Meatloaf Again!

As I have begun my observations at schools all around the Chicago area, I am becoming increasingly concerned by one particular phenomena which seems to be all too common in the classroom. Namely, the students are bored to tears! I must say, nothing frightens me as much about being a teacher as being a complete bore to my students. I thought about this extensively as I viewed class after class sitting there watching the clock. I wondered how I can avoid this fate as well. Suddenly a major realization hit me: variety is the spice of life! Why would anyone want to participate in anything where they can predict with complete accuracy how the ending will turn out? Doesn't that get a little old? Especially if you have to engage in that activity five days a week. English class may seem just like this to most students, something they must endure. After all, by senior year, these students are experts in attending school. Judging by many of their faces, much if not all of this, is simply something to be endured as everyone, including the teacher, counts the days until summer vacation.
Of course, I know that this is the very thing that we are supposed to be learning in this English methods class, and all of our other classes as well. I don't pretend for a moment that this is something that translates into practice very easily in the classroom. Of course, I do understand these things with my mind. However, it is another thing altogether when those faces are staring into yours, not knowing anything about you, not caring all that much, knowing you will lead the class as you see fit, and they are basically at your mercy.
I am quite sure there must be other issues for me to be considering that are more important as I begin my journey as an English teacher. Still, this for me is at the heart of so many of those other more important issues. What good is the entire class if its value is over the minute the final bell has rung? What good does one's teaching do if students drop out of school because they do not see any purpose for it in their lives? As I continue my observations, I will be watching for the differences in teacher effectiveness in this area, teachers who are truly engaging students so that they not only pay attention, but actually lose track of the time as they find themselves wrapped up in the task at hand. I have seen some classes like this, painfully few. Exactly how hard would this be to accomplish for the rookie teacher who does not have much experience to draw from those first fiew years? Large doses of hard work and reflection are obviously involved. I continue to ponder these things.