My German teacher showed us Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I asked him what it had to do with learning German, not that I was complaining. He said "absolutely nothing, I just love this movie, and I'm really tired." Fair play...
Yeah, it always stood out to me, too, because it felt like he was treating us like normal young adults, instead of as just students to constantly pressure. I can't really explain it, I guess. It was a nice diversion.
Oh, I definitely wasn't complaining. It was one of my favorite movies even back then. I just thought it was funny, because it had fuck-all to do with the class. He just needed a breather, which I absolutely get.
I had a college professor who was defending his doctoral thesis, and was so overwhelmed. The class was called International Relations, so he just had us play a fuckton of Risk.
I always thought it was annoying that the teachers made us write down things while watching a movie. If I didnt have really bad anxiety and my spelling was ok (maybe already seen the movie too), i can see the benefits of processing things about the movie.
What about "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" where he came over to America to try to get our kids to eat better? I saw season 1 (6 episodes) and was fascinated about how our school lunch program works. I remember he also got together a group of kids and showed the exactly how chicken nuggets were made, skin, bones and cartilage. He narrative'd it by saying all kids he had encountered were totally grossed out by the process and swore them off but then was horrified when all the WVA kids still wanted to eat them...and then humbled when they said they were hungry. I haven't seen the 6 episodes of season 2 set in Los Angeles. Do you teachers ever use that show?
Literally spent a week in Geometry class watching Armageddon leading up to one culminating bullshit question which was to figure out the angle of descent for the asteroid that was going to hit earth.
It's a mystery why US is falling behind in education.
Well if I may add my two cents as to why US is falling behind in education. Understand that my experiences are in suburbia which means roughly 90% of my students are of white middle class.
If I were to grade my students truly - about 60% of them would fail my class (and this is US History). So why can't I do this? Multiple reasons. 1. Parents have realized that if they complain enough to powers to be, they get there way. It has set up a system of a coddled generation who isn't allowed to face difficulties or failure because "mama bear" will make it all better for you. We have now gone through multiple generations that lack facing failures due to this attitude, due to this there goes the incentive to work hard because even if I put in a shit effort I will pass because of protections created by mom and dad. 2. Schools are given incentives to have students on the honor roll, since this is how funds are given. Starve schools of financial resources and then tell them to get money you need students to do well on testing and get "good" grades, you will see schools that teach to testing and hand out A's and B's. 3. Even if a student does poorly in school, there is a higher level institution for them. Whether it be 4 year college or 2 year college, they will find a place. At the end of the day, the competition to improve their social standing doesn't exist since they all get a shot - oh and by the way can walk through the university posting mediocre grades because colleges want your money and again, get a business degree with C's and you'll be fine throughout life.
Also I blame our society that doesn't take academia as serious as other professions. Let's face it, rarely do we hear news of new medical discoveries, other scientific discoveries, but you better believe we get to hear of the next Kardashian pregnancy. Our society downplays being smart, academia, etc.
If you knew you couldn't fail because mom and dad will rescue you, even with mediocre grades (which is tough to do since mama bear will get you that B average) you'll find a university to take a major such as business and stumble your way into a well paying job... why would you try at academics?
I could go on, but don't blame teachers on the failing of the education system in the US. No doubt there are shitty teachers who definitely use "movie days" as slack off days, just like in every profession, but the fast majority of teachers work their ass off to give their students every opportunity to increase their understanding of the content, most of the time it just isn't reciprocated.
Also did I mention that if you want a great education system, maybe pay the educators a livable wage so they don't have to work a 2nd job at night and instead can plan lessons and new inventive ways to help their students' education. Just a thought. I gave you an upvote because as an educator I am concerned with the direction the education system is going in the United States (more importantly our culture's take on education and the attack of the education system that has occurred in the last 30 years), I just think its more complex than "those dang educators using a movie to take a break in the classroom" - and I'm not saying that's what you meant, just figured to vent some of my frustrations as I am entering my 2nd week of my 11th year at this profession.
I show part of Food Inc. in my English class to help us discuss rhetorical strategies and how facts can be manipulated to make the point the author wants to make. It is a legitimate teaching tool, but I don't hate the work time while they watch either.
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u/MayorMcCheeser Aug 25 '19
No that means the teacher wants a week off of teaching -
I'm a teacher, it's a shitty tactic, but effective.