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Tuesday, May 9, 2006
Career Day
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I feel a bit like the Maytag repairman when I visit schools for career day. Suffice it to say newspaper reporting isn’t a hot field. It doesn’t help that I’m often asked to follow a representative from a modeling agency, an EMT or a veterinarian. I was once set up to speak at the same time as one of our music writers, Sonia Murray. She had the auditorium; I had a counselor’s office, where about four students came by, probably out of pity, to ask about becoming a news reporter. Despite a general lack of interest in the field I love, I usually have a great time at career day events. I love talking to students.
On Friday, I participated in career day at Stone Mill Elementary School in DeKalb County. This was one of the most organized events I’ve ever experienced, in part because a fifth-grader named Simone was assigned to be by my side at all times, making sure I got to the right place.
A couple of observations:
I spoke to four classes, and it was clear that the teacher’s attitude determined how I was received. In my first class, the teacher said she was interested in hearing my talk because her son is studying journalism in college. Her students saw her enthusiasm and in turn asked a lot of questions and seemed to enjoy my presentation. In another class, which was in a trailer, the teacher was one of those master disciplinarians. Her students showed tremendous respect, even though their teacher sat in the back of the room. No one spoke out of turn, got silly or asked off-topic questions.
Teachers appreciate community members coming into their school. I got a certificate and was offered a nice lunch. So many people thanked me for coming out.
Career day is a great way to get inside a school. Believe me, I saw the challenges we talk about all the time at Get Schooled. I don’t get invited to career days very often. I wonder if some schools have quit doing them, feeling like they need to be all academics all the time.
Have you participated in career day? Did you enjoy it? What did you learn?
