Students are like cats, and to love them is to teach them

Isaac with his mom (my daughter) Quinn.

   While petting one of my four cats recently I marveled how completely different they all are.

   Isaac likes to play fetch, and will jump three feet high to grab a toy out my hand. But we don’t dare pet him on the back because he hates that. He loves hanging over a shoulder, but only in the morning.

   Dolly likes to greet me every morning by running into the room and jumping on my stomach. At night she likes to chase me around the house like a cat and mouse. Dolly hates being picked up or carried, and she loves being combed.

   Rex is the vocal one, but only in the morning. He has the most beautiful meow I’ve ever heard. It’s nearly singing. He also fetches, but only when he feels like it. He hates being combed.

   Sophie, Rex’s sister, is the silent type. She likes to be held but looks absolutely terrified and is as stiff as a board. She doesn’t fetch, doesn't mind being combed, and plays rather rough with her much bigger brother.

  As I was thinking about their varying personalities it struck me that felines are like students! No, I’m not saying students are animals, or that I treat them like cats. The point I’m making is that students are like cats, so you can’t treat them all the same way.

   Cats have a rep for being independent and stubborn, though some are rather needy, and yet others are mean as snakes and would claw your hand off if you attempted to coddle them.

   Throughout a semester or school year teachers get to know their cats, I mean kids, pretty well. Let's face it, what teacher hasn’t encountered these same personalities traits?

   Here’s a list of the most common types of students I’ve dealt with over the years:

·      Teacher’s pet. These types always aim to please. They appear to listen to every word I say, take lots of notes and never miss a class. This is why they're the teacher’s pets! I’d be lying if I said we always hope for perfect students in every class, but that’s unrealistic and would be quite boring.

·      Inquisitive. They can’t ask too many questions, and often to the annoyance of their classmates. Even when they know the answers they ask the questions. But every class needs one of these types because they ask important questions that too many students are afraid to ask.

·      Defensive. Most everything I say is either not how they heard it, or not how they learned it before. They know better, and think I should know more! I just have to remind myself to take a deep breath and not get defensive myself.

·      Insecure. These students simply need attention, though it’s hard to notice since they often tend to be invisible. I often wonder if they were neglected, or carry a chip on their shoulders due to social or economic factors. These are the kids who should not be ignored, even if they are a little defensive. I try to give these students a little more attention.

·      Egotistical. This type frustrates me a bit. Sure, they have talent, but it takes more than talent to make it in this business. Here's one problem: if they think they know everything, then they won’t listen to instructions because they want to do everything their own way. These over-confident types don’t understand yet that someone is always their boss, even if they are freelance, and they need to do things as instructed. Another problem is they often aren’t open to improving or learning. I counter this attitude by docking grades when all students don’t follow even the smallest assignment details!

·      The techie. These students, most of which are CRT (computer arts majors), are much appreciated because they bring a skill set I sometimes lack. They are often willing to share their knowledge with the class, and seem to actually enjoy helping their classmates, and me. Hey, we teachers don’t know everything, and we never will!

   Okay, you can't really compare a cat to a techie, but you know what I mean. Teachers should be cat people, even the ones with sharp claws, because it's our job to teach even the unteachable.
   So yes, I love all of my cats, because, after all, I'm the cat lady.

Meet the student, admin staff of the Owens Outlook newspaper

   The Owens Outlook newsroom will thankfully be buzzing with activity next week when the Fall semester begins Aug. 19.

    It will be a bit of an adjustment for editor-in-chief Josh Widanka and managing editor Cathy Zeltner, the dynamic duo who has worked in a quite, barren office throughout the summer to plan and plot for both the online and print editions of the Owens Outlook.

   The online edition will continue to provide the Owens student and faculty community with news and entertainment, but the exciting news is the return of the print edition, expected to make its debut in November.

Owens Outlook staff from left: Josh, me, Cathy, Chris G. and Mike the IT guy.

   We are currently ironing out the details of what the print edition will look and feel like, and where it will get printed. Josh and Cathy are also working tirelessly to recruit student staff. It is a big endeavor to start a paper from scratch, but these two editors have the heart, mind and stamina to get the job done!

   Without Josh and Cathy’s commitment to bringing back the print edition, it simply wouldn’t happen.  It also takes the support of our administrative boss, Chris Giordano, and IT guy Mike Jerzykowski. As the new adviser, one of my jobs is to introduce these key players to the community. So…

   Editor-in-chief Josh Widanka has been pursuing a degree in Political Science at Owens since 2010. He had a very hard choice to make this summer: either be a member of the Owens student government or continue his editorship at the Outlook. To do both would have been a conflict of interest. Fortunately for the Outlook staff, he chose journalism, which makes sense considering his journalism philosophy:    

   “Freedom of Speech has become too limited. We as a society are standing back and allowing more and more of our freedoms to be taken away. We should fight back and I feel that the press is the means by which we can do this. The press, no matter what level it is on, is charged with reporting fair and accurate news.
   “I would love to see the Outlook become a massive student driven organization on the Owens campus. I want to help to achieve this by fighting against the norms, and bringing our paper back from an all online issue to a printed one, as well.”

   Managing editor Cathy Zeltner graduated from Northwood High School and Penta County Career Center. She has a business degree in Office Administration, as well as two certificates from Owens Community College. She currently earning a photography degree.

   Cathy became involved with the Outlook while a student in my Intro to Photojournalism course. She started out as a photographer, then was quickly promoted to photo editor and then managing editor.

   “I believe there is a lot of information that people don’t know about. I want to make that information available. Knowledge is power. I look forward to returning to print. I believe a print version, as well as an improved online version, will be useful tools for Owens students, staff and faculty. I am excited to have the opportunity to help make these changes.”

   Our IT guy is Mike Jerzykowski, who has an associate of Applied Science degree in Information System Administration. He is a former Toledo Blade employee, and has been at Owens since February 2012. Mike will help the Outlook staff with our IT issues, for both the online and print editions.  

   “Journalism comes in many flavors: print, online and television, just to name a few. However, they all should have the common goals of quality and accurate reporting. My vision for the Outlook is putting out a quality print and online newspaper that the faculty, students and staff can be proud of.”

   Like I posted earlier on this blog, the Outlook editors and myself wouldn’t even attempt to bring back a hard edition without administrative support. By that I mean that the administration will have a hands-off approach, and let the students control the content without prior review or censorship.

   My boss Chris Giordano, dean of Student Life, has assured us that the Outlook staff does, indeed, have that support.

   Chris earned his BA in English from Rowan University, a MS degree in counseling from Upsala College, and a Graduate Certificate in Adult and Organizational Learning from Suffolk University. He’s been at Owens for four years. 

  “The Outlook is being re-conceptualized to ensure engaging, developmental and experiential elements is a part of a meaningful co-curricular student experience at Owens.  My vision is to transition The Outlook into a sustainable student-run print and electronic edition newspaper that becomes fully integrated into the culture of the campus.”

   Last but not least is…me, the new Outlook adviser.

   I have been in the newspaper business since I was 18, but this is my first time to advise a student publication. My vision as adviser is to train and support the student staff, but ultimately let them make their own decisions; let them make their own mistakes; and let them claim their own triumphs. How else will they learn to be responsible communicators?

   Now you know a little more about us. I will post a photo of us next week, after our next meeting.