Your instructor once visited a high school special day classroom for students with serious emotional disturbance.  The teacher, hoping to impress, spent the entire period drilling his students on "The Geography of Mexico."  Here were these 9 students, barely under control, being asked about the capital of the Yucatan, or the major products of Mexico City.  Obviously, the teacher was attempting to meet the demands of the general education curriculum which no doubt had competencies in the area of geography, particularly of Mexico.

As I sat there for the hour and a half of observation, I couldn't help but think, "What a total waste of everyone's time!"  Maybe if these students run into Jay Leno on the street, they would have the right answer to his questions, but otherwise the students would never need this information.  I suspect even their disabilities would not hide this fact from them.  I suspect the teacher knew this as well, but obediently plodded forward with the lesson.

As teachers think about what you are doing! 

I say that with no disdain as I know you do reflect upon your practice, and I know the constraints you are under to meet the core curriculum.  But reflect on what you are teaching and its relevance to your students.  If the core curriculum is not relevant, use your creativity and make it relevant in some way.  But whatever you do, do not give in to irrelevancy in curriculum.

You can email Dr. McNair at jmcnair@calbaptist.edu

Copyright Jeff McNair/jeffmcnair.com