From the Sunday New York Times:
For at least a decade, students who intend to major in education have had among the lowest SAT scores of all college-bound seniors - in 2004, they ranked 19th of 22 intended majors, two points in combined verbal and math scores below those who planned to major in agriculture. Even "undecided" ranked higher. And according to the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, those who leave the profession during their first few years have higher scores than those who stay. An institute report also shows that the weaker the undergraduate college, the more likely its students will end up teaching as a career.
That's so depressing! There are so many interesting articles about teaching this week, though.

So why doesn't education attract the brightest and best? Maybe because there's so little respect because there are often articles like this about why teachers are dumber than everyone else. Or maybe because people assume that anyone who will work for "minor ducets in a thanksless job" and spend all day with children is mindless. My parents were so mad when I declared my major. Essentially, I worked so hard during high school and then they spent $35,000+ per year for Wash U...I chose a profession which is deemed intellectually inferior and which will earn me less than that tuition. I've questioned my decision sometimes too.

I always return to faith in my decision for three reasons. First, I think that with all of the complaining and failure in U.S. public education, going into teaching is a challenge; can I overcome stardardization, administration hierarchy, and low expectations to properly education my students? Secondly, I know that I can always improve and continue to develop my pedagogical practices. As an ESL teacher, there will always be new cultures to learn about, new languages to learn, and new methodology to experiment with. Finally, I think that (as obnoxiously teacher-ish as it is) teaching children is one of the most important jobs in the world. For normal development to take place, every child needs a supportive and accepting adult in their lives- for many, his or her teacher may be the only person to fill that role.

Sometimes I feel like my decision to major in Educational Studies was a mistake. I should have squeezed in a business minor or gone on to law/medical school. One of my old friends from high school said "a job is just a way to make money to find happiness outside of work." Well, isn't that a bit more depressing?

What do you think? Why is teaching such an undervalued profession (and why does it continue to progress in that direction?) Why didn't you go, or consider going into education?

It's the weekend! And I'm done with school!

Just because of that, here's some Polish for all of you...

Dobrey wieczór! (doh-brih)(vyeh-chur) Good Evening!
Nazywam siç Nicole. (Nah-zih-vahm)(sheh) Nicole:) My name is Nicole.
Chce zamówic piwo. (Htseh)(zam-moo-veech)(pee-voh) I want to order beer.
Na zdrowie! (Nah)(zdroh-vyeh) Cheers!

That's my plan for tonight!:) Have a good Friday!

I NEED A JOB IN MINNESOTA!!!!

I'm a little stressed out, as you see:) I'm just running out of time before the school year starts...every day without a job is one less day I have to plan for my future students. And while I was so excited about the Maryland job when I was first offered it in March, the prospect of moving across the country by myself and starting a job in a month is so scary. I don't see how I could do it without completely breaking down. I must admit, I'm not super girl: I don't have the organizational skills of my mom or the study til you drop ability of my dad. And I can't go with the flow anywhere like my brother. So when they tell me it's going to work and it makes me worry even more.

I'm not even done with classes yet.

OMG...I love this quiz!

You're France!

Most people think you're snobby, but it's really just that
you're better than everyone else.  At least you're more loyal to the real
language, the fine arts, and the fine wines than anyone else.  You aren't
worth beans in a fight, unless you're really short, but you're so good at other
things that it usually doesn't matter.  Some of your finest works were
intended to be short-term projects.
Take the Country Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid

You're Taiwan!

Despite enormous setbacks, including the fact that most people refuse to
recognize who you are or even that you exist at all, you've built yourself into quite a
productive person.  You've got a little trouble maintaining a sense of personal order,
but through the mess, you're still very industrious and have a small but pivotal impact on
almost everyone you know, and even people you don't.  You make a whole lot of stuff.

Take
the Country Quiz at the href="http://bluepyramid.org">Blue Pyramid

You're
Liechtenstein!

Most folks don't take you that seriously, but you really make
a big deal out of being independent.  You don't do a whole lot for other
people, but you make the best of the resources available to you.  You really
like snow.  And mountains.  And being independent.  And you're
probably pretty small.
Take
the Country Quiz at the href="http://bluepyramid.org">Blue Pyramid

Which one is the real me?

Happiness is...

Reading the new Harry Potter whilst eating avocado-wrapped salmon sushi.

...and listening to Keane.

I finished two summer courses yesterday! It's so exciting that I'm almost done with my Masters. Well, I need to teach for a year and then come back and take a few more credit hours, but I'm done with my requirements and I'll get my teaching license in August (hopefully!) I can't believe I've only been here for a little more than a year...it feels like forever, much longer than college. I might treat myself to a random vacation next month. Hmm...where can one go with no money? Probably anywhere my parents are willing to go:)

I've started listening to some world music, which I've always hated. But this isn't technically world music in my mind because it's in Spanish and it's very bossa nova/techno and tango-ish. That's a strange combination, but it's so good!
Here are my favorites:
"Postales"
"Ante Tus Ojos"
"Esta Noche"
"Contigo"
by Federico Aubele

"Santa Maria"
"Queremos Paz"
"Una Música Brutal"
"Vuelvo al Sur"
by Gotan Project

I love it! So summertime.

My big plans for tonight are to go see a movie (maybe) and make multi-colored/sprinkled cupcakes. I'm going to experiment with mini-muffins too.

I promise, to anyone who reads this and wonders what my plans are, that I will tell everyone as soon as I get a job! My mom calls everyday and asks about it in a different way, to mix things up while simultaneouly driving me crazy. I have no motivation to keep my future a secret;) Honestly.

yay. it's friday.

I just finished my last assigment due this week (at 10:50pm). My days are quite longish. I can't believe it's July- I completely missed the 4th of July! Oh well.

I only have one more week of my morning class...then I can sleep in and start running again! I'm super excited. I really need some endorphines.

Today is my last day of housesitting, too. I'll miss Jessie black dog so much- she's the sweetest old dog in the world. I'll also really miss comedy central and E!, but it's probably better that I don't have them:)

Tomorrow, I'm going to go run around and visit all the local yard sales. If I see something I like, I'm going to buy it and come back later! I'm really enthusiastic about this plan, as you see.

In other non-news, I don't have a job. And I'm supposed to move out of my apartment at the end of July. I'm really trying not to dwell on those thoughts, because I could go crazy.

I'm so sad and sorry for the British people. They stood up to terrorism with so much dignity before, even though the global networks hadn't yet targeted them (although the IRA had, but that must invoke different emotions). I'm praying that the G-8 will have the strength to still address the previous issues of discussion with the same goals- that is one way of succeeding over the terrorists.

I wonder, though, what would happen if it was discovered that the attacks had nothing to do with Al Qaeda or islamic radicals? I think sometimes we want to create an enemy instead of owning up to societal injustice which perpetuates acts of hatred. If we really wanted to make a comprehensive enemy to fight, we could just start a war against "bad things." That would be equally vague and difficult to contain. And then I could feel justified in hating bugs :)

I miss summer! I haven't had time to have lazy summer days for three years. Like today- it's gorgeous outside, but I haven't two papers due tomorrow that I should definitely start writing. Why did I do them before? Well, because I had two huge projects due this week too. There's no time at all for planning ahead. And I still don't have a job! I do have a new friend who is the music director to the University of Minnesota radio station, though, so he can recommend music I can listen to while studying/stressing out:)