Error: I'm afraid this is the first I've heard of a "writeback" flavoured Blosxom. Try dropping the "/+writeback" bit from the end of the URL.
Interns
Starting Monday we're going to participate in a program through which we will host two teachers from smaller Kansas City middle schools and show them how we do science. I'm pretty excited about this, but there are a few things that give me pause.
My boss is out of town all next week, so it falls to me to introduce these folks to all of the research projects we have going. While I feel pretty confidant in my understanding of what we do, I'm sure they'll find questions to ask that I'll have no answer for and I'll end up looking like a jackass.
Also, they're going to be in the lab from 8:00 to 5:00 every day, while I'm only in the lab from 12:00 to 5:00 once classes begin on Tuesday...and most of the other research assistants in our lab graduated in May. So, I have a three hour block of time on Monday, after their orientation, to teach them how to do enough tasks independently to fill four hours every day while I'm in class.
I spent hours today printing and collating lab protocols as well as a number of journal articles published by our lab and other related labs. I know that if I showed up on my first day and was handed a giant binder full of jargon I'd feel pretty fucking intimidated. I really hope I don't scare them off.
I want to assume that these teachers have either some collegiate background in biology, or at least a personal interest in the subject, since they volunteered for this program. They are getting paid for it, though, so I guess they could just view it as an easy second paycheck for the summer.
There's this woman who proselytizes for a program for science and math majors to expedite the process of getting qualifications to teach K-12. She says that there's a dire need for people who are experienced scientists and mathematicians to teach at that level. This seems like a really noble goal, since science literacy in this country seems abysmal, but I just can't see myself teaching middle or high school. I remember what I thought of my teachers back then, and the prospect of putting up with little shits like my younger self for $30K a year is not very appealing.
So, yeah, I hope my new friends are cool.
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