The one time I (almost) replied to a Youtube comment

I have never replied to a Youtube comment before.

But tonight, I was triggered.  So I pressed that reply button, and was ready to just go to town on this person…….but then Youtube told me I had to sign in.

And I decided to not leave the reply.

Instead, I will put my reply to the comment here.

 I had looked up a video of a man walking through how to balance chemical equations.  I wanted to share it with my students if they wanted extra practice at home and were confused.

Now, I have read my fair share of ignorant comments on Youtube videos.  I usually just shrug my shoulders and say, “That’s not a smart thing to say,” and just go about my business.

What was the comment?

“You should teach teachers how to teach.”

1.9 thousand likes.

And the replies:

“best comment going.”

“so true.”

“your right (You should teach teachers how to teach).” 

“Yeah, but impossible”

“Fax”

Other comments:

“Science teachers: Lets all make the work confusing so that our students will never learn.”

“I love how over 2 million people don’t have teachers who explain things fully.”

Maybe it was the day I had,but this one was personal.  I felt offended on a deep level. 

Yes, this guy was really good at explaining a concept and working through it.  Mad Props to him, I shared his videos on Google Classroom for extra help for my students.  It has almost 2.7 million views for a reason.

Here is my issue.  This guy helping in this video and a teacher in a classroom are two DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.

Once again, I am not hating on this guy.  He is really good at explaining things and is able to take his time, take a seat, and work through these examples and breaking things down.

If I could recreate this scenario in the classroom….I totally would!  However…..

Will this guy get constantly interrupted by students that have to use the bathroom?

Will he be unable to turn his back to the class because students cannot stay in their seat?

Will this guy be able to work through one example without getting interrupted at all?

Will this guy have to watch for students that are attempting to do homework for another class?

Will this guy have to be keen eyed for note passing?

Will this guy have to deal with students that blurt random things out?

Will this guy have to deal with off topic questions asked specifically for a meme.

Will this guy have to deal with students that are not on task?

Will this guy have only a limited time to teach you this concept with science and social studies being taught less in public schools due to the stress on math and ELA?

Will this guy have to deal with masterfully preparing this lesson along with 5 other just as good lessons a day, 5 days a week, 180 days a year?

Will he?  WILL HE? W I L L H E?

No.  In this scenario he gets to press pause.  He will get to edit and refilm.  He gets to easily use his visual aid and speak slowly, while sitting down.  Doesn’t have to worry about monitoring a classroom or interruptions.  He gets to just focus on this one thing.

I have been a teacher for 7 years…..I never get to focus on just one thing. 

I understand concepts are hard, and they might need extra practice to understand and extra help and focus.  However, I find that students are all to quick to throw the burden back on the teacher.   They are the reason you don’t understand.  But yet…

Are you reading through the lesson outside of class?

Did you pay attention and take notes?

Are you doing your homework?

Was your outside classwork done in a quiet environment where you could focus?

Did you get a full night’s sleep so your brain could refuel?

I teach Science and Social Studies.  In order to do those things, I have to study too!  My brain is not an encyclopedia.  I had no idea what glycolysis was before we did the chapter on cellular functions; but I do now!  Why?  I studied and prepared enough that I could explain it to you!  I have to constantly be learning things too and that factors into my prep time before each chapter.

eache

 I love this one comment.

“Honestly, I don’t even have a bad chemistry teacher.  I just don’t pay attention and now I’m studying.”

In a perfect world, students would hold themselves more accountable like this guy.  However, our world is not perfect.  I wasn’t the perfect student and I probably thought some of the same thoughts that those replies had because I didn’t take my time to put myself in the teacher’s shoes and hold some of the accountability for myself.

And I think normally I would read these comments and not get as easily triggered.  This year has been a year of transition for me.  I have recently been diagnosed with RA and am working through how to teach through pain and fatigue and have had to make sacrifices over teaching.  I can’t go all out right now like I use to and that makes me super guilty.  My department head has to remind me that I am not failing at my job right now and that I need to be easier on myself. 

So if I did reply, I think here is what it would be.

 “Thank you for taking initiative to watch this guy’s video outside of class for extra practice.  Good for you!  I love balancing chemical equations so I hope you do too!  Just give your teachers a break.  Teaching is hard when it’s in front of a full classroom of students that are just willing to blame you for everything and it can be very discouraging.  I don’t think they would still be doing this job just for a summer break and for the pay.  If you think about it, this video and teaching in a classroom are not the same thing so you shouldn’t compare it.” 

 and if that doesn't help...here's a meme of what I felt like in the moment.

There is Beauty in Humble Places

I was at an apple orchard one summer while visiting my family in the United States.  While looking through the gift shop, I noticed a sign that said the quote, “There is beauty in humble places.”  I instantly thought of Suriname, the place that I had called home for the last couple of years.  I think of this quote a lot.  When I moved to Suriname to be a missionary teacher, I knew that I wasn’t moving to this fabulous tourist location.   I knew that it had a high poverty rate and high crime rate when it came to theft.  I knew that I might be propositioned by men.  I knew it would be tough.  However, after six years of living in Suriname I feel pride in this place and the people.  It is beautiful.  There are so many beautiful moments that have happened during my time in Suriname.  I wanted to try (emphasis on TRY) and write a poem that describes my emotions as I am heading into my last month as a resident of this country.  Maybe one day God will call us back to this place to teach again.  Until then, I know it is fully not a goodbye to Suriname, but a see you later.

There is Beauty in Humble Places

There is beauty in humble places

And seeing familiar faces

But I felt called to spaces that I did not know

Said goodbye to my family, my home, my country

Following only a call to harvest

“Here I am, send me”

I didn’t understand the love it would take

How on days my heart would break

And some I thought this was a mistake

That maybe this mission is one I shouldn’t take

But still I saw

There is beauty in humble places

There is beauty in humble places

And seeing student faces

Praying they would find out what grace is

Hearts of stone to hearts of flesh

I hope they know how much I care

I learned from them, hopefully they learned from me

There is beauty in humble places

Two years planned, but six said God

Year 1 brought new friendships

Year 2 brought me a partner

Year 3 brought a new job, the time to trust

Year 4 brought a new name, new job, new house, new problems, new prayers, help needed, help received, but…

……Help, I pleaded, I’m drowning

This year was a storm.

Year 5, God calmed it.

Year 6, God healed and refreshed, his promise faithful.  New people brought community and support.

Year 7….

Now

I’m saying tot ziens to this humble place

Thankful for the time

Thankful for the love

The people here changed me

God rearranged me

I am not the same

As the years have come and gone,

I’ve said so many goodbyes,

brothers and sisters called away

Friends and students scattered across this big earth

I can’t write down each individual memory

And now it is our turn

A piece of my heart stays here

Suriname

You mean so much

Thank you for showing me

Sad times, good times, hard times, fun times

the beauty in humble places

Full Quote:  Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where others see nothing-Camille Pissaro

Pray for your Missionaries!

Hello all, in case you haven’t read any of my blog posts here is a quick bio.  My name is Anne, and for the past 6 years I have been a tent maker missionary in Suriname, South America.  A tent maker missionary is one that is able to fully support themselves by having an occupation in the country that they are residing in.  For me, I am an international teacher working at an international school in the nation’s capital of Paramaribo. 

I find it very awkward to talk about my mission field when I am in America.  I feel that the automatic picture that gets placed into people’s heads when a person says that they are a missionary is one of a person being in the middle of the jungle, or not in a city.  When I have talked about my school and job I received a comment like, “Oh, I thought you were teaching in a tent, somewhere out in the jungle with no desks and air conditioning.”  I actually teach in one of the nicest schools in the country, complete with air conditioning, desks, a computer lab, WIFI, and textbooks.  While I know missionaries that are placed in villages in the rain forest, my field is quite different. 

I serve three different groups of students at our school.  The first group of children is international children.  During my six years I have taught children from all six populated continents and 22 countries.  I view this mission field like Phillip and the Ethiopian.  We are mostly with these children for an average of three years before they move to another country and take the knowledge they learned from this place to the next.   It is my hope that they will here the gospel and go plant a seed in another country.   The second group consists of our scholarship children and children of the middle class.  Their family may own a small business or works very hard in another field and can manage to pay some of the tuition, but not usually all.  Finally, the third group of children are children that part of the upper class of Suriname.  These children’s families have other properties in other countries, have successful big businesses, and don’t really have material need in their life. 

When I explain that my mission field consists of children that are very rich, I am sometimes met with confusion.  However, I have witnessed that this mission field is intense, discouraging, and not for the faint of heart.  I think God’s words are very telling when he says, “. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” -Matthew 19:24.  I think this is an overlooked mission field that faces a lot of rejection.  I don’t want to speak for other people, but I find it very difficult to relay the gospel sometime in a way that connects with these students.  The need of a Savior in life is something that is not always understood.

If you sign up for missionary work, get a tough skin and do not forget your armor!  Trying to accomplish anything without God just won’t happen.  His hope is an anchor. 

I just think we need more prayer in general.  I feel that we could easily have blog posts that say, “pray for your teachers!  Pray for your nurses!  Pray for your mothers!  Pray for your Pastors!  Pray for your enemies! Pray! Pray! Pray!  Sometimes it might not feel like it is doing anything, but I assure you…it is!  I don’t want to speak for other missionaries, but I feel that a lot of them would say “Yes, please do not cease in praying for us.  Even though we are not there next to you anymore, please do not forget us."

I need prayer.  I need it daily.  I am greedy for your prayers, because I know of the fruit they will bring.  Maybe it is not physical things like airplane tickets home for Christmas or a green card for my husband (but please, do pray for that :)), but it could be patience, strength, and perseverance.  

What to Pray For?

Pray for my school, that the Word of God rushes through it like a crashing wave.

Pray for my school, that despite being from different denominations and backgrounds we are able to find unity as a staff.

Pray for my school, that it be a beacon of light for the searching and for protection from the enemy.

Pray for my school, pray for my school, pray for my school.

Pray for my students that they will one day embrace the gospel.

Pray for my students who are hurting so much.

Pray for my students who have welcomed Christ into their lives, but not told their families due to fear.

Pray for my students, pray for my students, pray for my students.

Pray for peace in situations that are out of my hands.  That I will trust that all is in God’s hands.

Pray for patience on days when I am running low.

Pray for knowledge and understanding for when to fight, when to talk, and when to listen.

Pray for strength to make it through the tough days.

Pray for me. 

I am writing this post today because I just feel that I am in the thick of it.  This immense battle of a Monday with new conflicts and new problems that can crush me if I forget that I am pressed, but not crushed.  I am persecuted, not abandoned, shut down, but not destroyed. 

It is very easy for me to feel isolated and a world away sometimes.  I know that if I am not talking to God, it is very easy for me to run dry and feel alone.  Burnout is real if real rest is not sought.  So please, today if you have time, pray for me.

Thank you.