Skoolaid: Conversations with Students: How a Metaphor Dies

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Conversations with Students: How a Metaphor Dies

Students use a lot of cliches. It's because they don't know that they're cliches yet.

We were reading this great and frequently anthologized mid-century American short story about bullying called "The White Circle."

Question: Why did Tucker try to kill Anvil?
Answer: Tucker probably wanted to teach Anvil a lesson.

IRONY ALERT!! As my clever hubby said, "well, Anvil definitely won't do it again." And that's how a metaphor that began with how teachers use rewards and punishments just up and died.

Who am I?

I'm Melissa Barton. I taught English in CPS for 2.333 years before opting for early retirement. I was also a delegate to the Chicago Teachers Union for just under nine months. I trained to become a CPS teacher in the AUSL teacher residency program.

Before my stint in CPS, I was a full-time graduate student at the University of Chicago, where I finally earned my doctorate this past December. My doctorate is in English Language and Literature, which should not be confused with English Education. Before I moved to Chicago, I taught for two years at Westtown School, a Quaker boarding school near Philadelphia.

I started this blog in June 2010, the week I started the AUSL residency. I found that I needed a place to collect my thoughts about my experiences in the AUSL network, and to voice my opinions on education and education policy, because I realized very quickly that I wouldn't be able to give them a hearing anywhere else.

I disagree with many of CPS's policies as well as some of AUSL's. But I believe fervently in the mission of both: we all want to help the children of Chicago succeed.