[nobe-l] being a teacher and having to compromise on beliefs

Tue Sep 9 01:15:24 UTC 2014

Kayla,
I agree with others. In public schools you come across many beliefs and some 
conflict with yours.
I was raised Christian and conservative although I'm now more moderate 
politically.

Anyway, as a TVI you present material whether you agree with it or not; it 
gives your students the information without imposing your values.
If you were a teacher in a Christian school, you can teach the values of 
that school. But being a TVI you are the education link between the teacher 
and your students. By transcribing, you are not condoning or agreeing with 
anything.

As for Christian schools, they don't hire TVIs to my knowledge, so you will 
have to be another type of teacher to work there.
I've also considered being a teacher, although my BA is in liberal studies.

Good luck with your decision.

Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Kayla James via nobe-l
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2014 8:19 PM
To: Ian C. Bray ; National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] being a teacher and having to compromise on beliefs

Then I'd rather work in a Christian school and be the best teacher I
know how (if this is even the career I should be in). Thank you all
for your advice. I appreciate it very much. But maybe I am not fit to
be a TVI.

On 9/8/14, Ian  C. Bray via nobe-l <nobe-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Regardless of the implications of Divinity versus Darwinism, you should
> transcribe the test questions perfectly.
>
> We discussed similar problems to this in
> My teaching profession & childhood development classes.
>
> Higher level educators & administrators & government make the decisions
> about curricula.
> Your job as a teacher / educator is to follow the guidelines given.
> Furthermore, you are to understand the value of teaching alternatives to
> properly prepare the child to be able to make their own "informed" 
> decisions
>
> when the time comes.
>
> Also, you should work to remove any bias you might have from the lesson in
> order to be certain you are not affecting the lesson.
> You can document your feelings on the issue with your supervisor, but if 
> the
>
> parents find that your beliefs are contrary to theirs then you may fall
> under scrutiny.
> They will find someone to transcribe the lesson if you refuse.
> Take your fight to those making decisions,  not to the classroom.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Ian  C. Bray
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Karl Martin Adam via nobe-l" <nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
> To: "Kayla James" <christgirl813 at gmail.com>; "National Organization of 
> Blind
>
> Educators Mailing List" <nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, September 05, 2014 11:50 AM
> Subject: Re: [nobe-l] being a teacher and having to compromise on beliefs
>
>
>> Hi Kayla, I'm not a TVI, but as a blind person, I think this is an issue
>> of equality for blind students.  A blind student should receive the same
>> test that his or her sighted peers are receiving, and when you're
>> transcribing something it's your job to give the blind student that equal
>>
>> access.  Whether you personally agree with what your transcribing really
>> doesn't matter; you have a responsibility to make sure that blind 
>> students
>>
>> are receiving the same education that sighted students are.  You wouldn't
>>
>> correct say a mathematical mistake the teacher made on a math test, and
>> you shouldn't alter a question that you think is wrong in science or
>> history or whatever either.  So what you're saying to your blind student
>> who needs a test transcribed that you disagree with is that that student
>> is just as good as all the sighted students and should have access to the
>>
>> same materials.
>>
>> Best,
>> Karl
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Kayla James via nobe-l <nobe-l at nfbnet.org
>> To: nobe-l at nfbnet.org
>> Date sent: Fri, 5 Sep 2014 10:12:42 -0500
>> Subject: [nobe-l] being a teacher and having to compromise on beliefs
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> my name is Kayla James. I'm 22 and think I have a call to teach. I do
>> not know whether to become a TVI or just a regular teacher though. I
>> just know that I'd like to work with kids.
>> As I was considering the career of TVI (Annie Sullivan and Samuel Howe
>> are some of my heroes in this area) a question came to my mind. TVI's
>> (I know from experience of being student to quite a few) work in
>> public and state schools. What if a student of mine (perhaps somewhere
>> between third and fifth grade) brings a Science test to me and needs
>> it transcribed. And what if it has something to do with Evolution in
>> it.
>> Now, I am a conservative Christian and stand firmly on the grounds of
>> Creation. If I transcribe that test and hand it to that child, what am
>> I saying to that child? As much as I'd love to work with kids and
>> being totally blind myself, I know I'd do very well at this job, but
>> Jesus Christ must come first in my work.
>> If I become a regular school teacher I could go to a Christian school
>> and work and not have to worry. But I guess I am asking this to all of
>> the TVI's who do not mind sharing their religious convictions about
>> it.
>> I also have a question about become a vision rehabilitation
>> teacher/therapist (however you phrase it). I get the joys of TVI life,
>> but are there VRT's that work with children? Please help.
>>
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>
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