Oh, God, what an interview!
Jun. 17th, 2004 03:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
serafina20I had my interview today at the district I'm not entirely sold on. Good thing, too. There's only 2 positions open, and one of them is an on-site substitute. I think that position sounds like a good idea: you're on campus every day, you sub for teachers when they're gone or, I assume have meetings/in-services/planning time, and then help out in the computer lab/library/curriculum planning the rest of the time. However, I want my own class, so that's not what I want to do.
It was a group interview today, which was painful to me. There were four of us. Three of us were intelligent and reasonably articulate. When asked a question (which we were given beforehand) we, well, *answered the question*. Sometimes we got off track, or, in the case of one of the people, talked around the question because they had no answer. But, for the most part, we sounded like people who not only wanted to be teachers, but had thought out the logisitics beyond, "I really, really want to."
The other one ... Idiot the Talking Bobble Head, is the name I've decided on. It was Iditot the Talking Idiot, but that's too redundant. Kinda like her!!!
I mean, God! Her response to, "What skills or knowledge would you bring to group collaboration with other teachers" was to (again) stress about how important it is to write in journals, and she'd totally encourage people to write in one. Not even about school or anything, just to write. And, oh, yeah, she'd, like, be open to working with other teachers.
She thinks that it's completely important to teach to the standards, and you don't deviate or teach *anythign* that's not in the standards. I mean, okay, maybe you can go off of them, but you totally need them.
For classroom management/discipline, after going off on a tangent about how important it is not to focus on consequences, but rather positive and rewards (a direct response, I think, to my forgetting to talk about positive reinforment because, really? I tend to think that it goes without saying, and prinicpals need more to hear how I plan to deal with problems or will prevent problems), she said soemthing about sign language. How it's really good to have signals and stuff, even though she doesn't really know anything about it.
She plans to find students with special needs and help them. That's her strategy. To help them.
She just went on and on and I had to sit there with a straight face and be polite even though I just wanted to strangle her and ask how the hell she graduated with a masters.
The worst was the very end when they gave us a moment to tell them whatever we wanted about ourselves. I told them that I used to be a counselor and I created the music program and how I'd use that in the classroom. I later added I'd been in GATE and was interested in teaching GATE students, if they had any open.
Everyone else a. talked about how long they'd been married and how many kids they had, b. how long they'd lived in the area, or how they were looking for a house in the area or something and c. how teaching had been a life-long dream, and it's all they ever wanted to be, and it's the best job in the world, and I *am* a good teacher, so why would I want to do anything else? (Or in Idiot the Talking Bobble Head's case, how she has the charisma and talent to teach, so why not?)
And I'm just .... What do I say?
"Well, I'm 25 years old and single. I'm not looking for a relationship and really woudl really rather not be in one. I live with my parents. I like teaching. I mean, I primarly think of myself as a writer first, then a teacher, but, unless I can support myself through writing--unlikely, because I mainly write gay porn fanfiction--I'll probably keep teaching. I love acting and music. I weigh 118 pounds, enjoy long walks on the beach, going to the movies, and eating out. And I really want to work in your district, but only if LB doesn't hire me."
No, seriously, what do I say? No, actually, why? Why would anyone care if I'm married or not, or how many kids I have? I barely care (*sniff* I wanted to use that phrase for something else, but as I'm probably not going to rant about it, *sigh*). What on earth does it have to do with me being a teacher?
It was a group interview today, which was painful to me. There were four of us. Three of us were intelligent and reasonably articulate. When asked a question (which we were given beforehand) we, well, *answered the question*. Sometimes we got off track, or, in the case of one of the people, talked around the question because they had no answer. But, for the most part, we sounded like people who not only wanted to be teachers, but had thought out the logisitics beyond, "I really, really want to."
The other one ... Idiot the Talking Bobble Head, is the name I've decided on. It was Iditot the Talking Idiot, but that's too redundant. Kinda like her!!!
I mean, God! Her response to, "What skills or knowledge would you bring to group collaboration with other teachers" was to (again) stress about how important it is to write in journals, and she'd totally encourage people to write in one. Not even about school or anything, just to write. And, oh, yeah, she'd, like, be open to working with other teachers.
She thinks that it's completely important to teach to the standards, and you don't deviate or teach *anythign* that's not in the standards. I mean, okay, maybe you can go off of them, but you totally need them.
For classroom management/discipline, after going off on a tangent about how important it is not to focus on consequences, but rather positive and rewards (a direct response, I think, to my forgetting to talk about positive reinforment because, really? I tend to think that it goes without saying, and prinicpals need more to hear how I plan to deal with problems or will prevent problems), she said soemthing about sign language. How it's really good to have signals and stuff, even though she doesn't really know anything about it.
She plans to find students with special needs and help them. That's her strategy. To help them.
She just went on and on and I had to sit there with a straight face and be polite even though I just wanted to strangle her and ask how the hell she graduated with a masters.
The worst was the very end when they gave us a moment to tell them whatever we wanted about ourselves. I told them that I used to be a counselor and I created the music program and how I'd use that in the classroom. I later added I'd been in GATE and was interested in teaching GATE students, if they had any open.
Everyone else a. talked about how long they'd been married and how many kids they had, b. how long they'd lived in the area, or how they were looking for a house in the area or something and c. how teaching had been a life-long dream, and it's all they ever wanted to be, and it's the best job in the world, and I *am* a good teacher, so why would I want to do anything else? (Or in Idiot the Talking Bobble Head's case, how she has the charisma and talent to teach, so why not?)
And I'm just .... What do I say?
"Well, I'm 25 years old and single. I'm not looking for a relationship and really woudl really rather not be in one. I live with my parents. I like teaching. I mean, I primarly think of myself as a writer first, then a teacher, but, unless I can support myself through writing--unlikely, because I mainly write gay porn fanfiction--I'll probably keep teaching. I love acting and music. I weigh 118 pounds, enjoy long walks on the beach, going to the movies, and eating out. And I really want to work in your district, but only if LB doesn't hire me."
No, seriously, what do I say? No, actually, why? Why would anyone care if I'm married or not, or how many kids I have? I barely care (*sniff* I wanted to use that phrase for something else, but as I'm probably not going to rant about it, *sigh*). What on earth does it have to do with me being a teacher?
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no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 09:06 am (UTC)My condonlences about Idiot the Talking Bobble HeadTM, but it sounds like you handled yourself perfectly, sweetie. Good luck!
no subject
Date: 2004-06-20 11:50 am (UTC)I almsot think they were trying to either kiss up or just make themselves seem more human or something. But it was annoying because ... I have nothing personal to add, and who care anyway?
My condonlences about Idiot the Talking Bobble HeadTM
I shouldn't complain about her; I mean, she a. was fun to watch and b. made me look *really* good. But, oh boy, do I hate stupidity.
Good luck!
Thank you!