Student Teachers

I do not like student teachers. I haven't since perhaps elementary school. Back in those days I didn't know any better. But now I can see what student teachers really are: power-hungry wannabes who have no idea what they're doing.
The first time I strongly disliked a student teacher would have to be in my 7th grade TLC class. I don't know why, but she had it in for me. She often took me aside, and asked me why I had an attitude problem. That's right, Mr. Rich. Me. Attitude problem. Perhaps you can see how absurd this notion was. I guess she thought I didn't like her. This is one thing I should give her credit for being right on.
I had a few more of this type of student teacher, but none I disliked as Trixy. This was not her name, but it is the only way my colleagues and I ever referred to her. Don't ask why. Now she actually had somewhat of an education. One would have to to teach a high school math class. However, she did not have much of an idea on HOW to teach. Many of the students in the class had problems comprehending the material due to her teaching. Why should the education of many students be jeopardized for the education of one?
Well this year I am faced with a student teacher who is even worse than any I have had before. Not only does she not know the material, (which she teaches straight out of the book) she is so bold as to tell me not to talk in class. I am losing participation points daily due to her thirst for power. She will not allow me to speak at all while I am dutifully completing my assignments. This would not bother me so bad if she actually knew her stuff, but I am quite sure I know more of the subject matter than her. She has even gone so far as to move me and my friends to opposite edges of the room.
Why do student teachers behave in this way? They are simply trying to feel more sure of themselves as teachers by exhibiting dominance over the students. This should not be a part of the learning process. Student teachers should not be given such total control over the classroom. The education of 30 is more important than the education of 1.

ACT assessment

I took the ACT this past Saturday, and I'd like to tell you about my experiences. While the questions on the ACT are definitely not very difficult, the test can actually be quiet testing. Testing of my patience that is. I definitely would have liked more time to complete my test. What is the purpose of timed tests anyways? With just 5 or 10 more minutes for each section on the ACT, I guarantee my score would be several points better. Timed tests are LAME.
Why do we have to have timed tests? I understand that there needs to be a standardized time for everyone to take the test sometimes, but why is it so short? Get this. On the ACT, you have 30 minutes to complete 40 questions. On the reading section, this wasn't too much of an obstacle, as all you had to do was read a short passage and ask straightforward questions about the context. However, on the Science and Reasoning section it is a little more difficult to move at this pace. Each series of questions consists of several charts, graphs, and tables with paragraphs of text to boot. It is quite impossible to read all this data, then the question, and then go back to the charts to find the answer. I figured this out after about the first set of questions and so I didn't read the data before the questions. I still was quite pressed for time.
Now, I am no dummy. If I had problems with this, there are countless others who had similar troubles. I noticed, however, that many of the students in my testing room seemed to be finished with their tests comfortably before the time expired. My conclusion of this is that these students either A) Guessed or rushed through at least several of the questions. Or B) Are smarter than me. Now, since we all know that option B is quite improbable, the only feasible option is that they had the same problems as me.
It is my belief that the ACT Testmakers should reconsider the amount of time they allow on the test. I also cut my English and Mathematics times quite closely. If I do not receive an outstanding score the only reason is the time allotment. Since when is intelligence a race? If given the proper amount of time, I believe I could achieve near 100% on the ACT. If only.

Jake's Church Ball (Sorry Excuse for a Team) Team vs. Quiet Bus Ride

Well, Jake is pretty confident that his "team" of the Orem Park Stake 12th ward is pretty good. But he's wrong. He's also pretty sure that his "team" could beat my church ball team, or even our Jr. Jazz Team, the "Quiet Bus Ride". I know you're probably thinking that this is absurd, and does not even need an explanataion, but as I have to complete an assignment, I will tell you what you already know. It's common sense.
First of all, there is no conceivable way for Jake to prove his team is better than any other, except for the teams which he allegedly "dominates" every Thursday night at the stake center, and we all know that these "teams" are ridiculously medio-core. Until he somehow clones himself and his team plays our jr. jazz team, our my chuchball team, he should not claim superiority over any other team. I , on the other hand, have earned the right to do so, by my perennial domincance in both leagues.
Now you may think that I am being hypocritical, but to you all I say is you are the hypocrite. When you claim I am ignorant, all I can say is I'm right, and you're wrong. But back to the subject. Yes it is true that the Quiet Bus Ride is currently at the bottom of the rankings with an 0-3 mark. But we're still the best. Yes, we did play the worst teams in the league, which you would think would make us worse than them, but in fact we are just in a funk which will correct itself this Wednesday at 7:30. Jake's team just sucks.
I know what you are thinking, Mr. Rich. Cuyler sucks at writing blogs, and just writing in general. You're right. There was a time when I was at the top of the writing world, as it were. Back in 3rd grade, I wrote a short story entitled "Sign Here, Please" and it went on to when multiple awards, including runner-up for my class in the "Whale of a Tale" competition. I would have won 1st prize but Rachael Anderson included horses and "sparkling things in the sky" in her story, and the rest is history. Third grade teachers always fall for crap like that. Thanks for your time, and tune in next week.