Vladimir's Page

Intro

Letters To A Young Teacher provides a very apprehensive guideline of the first year teacher experience, by detailing a series of letters writing with first year teacher Francesca. Within the writings Kozol discusses the vexing circumstances of classroom life, the education system, social dynamics that range from student to student to the educator themselves dealing with their peers, the joys of being a teacher, and the mechanics and intricacies of a child’s education. This book is at a educational standpoint fundamentally relaxing, because it details the chaos within the lacking muster of the characters within the writings. Yet does not do this to embellish a state of miseducation within learning educators, but rather presents the process of being the first year teacher as the real education. The experience within draw the reader closer to the necessary emotive expertise needed in the teacher role as well as offers advice and provides a guide to the experience.

Scenario Letter

Dear Mr.Kozol

                  I’ve only just started my first year as a teacher, and truthfully I’ve yet to see a any semblance of what I would consider order. I’ve come to grips with the idea that maybe there is a silver lining amongst the chaos, or perhaps maybe I’m being far too harsh on myself. The truth is I do not know, education was my dream, but my teaching training really only just begun a few months ago. An academic career meant so little once the roles of all the individuals of the room became so dyanamic. Intrinsic and individual personalities that saw trivialities as grandeur and what I saw as the most important tenants as nonsense.

                  I will muster all of my knowledge and will to traverse my present chaos and although I do feel alone in the challenge, I find implicit warmth in your Letters to A Young Teacher. Not so much as inherent guidelines, but a conscious reminder that it is okay to be new at this.  Here in Colorado Springs, Colorado I run a classromm of 8 severe students with 10 moderate students that visit when needed. Although your field is not implicitly in special education I would love to have you stop by and see exactly how beautiful these minds all are. As well as how silly they can be to their teacher. All are excited to meet you, myself included.

Much Love,

Mr. Sequera

How Kozol Influenced Me Personally

Dear Mr. Kozol,

                  How can I pretend to begin this note without first thanking you? Given the brief time that I have been aware of your writing, and trust that it has been brief. I have come to learn a few things regarding my own teaching. Primarily it is that I really don’t have much of a clue what I’m going to do. Assuredly, I could force the assumption that the reality lies in the cluelessness of it all. Given that I really am fairly clueless it sorts of seemed imperative to just wait until I got the hang of it all.

                   You do not present it so chaotically, and even if I were to misunderstand your approach I’d still say that you seem to revel in the chaos of it all. Being technically exceptional at a craft has always been fascinating to me. Prowess is one of the most exceptional skills within the framework of a learning person. Yet you provide this documenting of letters to Francesca that covers seemingly ever basis in education and I’m expected to simply be okay with not being a fraction as good at this than you. You extrapolate the meaning of diversity, children as wild flowers, teaching students with their language rather than your own, and fun. Something that most of my courses really don’t cover much often.

Much love,

Mr. Sequera

My Favorite Chapter

Dear Mr. Kozol,

                  Of all the inquiries that I've posed to your book, It's become clear that this one is the most challenging, this because I really loved your book. Through the reading it became tougher to really pin point a specific point that I thought was "better" or my favorite, so i apologized if this feels a bit short. Truthfully, I felt the very first chapter or series of chapters was the most important for me. The way that you pierce the politicizing of the education system. Speaking of the value of a given education I felt you painted the way that teachers need to step up to the challenge of identifying that each student deserves the chance to learn, because they are all inherently special.
               As a first year educator this means more to me than anything I could have hoped to hope for. You are a beacon of light amongst the dim lights of the present state of education, and I will be a teacher worthy of your presence one day.

Thank you, Vladimir

Extra Letter

Dr. Mr. Kozol,

                  Thanks a million for even paying a modicum of attention to this. I have an issue, or rather an inquiry. As a first year teacher how do I separate the label that the educational system has given itself from my classroom. I am a moderate/severe special education teacher, the issue is not one of attendance or behavior, but boredom. These children do what I say and they listen and I can believe that they are doing more than just taking the answers and recycling the information when necessary. How can I then, make this process fun again? Like when I was a child, how can I transform a corrosive and self deprecating ecosystem into one where achievement meant not an average but a personal drive to your own goals.

                  Have we done right in eliminating fun from schools. Surely no education system ever has been fundamentally based on the tenant of “fun”. The academic “elites” establish hardcore rudimentary notions of progress as if a child suffering from a emotional behavioral disorder should care more about their present levels of progress than their mental health. I do not wish to separate the eloquence of the educational system from the serious need for professional educational development, but how can I not. Is it wishful thinking to assume that the reason children learn songs, dance, and language is because it’s fun?

Much love,

Mr. Sequera