Mr. Blume
When I grow up, I want to be a Mr. Blume... well, grow older that is.
Mr. Blume is a retired teacher that teaches as a substitute teacher in Long Island. He teaches more than just the subjects, he draws on his personal experiences, all 81 years of it, and tells a story instead. Throughout history, history has been told via story telling... the simplest form of education. I still remember the stories that my grandfather and my late grandmother told of WWII and the struggles that my ancestors faced when they first arrived at Ellis Island. It's a bit of history with a personal insight on the side.
I want to retire early from the corporate world and to teach in our public school system. I don't know what subject I want to teach, but I just know that I want to teach. I've always had this desire to become a teacher, but my desire of wanting to live the better part of the "American Dream" steered me towards the corporate world. At first, one may think that I had betrayed myself by not following my dream of teaching, but I beg to differ. I believe I have a lot more to offer as a teacher AFTER being a part of the corporate world. I don't believe in becoming a teacher right after graduating from school yourself. Where is the "real" world experience? Sure, if you want to preach from a textbook, I guess you will do just fine... but, what about the more tangible aspect of the subject matter?
When I was in school, many many moons ago... I always wondered where the practicality is for everything that I learned. I do believe that teaching involves more than just sharing the subject matter in the literal terms, but also should involve the living aspect of it.
Other than teaching the living aspect of a subject, I also believe in straying away from the subject matter altogether to just focus on a small aspect of life itself. Students after all are not just learning beings, but they represent a glimpse of our future society. Give them the right tools and armed with a learned-past, they have a greater potential to succeed and to enjoy life. After all, what is life without proper enjoyment of it?
I also believe that teachers should never treat students as sponges, but instead as learning equals; after all, the day we stop learning is the day we die. Their minds should be challenged and their beliefs should be challenged.
Becoming a preacher of textbooks is easy... becoming a bridge for a child to the real world is the challenge.
I guess I want to take back what I said earlier... I don't have the desire to become a teacher, but to become a bridge for our children... it serves a better purpose.
NY Times Article on Mr. Blume
Mr. Blume is a retired teacher that teaches as a substitute teacher in Long Island. He teaches more than just the subjects, he draws on his personal experiences, all 81 years of it, and tells a story instead. Throughout history, history has been told via story telling... the simplest form of education. I still remember the stories that my grandfather and my late grandmother told of WWII and the struggles that my ancestors faced when they first arrived at Ellis Island. It's a bit of history with a personal insight on the side.
I want to retire early from the corporate world and to teach in our public school system. I don't know what subject I want to teach, but I just know that I want to teach. I've always had this desire to become a teacher, but my desire of wanting to live the better part of the "American Dream" steered me towards the corporate world. At first, one may think that I had betrayed myself by not following my dream of teaching, but I beg to differ. I believe I have a lot more to offer as a teacher AFTER being a part of the corporate world. I don't believe in becoming a teacher right after graduating from school yourself. Where is the "real" world experience? Sure, if you want to preach from a textbook, I guess you will do just fine... but, what about the more tangible aspect of the subject matter?
When I was in school, many many moons ago... I always wondered where the practicality is for everything that I learned. I do believe that teaching involves more than just sharing the subject matter in the literal terms, but also should involve the living aspect of it.
Other than teaching the living aspect of a subject, I also believe in straying away from the subject matter altogether to just focus on a small aspect of life itself. Students after all are not just learning beings, but they represent a glimpse of our future society. Give them the right tools and armed with a learned-past, they have a greater potential to succeed and to enjoy life. After all, what is life without proper enjoyment of it?
I also believe that teachers should never treat students as sponges, but instead as learning equals; after all, the day we stop learning is the day we die. Their minds should be challenged and their beliefs should be challenged.
Becoming a preacher of textbooks is easy... becoming a bridge for a child to the real world is the challenge.
I guess I want to take back what I said earlier... I don't have the desire to become a teacher, but to become a bridge for our children... it serves a better purpose.
NY Times Article on Mr. Blume
posted by Sparky X | 10:22 AM
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