We have a media specialist in our county who was invited to her principal's home
for dinner. She and her husband graciously accepted and showed up on time...only
to be asked to spend the first hour and a half of the evening hooking up his son's
computer!
The gall!
lm
Lynette (LYNN) Mitchell
Library Media Specialist
Crystal River High School
1205 NE 8th Ave.
Crystal River, Florida 34428
mitchelll@citrus.k12.fl.us
352-795-4641 ext: 248
352-795-4519 FAX
Currently reading: Stephenie Meyer's books, Twilight, New Moon & Eclipse (at the
request of several of my students)
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-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Clark, Curtis
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 11:21 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Is it because I'm...a man?
Amen brother.
Who hooks their stupid computers, VCRs, DVDs, televisions up at
home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why is it when I have equipment, shelving, or furniture in general. I'm the one
outside unloading the truck and in the end assembling the stuff.
Why is it the ones that refuse to collaborate, because I'm not really a teacher are
the first ones to call for help with the technical stuff. Or to bad mouth me
because I'm uncooperative.
Why do some teachers refuse to learn how to trouble shoot this stuff (young as well
as the more seasoned teachers) -- its not rocket science -- I've learned it by
watching and not being afraid -- and reading the directions.
Thanks,
Curtis L. Clark
Library Media Specialist
Harrisonville Middle School
601 South Highland
Harrisonville, MO 64701
816 380 7654 #5245
Fax: 816 884 5733
clarkc@harrisonville.k12.mo.us
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Hastings, Jeff
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 10:08 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: GEN: Is it because I'm...a man?
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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