This week in interviews, is OSA’s Sophomore and Junior English teacher, Mr. Rosenberg. Mr. Rosenberg teaches English with a charismatic approach. During class, Mr. Rosenberg often relates themes and symbols of the current novel to our lives as students, and his own life, which creates a feeling of community in the classroom. Mr. Rosenberg does not only teach a class, he inspires creativity in our academic setting through project based learning, like art projects relating to motifs in literature. —Veronica La Mont
his week in interviews, is OSA’s Sophomore and Junior English teacher, Mr. Rosenberg. Mr. Rosenberg teaches English with a charismatic approach. During class, Mr. Rosenberg often relates themes and symbols of the current novel to our lives as students, and his own life, which creates a feeling of community in the classroom. Mr. Rosenberg does not only teach a class, he inspires creativity in our academic setting through project based learning, like art projects relating to motifs in literature. Mr. Rosenberg’s essay structure guides and constructive commentary on essays help OSA students become increasingly confident in our writing skills. Mr. Rosenberg agreed to conduct an interview with me.
Q: When you were a high schooler what kind of career path did you envision for yourself?
A: I had 100% focus on studying law, besides my alternative career paths (like skateboarding). It wasn’t a money motivated thing, I wanted to work with either immigrant law, or mainly, juvenile justice. I went to DC and wrote about a California proposition that really made me upset, it went along the lines of “if 5 young people are dressed alike, they can be considered a gang.” It was called the juvenile justice act, it really made me angry. I wanted to study the law, but not for the dough, for the improvement of our system.
Q: Was the college you went to the right one for you? What advice can you give to seniors that are trying to choose the “right” college?
I choose UC Santa Cruz for the location, lifestyle, and reputation. It was within an hour and a half drive of where I grew up. I also chose it because one of my best friends attended. It was known for good skateboarding and beaches. I did not enjoy my experience there, I would have left if I hadn’t fallen in love during the first semester. It’s important to think about your individual future I think, I should have transferred.
Q: Who’s your favorite philosopher?
A: FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
Q: What teaching taboos are you hyper aware of?
A: Well I know there are three things teachers need to be successful teachers. You have to be utterly organized, care and have your heart in the right place, and be flexible (being able to change up anything at anytime). Teaching is a performance art, it’s about how you’re able to connect to the students.
Q: What was the toughest situation you faced as a teacher?
A: I had a student that committed suicide.
Q: Why do you live in SF if you teach in Oakland?
A: I love Oakland, but whenever I find myself comfortable somewhere I’ve realized that means it’s time to change it. I was comfortable, moved out of the East side and too a nice place at the Lake. I had everything set up but I wasn’t progressing as a person, working at after school programs. I needed to shake it up, I went to Southern California to do a musical project. I rented a cabin in the middle of nowhere, it helped me find a different voice. I stayed at my sister’s house after that for a bit in Mendocino to teach English. Then I ended up at a skateboard house in SF.
Q: A skateboard house?
A: It was all skateboarders and it was very cheap. It was in the middle of Hunters point, and had a mini ramp. It was a block from Thrasher magazine, from all the skateboard companies. All the guys were my friends, it was ideal.
Q: What’s your proudest moment as a teacher?
A: It’s small moments of triumph, like when the light turns on in a student. You never know when a student’s going to come back and tell you about the how you helped them. I gotta be a nerdy English teacher. Reserving judgement is a matter of infinite hope. If I hold no judgement against you guys, If I go home and don’t take things personally, I can come back and still do my job well, that gets me through the day, along with my family and friends.
Q: Have you ever attended a Grateful Dead show?
A: I skated through the Shoreline parking lot. We just checked out the scene. There was a bunch of mouth breathing hippies, I grew up around them. My dad’s been to the Fillmore in the 60’s, he has old posters and everything. Pops is down with the Dead.
Q: What’s your favorite type of animal?
A: A wombat or turkey, of course! No, I mean a teenager.
Q: Do you regret your recreational activities during high school? If you went back in time, would you do everything the same way again?
A:
Q:Have you ever been robbed? Are you ever paranoid about being in downtown oakland due to recent teacher robberies?
A: I’ve been robbed, had guns pulled on me. I don’t feel [scared] that much. I feel pretty comfortable, I mean if I was walking around in nicer clothes, and not on a skateboard or bike it would be different.
Q: When you were a high schooler what kind of career path did you envision for yourself?
A: I had 100% focus on studying law, besides my alternative career paths (like skateboarding). It wasn’t a money motivated thing, I wanted to work with either immigrant law, or mainly, juvenile justice. I went to DC and wrote about a California proposition that really made me upset, it went along the lines of “if 5 young people are dressed alike, they can be considered a gang.” It was called the juvenile justice act, it really made me angry. I wanted to study the law, but not for the dough, for the improvement of our system.
Q: Was the college you went to the right one for you? What advice can you give to seniors that are trying to choose the “right” college?
I choose UC Santa Cruz for the location, lifestyle, and reputation. It was within an hour and a half drive of where I grew up. I also chose it because one of my best friends attended. It was known for good skateboarding and beaches. I did not enjoy my experience there, I would have left if I hadn’t fallen in love during the first semester. It’s important to think about your individual future I think, I should have transferred.
Q: Who’s your favorite philosopher?
A: FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
Q: What teaching taboos are you hyper aware of?
A: Well I know there are three things teachers need to be successful teachers. You have to be utterly organized, care and have your heart in the right place, and be flexible (being able to change up anything at anytime). Teaching is a performance art, it’s about how you’re able to connect to the students.
Q: What was the toughest situation you faced as a teacher?
A: I had a student that committed suicide.
Q: Why do you live in SF if you teach in Oakland?
A: I love Oakland, but whenever I find myself comfortable somewhere I’ve realized that means it’s time to change it. I was comfortable, moved out of the East side and too a nice place at the Lake. I had everything set up but I wasn’t progressing as a person, working at after school programs. I needed to shake it up, I went to Southern California to do a musical project. I rented a cabin in the middle of nowhere, it helped me find a different voice. I stayed at my sister’s house after that for a bit in Mendocino to teach English. Then I ended up at a skateboard house in SF.
Q: A skateboard house?
A: It was all skateboarders and it was very cheap. It was in the middle of Hunters point, and had a mini ramp. It was a block from Thrasher magazine, from all the skateboard companies. All the guys were my friends, it was ideal.
Q: What’s your proudest moment as a teacher?
A: It’s small moments of triumph, like when the light turns on in a student. You never know when a student’s going to come back and tell you about the how you helped them. I gotta be a nerdy English teacher. Reserving judgement is a matter of infinite hope. If I hold no judgement against you guys, If I go home and don’t take things personally, I can come back and still do my job well, that gets me through the day, along with my family and friends.
Q: Have you ever attended a Grateful Dead show?
A: I skated through the Shoreline parking lot. We just checked out the scene. There was a bunch of mouth breathing hippies, I grew up around them. My dad’s been to the Fillmore in the 60’s, he has old posters and everything. Pops is down with the Dead.
Q: What’s your favorite type of animal?
A: A wombat or turkey, of course! No, I mean a teenager.
Q: Do you regret your recreational activities during high school? If you went back in time, would you do everything the same way again?
A:
Q:Have you ever been robbed? Are you ever paranoid about being in downtown oakland due to recent teacher robberies?
A: I’ve been robbed, had guns pulled on me. I don’t feel [scared] that much. I feel pretty comfortable, I mean if I was walking around in nicer clothes, and not on a skateboard or bike it would be different.