FINALLY TEACHING!!!!

[Matt Macoubrie]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to say that I am beginning my student teaching this week, and the first thing I get to discuss is the Lincoln Assassination!! What a dream job!!!

Here is my question for you . . .

Regarding the Lincoln Assassination, what are your personal goals (i.e. become the next best author, learn as much as you can)? If you have not met those goals, why? There is nothing stopping you!!!!

Have a great weekend!!!!

[L Verge]

Congratulations, Matt, and I hope you have a wonderful experience. I loved my student teaching experience, and it actually forced me to take more classes because I switched my grade level that I wanted to teach.

I taught at a wonderful, old high school in the mountains of Maryland that still had grades 7-12 under one roof. I ended up teaching grades 8, 10, and 11. I had trained for senior high, but those 8th graders just stole my heart. To be certified in middle school social studies (instead of high school history), however, I had to take night classes in economics and sociology once I was hired in a middle school.

As far as my personal goal, I have more than achieved it. I knew from grade five that I wanted to be a teacher, and from grade 8, I knew it would be a history teacher. I had a great "career" as a teacher before beginning my stint at Surratt House. After that, I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities that have opened up to me. Most unexpected, but just wonderful. I wish for you the same success and self-satisfaction. Just keep reminding yourself that there is always something new to learn.

[Gene C]

Congratualtions Matt!

As for the Lincoln Assassination, for me it's hard to pin it down. I certainly enjoy learning more. Lincoln as a person, fascinates me, how he kept rising to each new challenge, never giving up. The Civil War time period where our country almost died, the dedication and sacrafice of so many, then in one split second Booth's act changes everything again.

Personally, this site, and the people on it have been a blessing for me. I never expected that, so it's a double blessing

[brtmchl]

Congrats Matt! I wish you the best.What a great topic for you to make your mark. Take it from me, there are tons of people on this site for you to go to. Everyone here is very knowledgeable, and extremely kind.

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Congratualtions Matt!

As for the Lincoln Assassination, for me it's hard to pin it down. I certainly enjoy learning more. Lincoln as a person, fascinates me, how he kept rising to each new challenge, never giving up. The Civil War time period where our country almost died, the dedication and sacrafice of so many, then in one split second Booth's act changes everything again.

Personally, this site, and the people on it have been a blessing for me. I never expected that, so it's a double blessing

Gene, I've often wondered what the world would be like today had Lincoln never been assassinated. Would Radical Republicans have still pushed him aside and changed Lincoln's vision of a peaceful Reconstruction? A belief to not punish the South and mend all wounds. If Lincoln had lived would we have needed a Civil Rights movement 100 years later, like we had in the 60's? With a more peaceful and non oppressive Reconstruction would the 14th Amendment been respected and accepted much sooner? Had Lincoln lived, would there have been a need for such a great leader like Martin Luther King Jr to have emerged? I know there would still be a period for this country to adjust from all of the devastation, death, financial ruin, and governmental and social changes that came as an aftermath of the war; but would we be farther along than we are today? And how much could this country have acheived without 100 plus years of race discrimination, violence and race baiting to get in the way?

[Jim Garrett]

Inspire!!

[KateH.]

Congratulations You're going to make a wonderful student teacher.

As far as personal goals, learning more is always at the top and, being an English major, writing a book would be awesome. Mainly, I want to become a tour guide and eventually run a historic site. I'm currently working and studying to reach said goals. Being on this forum is certainly a helpful and inspiring step in the right direction.

[L Verge]

KateH - Make sure you sneak in some Museum Studies courses, if you haven't already. P.S. I'll be retiring within about five years...

[HerbS]

Being a teacher is a very Noble profession!

[BettyO]

Congratulations, Matt! A noble profession indeed!


I, too wanted to be a teacher when I got my Masters last year. However I attended a session at my Alma Mater about going for my Praxis - in the State of Virginia they have added in the last 5 years a part of the licensure which I can't do. Part of acquiring the license to teach is a daily 15 week unpaid tenure as an teaching assistant. Unfortunately, my mortgage company wouldn't like that one bit.

[L Verge]

Betty,

Is that Praxis required in all levels of teaching or just on the college level?

[BettyO]

All levels of teaching - it's a law that was implemented 5 years ago - and seemingly designed for those with two incomes and/or young, living at home and fresh out of high school.

I've applied at college level (2 year college) but even they are now selecting PhD's rather than Masters -

[L Verge]

I believe your Praxis is what we used to call student teaching or internships and has also replaced the National Teaching Exam? If your college had known you intended to go into the teaching field with your Masters, that should have been worked into your curriculum before you graduated and found out the hard way.

[Rsmyth]

Matt, follow Jim's advice and inspire. You cannot teach them everything but the basics and instill in your students the thirst to learn more. Everyone on this board has that quality. Without it we stop learning. You seem very excited to teach. You will make a great teacher.

[KateH.]

Laurie, thank you for the advice. I will definitely look into some Museum Studies courses. If all goes according to plan, Maryland will be home in about four to five years. I'll have to look you up before you retire.

[L Verge]

Laurie, thank you for the advice. I will definitely look into some Museum Studies courses. If all goes according to plan, Maryland will be home in about four to five years. I'll have to look you up before you retire.

I was also hinting at you considering applying for my job! My knowledge of the Lincoln assassination is what kicked the door open for me. I was up against PhDs, but they didn't know who shot Lincoln... I was just a used history teacher, but a fanatic in the history that justified saving and preserving Surratt House.

I might also add that knowing how to manage a history classroom of forty 8th graders six times a day can go a long way in giving you common sense on how to run a museum - which is basically an educational institution.