The other day I was speaking with a colleague of mine about the nature of our work in classroom instruction at the university. She brought up an interesting point about certain jobs being demanding, like surgery and the fact that if you're having an "off day" it could have serious consequences for the patient. She went on to say that if we have an "off day " and deliver a so-so lecture, no real harm, no one dies, the next lecture will be better.
It's true, university students are forgiving. I've even shown a time or two to class with serious laryngitis and virtually no voice and somehow the content got delivered, students helped out and I made up for lost time the following week. The same luxury simply does not exist for K-12 teachers. The work of K-12 teachers is so critical that they need to be substituted if they are ill or need to be away. At the university, we simply cancel the class. Imagine that, canceling something people have already paid for. Funny, no one complains, most even celebrate. This supports my theory that education is the one thing where people want less for their money. Odd phenomenon.
So, now for the point of this rambling. In the vast majority of the regions where teachers practice their craft (I get to be one of those teachers again this year at a middle school, teaching some science sections) the students come from low socio-economic circumstances. Their lives are fragile and resilient at the same time. There is high need on the side of the students. Many come from environments where the adults in their lives are unstable, under prepared for parenting and just plain overwhelmed. Their behavior in the home can be unpleasant, there is alcohol involved, sometimes drugs and violence. The last thing these students need is for their teacher to have an "off day".
In K-12 classrooms "off days" do have serious consequences. Maybe the consequence is not immediate, but add up enough of those types of days and somebody can't read, somebody never got past the "algebra gate keeper", somebody else can't pull a paragraph together—let alone the pain of low Standardized Test Scores, API's, and AYP's. O.K., long term pain isn't that bad, besides you get to share it with other teachers. Let's talk "short term" pain.
If the K-12 teacher is a little "off" the energy just isn't there. In a well managed classroom, especially one with high achieveing students, there will be forgiveness. However, in a classroom with lower achieveing students where the behavior issues are still teetering somewhere between stepping on an ant hill and losing the brakes in your car, forget about about creating an environment condusive to learning—pray there are no classroom visitors with any influence over your career.
Suck it up. Whatever is going on in your life (and yes, kids do need to understand that teachers have lives—but that teachers are in control of their lives) back burner it or stay home. Remember, you're important enough to be substitued.
As always - comments and stories welcomed!
Stef
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* Teachers are important enough to be substitued
ReplyDeleteThat's a very refreshing idea! I didn't see it like this before....Before I think of it as "because there has to be an adault watching over the students, so the school district gets subs".
* leave personal emotion outside of the classroom
I think what I took with me after taking your TED 406 + TED 446 was that whatever we do, the second we step into the classroom with a group of kids in it, we must be a professional. As I put this on practice, I found that I actually have more students came to talk to me (even though I'm a substitute teacher) about their teachers....which is kind of interesting since I didn't think students would care enough to talk to someone who would only be there for one day.
But, as I talked to other teachers during my observations for other Credential classes, the teachers do tell me one thing: students do watch and make comments of whatever their teachers are doing.
They told me that sometimes the students may not find out the reason behind the action, but they do watch the teachers' every move for certain.