Olivia, one of the other teachers said she was talking to one of her students and she said, “I’m turning 11 soon and I don’t want to learn 11.” When Olivia inquired why it was because she would then have to do things she didn’t want to do such as leave the room when her brother entered, and where the traditional grass skirts at home. I don’t think that the whole island hold onto the old Yapese culture like this but it is still very much alive in some homes.
In P.E. class we had the students line up in two lines and do push ups. Junior named Dukay asked me if he could turn around to do the push ups. I asked why and he said that in their culture it was sometimes not appropriate for boys to be behind the girls and in the line some boys where behind girls.
It is things like these that make me realize that I am probably seeing a lot of things about Yapese culture with out even noticing it. Another thing that I was told about is that instead of nodding for yes, they raise their eyebrows. Maybe that’s why often times my students will just stare at me until I ask them repeatedly. I haven’t noticed the eyebrow raising yet but some of the elementary teachers have. This is fascinating and I want to be able to pick up on it.
I've thought in the past about why teachers don't get paid more, and here is my answer:
ReplyDeletePeople who teach do it because they love it, kind of like having kids. The rewards of teaching balance out the lack of money you make.
Also, they want teachers to teach because they enjoy it, not to make money. You get better teachers that way.
(I know this could spawn dozens of rebuttles, but I said it anyway.)
Love , Judy
That is a very good point, and I think I agree that it provides better teachers. Money is not everything. Salary does not always match with amount of work done I suppose.
ReplyDeleteI came upon your blog from another's. I was a teacher in Yap from 2002-2003 and Dukay was in my class! :) He was in 4th grade then. I was Niki Moore then, but now I'm Niki Knowlton. He was such a fun kid. I still keep up with him on facebook! :) I am loving reading through your blog as it reminds me so much of my days in Yap. I can empathize with the humidity & cockroaches etcetera and the eyebrow raise was not brought to my attention until later when I got angry at a student for not answering me! :) So cool to read someone else's experience. Dukay wrote me yesterday and asked if I could come to their graduation this year. I would love to, but where to get that kind of money!!!
ReplyDeleteI came upon your blog from another's. I was a teacher in Yap from 2002-2003 and Dukay was in my class! :) He was in 4th grade then. I was Niki Moore then, but now I'm Niki Knowlton. He was such a fun kid. I still keep up with him on facebook! :) I am loving reading through your blog as it reminds me so much of my days in Yap. I can empathize with the humidity & cockroaches etcetera and the eyebrow raise was not brought to my attention until later when I got angry at a student for not answering me! :) So cool to read someone else's experience. Dukay wrote me yesterday and asked if I could come to their graduation this year. I would love to, but where to get that kind of money!!!
ReplyDelete