In classrooms all around the US, maybe even the world, the first week or two of school is spent reviewing the previous year's standards, teaching classroom/behavior procedures, and assessing levels (one-on-one testing in the primary grades). In between those three key areas we give the kids a break from all the teacher-talk and assign "fun" beginning of the year activities - mostly getting-to-know-you projects. One question that is always explored during these activities is "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
The answers to that question are generally the same from year to year - I get a lot of police officers and teachers, a few nurses or doctors, one or two entertainers (singers/dancers) or athletes (mainly soccer players). Because most of my students' families are not well educated (some don't read in their own language) and work in very low paying, manual labor type jobs, they are not emphasizing the college/career path like schools with middle-upper class populations would . So often, I'll even get multiple answers like Jack and the Box workers and pizza delivery.
This year the answers were similar to the past, however I got a few that I haven't seen before...
Ninja (three students chose that one), someone who wants to be a video game player, and one who wants to be a "You-Tuber". I think these might be my favorite answers ever.
The World Is Laughing At Us
3 hours ago
Wow, You-Tuber !. I knew, and anyone new to cameras knew, that people were being paid to 'influence' (shill was the old term). But I hadn't realised small kids had picked up on the phenomena.
ReplyDeleteNinja was one from my youth. Not that it's ever really went away but came and went like waves. But I've missed this one. Of course it could be one of the on-line shows.
When you think about how much time a kid is sitting in front of a device and watching something, YouTube is probably so prevelant in their daily life it's no wonder they "get it". So very often when I'm at a social gathering it never fails that someone whips out their phone and says, "You gotta see this!" I'd imagine these kids are inundated with the videos, even if they're not finding them themselves, via older family members. Heck there are videos of kids watching youtube videos! I'm sure this boy recognizes the reaction they get and thought, "I want to do that!"
DeleteThere are so many jobs out there that didn't exist when I was a kid, and I'm sure by the time these kids are ready for a job there will new ones that don't exist today.
As for ninja,I didn't know that was a job! I'd have rethought my career path. ;)
Yeah, Ninjas are bad ass Samurai types without the servant horseapples of the former. And they dressed in black too. What's not to like.
Deletelatter.
DeleteExactly! :)
DeleteUm... I know an adult that is still aspiring to be a video game player for the rest of their life.
ReplyDeleteNice work, if you can get it.
DeleteI don't see the appeal of video games. It must be a boy thing. :)
I got Batman once from a kindergartner. But my favorite was a letter I received a few years back. It was from a former student who had opened a time capsule we had made to be opened in 2000. She apologized for not being a doctor like she had written, but she wanted me to know she was a successful immigration attorney. She was the first in her family to attend college and she came from a very low income area where I had taught.
ReplyDeleteHave a great school year :)