I don't think this is a gender issue--
As a woman I thought I would jump in on this discussion to lend a little
perspective. The world seems to me to be divided into two camps: technophobes and
technofreaks. There are fewer of us female technofreaks around, but believe me,
the minute you are perceived as one of the resident experts you get called upon to
bail out every problem imaginable. (My videotape won't play! --- Oh, have you
inserted the tape?) I have found that my staff really appreciate the fact that I
am willing to step in and lend a hand without casting any judgement on their
request. One of the things I always do is preface working my magic by saying, "Now
here is how you do this....." Then I talk them through the actions so they solve
their own problem. Maybe they think we have some special magic in our finger tips
or something, but anyway, this does help to reinforce the message that they CAN do
this, TOO!!!
I'm not sure how you handle your technophobes, but I know I get more calls than our
official technology support guy because people can't stand to feel that they have
made a "stupid" request, which is his general, belittling, demeanor. I always
reassure folks that it takes about 10 times of doing any action before it really
sinks in and you remember all the steps. If I've helped them with the same problem
before......then I don't run to the rescue! I remind them that they have fixed it
before and offer to talk them through the steps over the phone. I always suggest
they write the steps down.
Now mind you, all of us are saddled with a few diehard "problem" folks who are just
lazy and don't want to learn and won't take the initiative. For them, I email them
the directions and don't waste the hike or the phone time.
I really feel good when people come back to me and are excited that they HAVE
solved their own problem (even if it takes a nudge from me). I always sing some
praise in the hopes that they will have less fear the next time they encounter a
glitch.
Kinder and gentler is still my motto. Is that a gender thing? I hope not.
Chris
Christine B.Getty
Librarian/Media Specialist
Plainwell Middle and High School
Plainwell, Michigan 49080
cgetty@plainwellschools.org
>>> "Hastings, Jeff" <HASTINGJ@HOWELLSCHOOLS.COM> 1/11/2008 11:08 AM >>>
Colleagues:
[When I have a thought that's somewhat daring or offbeat to bounce off
you guys, I generally post it on a Friday. A little quirky reflection
just seems to fit the Friday mind set. Such posts should definitely be
considered purely elective reading. Proceed at your own risk.]
Here's the deal:
I'm wondering something again today--something I've wondered throughout
my career in education, from time to time. I'm wondering if I am not the
victim of some form of subtle, but insidious, sexual discrimination. Let
me try and explain:
I have--like many of you, I'd guess--a couple of degrees and a couple
certificates to teach. I got these teaching certificates and degrees in
part because I thought that the first few jobs I'd wound up in as a
young lad were two technology-focused. By that I mean that I got tired
of being merely a "machine-guy." To have a fulfilling career, I
decided, I really needed to work directly with students; contribute to
humanity in a way I found meaningful.
Unfortunately, as a library media specialist, I find that I have to
constantly fight for my right to teach. Constantly.
On the other hand, I simply cannot seem to shake the machine-guy role. I
am constantly being called upon to fix crap for people, for example. I
could live with this fact more easily if this accompanying fact weren't
also true: Most of the people who call me to ask me to come fix their TV
or troubleshoot their digital camera or walk them through burning a
stinking CD aren't the teachers with whom I collaborate and co-teach.
Instead, most of them are the very same people who are most dismissive
of me as a teaching professional. Some of them, in fact, are actually
people who are barriers to my efforts to teach.
And It can be very frustrating. And it can feel quite demeaning. Here's
an example currently playing out:
Circa 1992, I managed to procure some free TV production equipment via a
cable franchise agreement and started a daily, student-produced,
televised announcement program. Over the years, I built a very nice
little studio that cost our school district almost nothing. It was a
pretty sweet deal for everyone involved, and, for me, it was a great
opportunity to develop sustained relationships with students and,
mostly, to teach both television production and writing. I loved it.
Then a few years ago, without any discussion or debate that I was privy
to, our library clerical position was cut down to half time, making it
impossible for me to leave the library floor during a good portion of
the day, including the time frame in which I ran the telecast. I was
crushed by this, but hey, that's life. The thing that really bothers me
is this: Though our administrators suddenly become deaf and blind
whenever I appeal to them to consider restoring my ability to once again
run the program, they have no compunctions about asking me to train
people on the use of all the studio gear when they manage to snag a
willing volunteer to do a telecast or, as happened recently, a rookie
teacher. "Ask Jeff to train you, he's good with that kind of stuff."
What makes that okay? Isn't that like kidnapping someone's baby then
calling them up after a few weeks and asking them to come over 'cause
you need help changing the diaper?
So I've started to wonder what makes me such an frequent target when it
comes to be this sort of thing. Why do people find it okay to ignore me
as a teacher and equally okay to use me as their personal Geek Squad.
Often, when crouched beneath some teacher or administrator's desk,
choking in the dust and fumbling through a maze of cabling looking for
something amiss, I've puzzled over this one.
And I can't figure it out.
Unless...
It's 'cause...
I'm a dude.
Now I KNOW I'm going to get some backlash on this, but that's the only
answer I can come up with. I'm just being honest. And, honestly, I often
find myself troubleshooting something for someone, sweating and
generally wishing I was dead, and wondering: If I was female and my name
was, say, Marge, and I wore flowy and flowery dresses, would I be atop
this ladder right now checking to see if this teacher's s-video cable is
properly connected?
Well. What do you think? Would I?
Jeffrey Hastings,
School Librarian
Howl Schools, Howl Michigan.
shankhead@gmail.com
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