Student Example Essay
Student Example Essay
Not that I have it too often, but when I find myself with extra time during the day I enjoy noting any stories of interest. Namely, any event that took place between me and students during transition times. These are poorly structured situations in which students are able to talk a little more freely amongst each other. In a true “Kids say the Darndest things” fashion, I find myself amused during these interactions. As the years progressed, I realized my anecdotes and stories didn’t last very long when they were scribbled on extremely temporarily-sticky post-it notes. In favor of a more permanent solution, I resorted to typing. Unfortunately, when typing during “downtime,” the average passerby becomes curious about what appears on the monitor. As I view these periods as a form of journaling, I become very defensive, nay, embarrassed about what I inscribe (especially before editing). Believing that they now have an insight as to what I do in my spare time, these people then generally try to strike up a conversation. My interests on non-work related items are reluctantly forced into these conversations, which is a conversation that none of my sane coworkers, upon reflection, really wanted to be a part of anyway. In reference to what is written on the monitor, sometimes my various stories or anecdotes are then shared on the spot prior to adequate editing, followed quickly by foot-in-mouth syndrome. This is when I make a reference to a student or some co-workers inadequate teaching ability, only to realize the person I'm talking to is a parent or related in some form to the teacher I'm complaining about. If however, the person who witnesses the writing has no interest in discussing the content, they will surely discuss the act of journal writing and the hobby's that they share. In discussing journaling, you become temporarily forced to stop journaling just to discuss the pastime, which only succeeds in butchering a perfectly comfortable reflective moment, altering it into a more agonizing “social” one, knowing that the slight inspiration that initially prompted the writing won't be happened upon for another three weeks.
In addition, the level of ones embarrassment can vary greatly depending on the person who catches you writing these works. I have learned to live with the occasional co-workers and other faculty members stumble upon my past-time, but my level of comfort has yet to include anyone with “Boss” status. The Boss of any job has it ingrained in his/her DNA to have an avid curiosity for wanting to know what their minions do on their time off. I hypothesize that this makes it easier for the Boss to find ways to butcher weekends and get people to volunteer their time to do some egregious activity, cleverly covered up in a fancy title such as "mandatory fun". A co-worker's sudden interest in your downtime activities may be things that you don’t particularly have any interest in sharing, which goes double if they have inherited the title of Boss. Triple if the hobby happens to be journaling about the current problems with the job I happen to have at the time.*
Several strategies have been uncovered with time and utilized to hide these narratives in the event that someone happened to suddenly appear. With no real research backing my claim, I firmly believe millions of people already employ these strategies to view various images or e-mails of questionable content in a private place that suddenly becomes public. Examples of these strategies include having extra internet windows minimized on the computer screen, ready to maximize and cover the real project/image/raunchy e-mail. These faux-windows are generally adorned with work-related issues and give bosses the idea that you have become a real “go-getter.” These computer windows can be decked out with various professional development opportunities, volunteer schedule, and other additional work-related crap that no one else will participate in. These windows are always at the ready for when the guilty party hears steps around the corner. Down goes the personal interest account and up goes the professional cover-up.
These strategies come naturally to any computer-savvy individual, but are far from flawless. Too many close-calls forced me to amend these strategies to be even less noticeable. At times, I find myself working in a very public area of the school with a constant flow of students and teachers. I struggled with how to write about (and mock) little Robert when he is standing directly behind me snickering about how he’s getting away with copying Joseph’s homework and none of us teachers are the wiser.** Recently, I began labeling my most current journal entries as “Student Example Essay” and writing the rest of my thoughts in 4-point font. 4-point font is officially illegible, keeping all entries hidden from even the sneakiest students and sophomoric faculty members. However, this also means I cannot initially read what was written. The first draft of anything written during this procedure becomes quite amusing, as I am forced rely on only my typing skills. What is presented to anyone curious enough to peer over my shoulder at this time is nothing more than a series of small gray lines averaging 2 red squiggly marks per line. The squigglys, of course, point out massive misspellings that result from being unable to read what is initially typed (I am positive I’d see more red squigglys, but the current software has a really good self-fix spell check). However, this is simply an additional precautionary method and most certainly doesn’t replace the first line of defense (extra windows and tabs consisting of “personal goals” and “curriculum work updates”). If I fail to be fast enough to pull up the appropriate cover-documents, no BFG***. People get a glance at an "example essay" for some unknown class; not unlikely for a teacher to be working on. If, however, the first window shows no lag and provides adequate cover for what hides under tab #2, the shorter conversation that follows becomes something as innocent as “Oh, look at that! Were you thinking of attending that workshop?"
“Um, Yes. Yes I am.”
Side Note and first official anecdote of this series of entries:
As I wrote this “prologue”, a student successfully snuck up behind me to catch a glimpse at the screen.
“Geez, man! That’s tiny! How do you read that?”
“Err… I don’t. When I’m writing an example of a homework assignment, do you really think I want my own sneaky students to find out about it in advance because they looked over my shoulder?”
“Dude! That’s so smart!”
Mission accomplished.
* Not the smartest move
** I take great pride in dealing with these issues. Pride or massive power-tripping. Either really
***Ask the nearest teenager for translation if necessary. Oh, and brush up on these. I don’t believe I use these often, but I don’t want to have to explain myself each time these pop up.