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Downtown Denizens: Help a Teacher?

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  • Downtown Denizens: Help a Teacher?

    Hello, people who work in Downtown Honolulu.

    As you know, I teach at a school that specializes in students with learning differences. A big part of our curriculum is called the Mentorship Program, in which our students spend most of their Wednesday school-time out in the working world. We have students working with mentors in computer repair shops, in restaurants, in car-stereo shops, at engineering firms, at veterinary hospitals, and a bunch of other cool places.

    It's an important program, because it shows our students most of all that the things that cause them challenges in the classroom need not prevent them from succeeding in post-high-school endeavors. Secondly, it shows people in the working world that dyslexia, ADHD, dysgraphia, and other learning differences do not prevent people from being great employees. Something like that.

    Some of our students are not quite ready for that kind of placement, so a few of the teachers do what we call "on-campus mentorships," which can sort of be seen as extended enrichment programs. I'm leading a group of six students in a photography mentorship, and my students and I are having a blast. Last week, I took them to Chinatown, where I instructed the students to look around and take pictures of the endless parade of people they saw.

    On Wednesday the 22nd, I'd like them to see the other side of Downtown as a kind of comparison. Oh, it will be easy enough just to snap pictures of men in Dockers, women in business whatever, buildings that reach up to the sky, and all manner of symbols of the business world.

    However, I thought it would also be cool if they could get into the buildings to photograph that side of life downtown.

    So. If you work Downtown and think you can help me out, here are the quick details.

    I'd like to send students in groups of two to be escorted through (or even turned loose in!) the buildings downtown, where they will photograph people at work, workspaces, and other views. They will, of course, be on their best behavior and will, of course, only photograph what they have permission to photograph. Most of them don't have the focus (haha!) to spend an hour, but they could probably spend thirty to forty-five minutes looking for cool things to shoot.

    We'll be downtown from about 10:15 to about 12:15, so any time that would work with you during those two hours would work for us. I'll have to station myself somewhere I can be easily found (I'm thinking Tamarind Park or one of the many Starbuckses in the area), but if you can come meet my students there at a designated-by-you time, that would be really cool. Otherwise, I'll just escort them right to your door.

    Students all have their own point-and-shoots, and these students are all very nice, very sweet kids (I swear), and I won't thrust more than two of them at you. I could send just one, if your space can really only accomodate one, but I think they'll be a little bashful if they're not with one of their schoolmates.

    I have six students: three boys and three girls. Two of them are sophomores, three are juniors, and one is a senior. The senior and two of the juniors are actually very independent and mature; they're in on-campus mentorships for reasons other than the one I just gave.

    If you think you can help me out, or if you think you can connect me to someone who would, I'd appreciate either a PM, an email (mitchell@mitchellkdwyer.net), or a phone call (if you've already got my number). Or just post a message here and we'll connect.

    Thank you so much just for reading this far. It really means a lot to me that you care enough at least to read this!
    But I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I GOT IT ALL! (George Costanza)
    GrouchyTeacher.com

  • #2
    Re: Downtown Denizens: Help a Teacher?

    Sounds like a great project, Scrivener! And I think you must be one sensational teacher, the kind kids never forget!
    Aloha from Lavagal

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    • #3
      Re: Downtown Denizens: Help a Teacher?

      I don't work in downtown but I'd like to help!

      Auntie Lynn
      Be AKAMAI ~ KOKUA Hawai`i!
      Philippians 4:13 --- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Downtown Denizens: Help a Teacher?

        Scriv: I hope you gets lots of offers from businesses downtown to be part of your project. It's kind of like the "bring your kid to work day" that lots of companies sponsor, except your students would only be there for a very short period of time and would probably be way better behaved than some of the kids who've tromped through my company in the past! I think letting young people see how and where adults work gives them a picture of the "real" world, which is often very different from what they might see on TV.

        Miulang
        "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

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        • #5
          Re: Downtown Denizens: Help a Teacher?

          Dammit, Lynn. Why didn't I think to ask you last week? You would have been AWESOME for the students to meet! They got REALLY shy in Chinatown, pretty much not taking any good pictures of the PEOPLE...if I had thought of it, I could have just had them follow you around and let you MAKE people let my students take photos. Gr.

          If you're serious, could we work something out for early December?
          But I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I GOT IT ALL! (George Costanza)
          GrouchyTeacher.com

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          • #6
            Re: Downtown Denizens: Help a Teacher?

            Originally posted by scrivener View Post
            Dammit, Lynn. Why didn't I think to ask you last week? You would have been AWESOME for the students to meet! They got REALLY shy in Chinatown, pretty much not taking any good pictures of the PEOPLE...if I had thought of it, I could have just had them follow you around and let you MAKE people let my students take photos. Gr.

            If you're serious, could we work something out for early December?
            Anytime! It would be my pleasure and honor to meet your students and show them the true Chinatown!

            Lynn
            Be AKAMAI ~ KOKUA Hawai`i!
            Philippians 4:13 --- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Downtown Denizens: Help a Teacher?

              may I add some thoughts to this exercise?

              Point out to your students the subtle marketing differences of each side of town:
              -cigarette ads
              -liquor ads
              -clues of what the "nightlife" scene will evolve into after dark

              How do businesses in each area cater to the different economic groups of people? Knowing you Scriv, you may very well be doing this with the students. And thank you for sharing your mentorship story with us.

              pax

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