Saturday, October 27, 2007
Did I ever mention how I feel about...
roller coasters? Love 'em, hate 'em, I just Have to be in the Front. Since starting to teach two months ago (it's only been two months?) I have not stepped off my own personal coaster. I think I've figured it out and then...BAM...I'm back to feeling as though I'm on information overload and none of it is coming out for the benefit of my kids. Adjusting to "office politics" is also rather unpleasant. I am a strong believer, and supporter, of my administration - They are dedicated, intelligent, creative people - and to put it bluntly, really nice to boot - and I continuously hear griping and bemoaning about almost every single step they take - it's ridiculous. Now to know me is to understand that I am an extremely opinionated individual, and for the most part, twenty years of practicing law did very little to curb my enthusiasm for putting it out there and getting to the core of the issue. Well some of these teachers top any attitude adjustment that I ever needed - and they're half my age. I realize that I knew everything until I was thirty, and apparently these individuals harbor the same belief. They Are Awesome at identifying problems, they pick Every Single Battle, but when it comes to discussing/proffering solutions they're gone - doing whatever it is they're doing that has them so p'd-off at our administration for "putting too much stress on them" and suffering from "what more do they expect me to do?" I actually had a conversation yesterday wherein I was told "this is the process, it's our job to assist with your lesson planning" to "you should have felt restricted by [our administrator] coming into class" and offering assistance (directly and indirectly - it was wonderful by the way.) IRONY - I relish the support and suggestions - it is what a new teacher needs and benefits from - but when one asks these certain individuals for guidance they look at you as though you should be sweeping sidewalks. I've decided - this is their issue, not mine. They need a dose of confidence and positivity. I will not be brought down - I am a professional - notwithstanding a preaching one at the moment, but I'm getting over it - we've got a soccer game at 2 !!! Go Life - Go Rachel - Go Sox !!!!!!!!!
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1 comment:
You are experiencing what for some reason has been breeding in public schools for a few decades--the need to maintain an adversarial relationship with the administration. I teach in the private sector, and we take the team approach that you sensed when your principal came in and offered help. Others you have identified are much more comfortable in an "us" VS. "them" mentality. Rather than thinking about what is best for the kids and the educational setting, they tend to think about what is best for them as an individual. Not even what is best for "us teachers" collectively.
As you have already discovered the art of teaching is hard enough. The real obstacles are clear enough without confusing them with false "battle lines" between the troops and those who lead. Keep your positive, teachable, "same team" approach, but take at least a year to focus on your duties as much as possible without getting into the teacher's lounge yick-yack and turf wars with your cohorts.
Here's a "dart" you may not be ready for from your fellow teachers...when you do a job well, they will fear it makes them look bad and actually try to tell you to "slack off." When you thank them for their notice but keep doing the job well, they will accuse you of being a "brown noser." In the long run, it is you who will prevail with your administrator, parents, and students, and eventually the teachers worth rubbing elbows with (and they do not all qualify) will also begin respecting you. You've heard the old expression "A new broom sweeps clean." Some will consider you simply a new broom who will wear out and become indifferent like they have done. Education suffers from worn out brooms pretending to care about sweeping who are more interested in leaning in the corner with other brooms complaining about how much "they expect us to sweep."
Hang in there. Focus on your students more than your peers this first year. Don't be discouraged and think in terms of facilitating positive change in attitudes rather than being right and telling them so (that's probably hard for a former lawyer). Sorry to babble on like this. To whatever extent a total stranger, former teacher and school administrator for about ten years can be proud of someone for finishing their first quarter... and not wanting off the roller coaster.
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