Mr. Davis' Teaching Story

Recently at Sunridge Middle School, I interviewed Jim Davis. He is actually the only technology teacher the school has. His job is to provide the students with an overview of technology in the two or so years that the student has him. I chose to interview Mr.Davis because he teaches something that none of the other teachers teach and that it's a subject that isn’t just learned straight out of a book. Mr. Davis said that he sees his job as to prepare them for their future as that it is something that they will most likely need many times in the future.

As a child Mr. Davis really enjoyed technology in school and also wanted to be a teacher of some sort. In college Mr. Davis graduated with a degree in secondary industrial arts and a minor in P.E./ Coaching and also a minor in biology. He started teaching in Pendleton in November 1985 . Mr Davis said that his first year teaching had a lot less paperwork and record keeping. He says that teachers now probably spend as much as time grading, inputting grades and setting up retesting as they probably do teaching.

I asked him what he likes about teaching something that isn't straight out of books and he replied, “It’s something that kids will be using a lot in their future versus just an assignment.“ After this he told me he has been teaching for 32 years, 29 of those in Oregon. I then asked him how he felt about retiring after he finishes this year and he said that he is relieved. And added to that teaching a class that is motivated and well behaved is one of the best jobs you could ever do but only if they are that or else it's just a constant battle.
Interviewing Mr. Davis was a nice experience. I had all ready knew something about him due to the fact he knows my family. Yet I still learned a lot about him and about teaching. Especially that it is a lot harder than us students probably imagine. Like that managing the students and all of the paper work is a struggle. Now that this interview is over I’m going to try and be more respectful and appreciative for all that the teachers do for us students.