Commitment....or the need to be committed!

I have issues.  Commitment issues.

I am taking 19 students to the Student Television Network Conference in one week.  I drive students to Kangaroo places.  I drive them home from school sometimes and am there for them when they need someone to talk to.  I encourage them to take chances, to cold call someone so they can do a story on the Dialogue in the Dark exhibit or the Atlanta International School. I help students write scripts, I help students with other classes, I praise, I encourage.  I've promised someone from the League of Women Voters that we'll be there on Saturday, our day off, to record what seems to be one of the biggest events that we've ever covered, complete with mics on podiums and multi cameras and numerous individual interviews and I still only have two people who said they'd do it.  Most teachers would run out of their classrooms, flailing their arms as if their hair was on fire before they did this much work in a day, or in a week, or in a semester or a year.

Not me....  I think I need to be committed.  

Sometimes I don't know what keeps me going.  Especially lately.  For the past couple of weeks, I've spent the majority of my time during my advanced class herding kids into edit rooms as if I'm swatting at flying bats.  I'm tired of that.  I need my well refilled because it has run dry.  I need it filled by you showing me your commitment to Eagle TV and to your work.

We started out great!  For the past two deadlines, everyone has met them.  Every story, script and air confirmation form had been turned in on time. Most people have blogged and most people have turned in two story idea assignments.  This last assignment, however, has been a different story.  The only difference in MY mind is the fact that I extended the deadline, which I said I WASN'T going to do.  My BIG mistake.  But the slack started much earlier. 

Two days into the assignment, half my students didn't know what they were going to do their story on and sat around "discussing" it; for TWO DAYS.  A group of students spend half the period over by the windows taking pictures of themselves and then when I try to redirect, the group moves like an ameoba toward the computers where they settle in with feet up on the desk and earplugs in their ears checking out the latest tunes.  The two students who got a chance to do an internship with the Marietta Daily Journal...the MARIETTA DAILY FREAKIN' JOURNAL...just didn't get back in touch with the publisher.  That's it.  Just didn't call when he didn't give them specific days they'd work.  Oh well.  Most students would jump at this chance and would call every day until you worked out a schedule!  Are you kidding me?  And opportunities to really shine and get creative with the senior video segments sit unassigned.  

"Who can tape the tennis match today?"  (cricket sounds)

"okay, who can shoot the career fair and make a quick VO out of it?"  (more crickets)

I gave you 3 packets of great tutorials (requested specifically by one student) to go through while I was absent one day.  Nothing.  New information and skills continue to go unlearned.  (whine)"But it was too hard, Mrs. Watson"  (more whining)  "I didn't understand it."  

Yeah well, YOU HAVE TO READ IT!  Unless you possess some magical ability to acquire knowledge through just passing by it, like you stare and pass by the radishes on a salad bar, then you actually have to put some work into it!  

My editorial meetings consist of 28 melting faces as you stare at me like I'm speaking Russian.  Or....you are conducting your own verbal experiments into who can talk the most and the loudest while Watson and Kayla speak about things that are, I don't know.... IMPORTANT TO THEM!  "I'm sorry, what did you say, Mrs. Watson?"  "huh?"  

You can't get something from nothing.  You have to work for what you get.   It is not handed to you.  It will be a cold, hard slap in the face for you when you figure that out outside of high school.  They don't repeat things in college.

It's getting old. You're wearing me out.  I work way too hard for the crappy handout I'm getting in return.

I need commitment.  From YOU!

There aren't many teachers  that take students to conferences....or go with them while they do stories off campus or look for opportunities like the Emmy's or the Prom party PSA competition and really encourage you to take part in this stuff.  You know why?  Because it's a lot of work, that's why.  I work really hard for you and this program.  I need you to work hard in return.

So, tell me, what have you been slack about and why???  I really want to know.  I also want to see and hear your re-commitment to what you do in here.  Why aren't you taking a perfect opportunity to do an Emmy-award winning package?  Why don't you spend time in the edit rooms learning on your own new techniques in FCP or Live Type or whatever.  Don't tell me it's my fault or tell me what I need to do better, because this is a self-reflective assignment.  I'm giving you the tools but you have to put your hand out and take them, and USE them.  Pledge your commitment here.  Tell me how you're going to shine and excel and what you plan to do to leave your legacy for Eagle TV.  

I'm committed.  Are you?