do realize it is one of the hardest habits to break, and I really admire those who have quit.

*People blame the media too much. Really, you don’t have to watch it, listen to it, or read it.

*The far right and the far left are both wrong. Most of the time, the truth is somewhere in the middle. It always has been.

*Cars are a necessary evil. I know little about them, and care little about how they work. Just get me there and back in one piece.

*Simon Cowell was almost always right on American Idol. They can not replace him. Instead, they should replace the entire panel of judges. The show needs a total overhaul.

*I like dogs, not cats. But I wouldn’t have either.

*Lawyers are smart, doctors are smarter.

*I get paid about what I should. I’m a teacher, not a doctor.

*Patriotism is important, but we should respect those who question authority and take the government to task when it screws up.

*I hope we go to the moon again someday.

*Kids are lazy because parents are lazy.

*Educators like to start new programs to attract the smart kids. Parents will always go for those. We also have tons of programs for the low kids, or the mean kids. We just don’t have a lot for the kids in the middle.

*Inflated grades and weighted grades have made it bad to be a “B” student these days. Most of us really are “B” and “C” students, no matter what you put on our grade card.

*NASCAR is boring on TV.

*Tiger Woods is a foul-mouthed jerk. I felt that way a year ago.

*I don’t hunt or fish. My brother does.

*I was more in my element in the dugout than I have ever been in the classroom.

*My best friends are still the friends I had when I was 12.

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Colleges and universities do it all the time. Shamelessly.

They contact graduates via mail, e-mail, phone calls, whatever it takes to solicit donations. I have an undergraduate degree from one institution, a master’s degree from another, and I hear from both of them regularly as they try to raise money for this or that good cause.

Six years ago, a few of my HTV alums decided to raise money each year and provide a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior on the HTV staff. In 2004, Jeremy Wells walked away from our year-end banquet with a very nice check.

Since then, we have maintained the yearly scholarship, but wisely changed it from cash to a laptop computer, which will last a lot longer than a thousand bucks in today’s world of higher education.

I encourage all broadcasting teachers to keep in touch with their alumni. Now, thanks to Facebook, it’s easier than ever. We started a page last year and it’s been a great avenue for publicizing the scholarship drive, and other activities such as last October’s big reunion where we celebrated HTV’s first 20 years. We had about 200 former students show up.

You do not have to constantly raise money and beg for donations. There are other reasons for keeping your alumni involved. It says a lot about your program, and how it impacted the students, if they feel it is important to stay involved after high school, and give back in some way. It also sends a clear, strong message to your current students. Sure, some will be “too cool for school” and will avoid you and high school in general in the years ahead. That’s fine. There are plenty who will want to do something to say “thanks” for the experience you provided, and the memories they value.

Make the most of the time you have with your students, and then, when they leave, don’t say “goodbye.” Instead, say, “I’ll see you later.” Or maybe more appropriately, “See you on Facebook.”

Comments Off

Colleges and universities do it all the time. Shamelessly.

They contact graduates via mail, e-mail, phone calls, whatever it takes to solicit donations. I have an undergraduate degree from one institution, a master’s degree from another, and I hear from both of them regularly as they try to raise money for this or that good cause.

Six years ago, a few of my HTV alums decided to raise money each year and provide a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior on the HTV staff. In 2004, Jeremy Wells walked away from our year-end banquet with a very nice check.

Since then, we have maintained the yearly scholarship, but wisely changed it from cash to a laptop computer, which will last a lot longer than a thousand bucks in today’s world of higher education.

I encourage all broadcasting teachers to keep in touch with their alumni. Now, thanks to Facebook, it’s easier than ever. We started a page last year and it’s been a great avenue for publicizing the scholarship drive, and other activities such as last October’s big reunion where we celebrated HTV’s first 20 years. We had about 200 former students show up.

You do not have to constantly raise money and beg for donations. There are other reasons for keeping your alumni involved. It says a lot about your program, and how it impacted the students, if they feel it is important to stay involved after high school, and give back in some way. It also sends a clear, strong message to your current students. Sure, some will be “too cool for school” and will avoid you and high school in general in the years ahead. That’s fine. There are plenty who will want to do something to say “thanks” for the experience you provided, and the memories they value.

Make the most of the time you have with your students, and then, when they leave, don’t say “goodbye.” Instead, say, “I’ll see you later.” Or maybe more appropriately, “See you on Facebook.”

Comments Off