In a few days I will return to my classroom/school, sit through a myriad of inservice programs, faculty meetings, team meetings, and will wring out as much work as I can from the few collective hours I am given to get my classroom ready for the new school year.
I worked most of the summer, but I have enjoyed the last three weeks off, and I will savor the next 4 or so days left of my real vacation.
Many years ago I discovered that I was part of a minority of educators that actually looked forward to the new school year. I am excited to meet my kids, and begin another walk down the path. Where that path will begin is not yet determined. There is always a starting point on the path, but until I am with my kids the where to begin factor is unknown. One thing I am sure of...the destination of the path. Forward, ever forward.
I sympathize with the educators (Veteran and novice alike) who absolutely hate this time of year! They moan and groan about going back. Some get depressed, some even get enraged! I genuinely feel sorry for any educator that feels this way, and I mean that most sincerely! I am totally empathetic...I get it...I understand.
I certainly have not had the opportunity to speak with every teacher in the USA, nor have I spoken with every teacher in my state regarding the matter of hatred linked to the beginning of a school year. I have not conducted any surveys, nor gathered any data. BUT...I have been listening for years to a great many fine educators remark, talk about, or expound on this very subject. I have come to a conclusion, or two about it!
Before I begin conclusioning I must state that as a young-novice teacher (Many years ago), I could NOT understand how any educator could possibly hate teaching! I LOVED teaching and was excited about the new school year! These haters seemed to despise teaching! I came to that conclusion after hearing the complaints during the first week of school, from so many, about how short the summer was, or from statements like..."Damn, here we go again!" I attributed this to a hatred of teaching!
I must also state, that for a short time, I was a bit confused, because I saw amazing teachers doing astounding things in their classrooms. The same teachers who ranted bitterly at the beginning of the year! How could people who were so outraged, or seemingly bogged-down do their jobs with such energetic pedagogical ferocity, and yield such outstanding results with their students? This confusion didn't last long...it became obvious soon enough. The teachers didn't hate teaching, nor did they hate their students. They loved teaching, and they loved their kids every bit as much as I did! It was never about teaching. It was never about students. It was never about grading papers, or administering tests, or assigning homework. It was about what our schools, school systems, and the entire educational environment has become.
Since the institution of NCLB (And now RTTT) the moral of educators has plummeted right into the crapper! Bit by bit the fibers of what an educator stood for began to unravel, and the NCLB magnifying glass that hovered over every teacher's head evolved into a veritable electron microscope! Teachers, administrators and schools districts have been publicly spanked in front of the entire nation for over a decade now for never measuring up, and for never performing well enough. The tide has changed...it seems that our schools have become acronymed test machines, cranking out a product in the form of scores that never measure up to the over-inflated, unrealistic expectations of bureaucrats that have as much teaching experience as a tick does in building a dam!
Our noble profession has been tainted by the mistakes and misdeeds of the powers that were, the powers that be, and (I'm sure) the powers that WILL be. An educator's word in today's world means next to nothing. That is probably the saddest statement I have ever written...no wonder so many great educators hate the beginning of a new school year! Our word (A teacher's authentic, empirical knowledge coupled with the genuine truth of what goes on in our classrooms and schools) used to mean something. Gradebooks held the promise of promotion, or the fear of failure. Those grades recorded online or in an actual gradebook...grades the kids worked everyday for now take a seat behind! What has first seat? The numbers 3 or 4.
All of the students who were in elementary school when NCLB began are now in college or beyond! Other than fond memories of classroom antics, I will bet you that the most ill remembered memory was the DSTP, or with some the DCAS. Within that time the stature of a teacher began to chip away. It didn't matter if a kid had diarrhea on test day, or his dog died...we were the culprits for him/her scoring lower on the test than what was expected. Districts reaching 100% proficiency goals set by DOE, and the fear of teachers being fired for yielding lower than expected scores...for not meeting the mark! It has become less about educating our kids and for them achieving mastery in a subject, and more about status, and scores. DSTP that became DCAS (That will become something new entirely soon) became almost like a national holiday. Prizes given out, awards and special parties for those who meet or exceed the standard. Like a big block party hosted by a bunch of invisible, elsewhere idiots who have turned nine months of education into nine months prep for a week's worth of testing! Then, when an educator celebrates by playing "Party Rock Anthem" in the classroom for his kids because they aced the Math test, or the Science test...that teacher is looked down upon because he has taken four minutes of instructional time for fun and frolicking! Give me a freaking break!!!
Daily classroom schedules have been progressively packed full with curriculum mandates, and learning programs that are geared to the test...hell, everything is now geared to the test! No wonder great educators hate the beginning of the school year!!
Well, all of the above is dark...it is all true, but dark. If by any chance a newbie is reading this...please don't be discouraged. I still look forward to this new year beginning. I always look forward to it beginning, even with all of the business written above this paragraph. I refuse to allow the drudgery of the business ruin my buzz! I will tell you why below...please read on!
I have stated before in past posts that I am a self-contained, fifth grade teacher. In case you are not sure what that is...I keep my kids all day, and teach all subjects. I am not Special Ed. Certified, so my class is Regular Ed....I usually have between 27 and 30 students. Anyway...I am at an advantage to other fifth, sixth, middle and high school classrooms because I have the luxury of time! BUT...no matter what your level is...the same philosophies will work. Just modify or tweak at your discretion. There are also a number of other past posts where I have...longwindedly...gone on about my classroom style, and classroom management procedures. Have a look through them if you like!
* When I close my classroom door...it is MY classroom and soon will become my STUDENTS classroom. That space does NOT belong to anyone else...including parents!
* Have fun with your kids, and validate them regarding subjects they find boring...like Math! I don't mind telling them that I hated Math too when I was their age.
* On a Monday, or some other day...when it is particularly boring...just STOP! Go to your computer type in www.grooveshark.com...pick a song that is current, and have the kids get up and dance the doldrums out. It only takes about 4 minutes.
* Explain everything to parents at Open House, especially disciplinary procedures and the rules of your classroom. My credo in MY classroom to parents is It is MY way or the HIGHWAY...Like it or lump it...if you don't like it transfer papers are in the office! (You will find that you won't have to be this direct with 99% of your parents...where that 1% is concerned remember YOU are the alpha in that room, and it is YOUR house, not theirs!)
* Never miss a teachable moment related to behavior, friendship, lying, etc.
* Establish trust, and now and again trust a kid who has never been trustworthy. If it doesn't work, pull it back, but you may find that some reputed untrustworthy kids blossom when shown a bit of trust.
* Talk to your kids, not at them!
* I never argue with a kid. Some try in the beginning, but realize real soon that this road is closed!
* Finally...don't let the hectic nature of school interfere with the time you have with your kids. Each kid...whether they know it or not...is relying on you to help them become something more than they are. Know them, validate them, demand respect and return it. Model what you want from them always. Let them know how you feel...good, or bad! Let them know you love them in deeds and also with words. Give each one the chance to move further ahead than they ever thought they could, then stand back and watch them go!
For the veterans out there like me...I know that the atmosphere around us has changed, like our world was magically transported to a whole other galaxy. I can only tell you how I deal with this...in my classroom, with my kids I only have one mission...to give them everything I've got. Do I get them ready for the test? Damn right I do...it isn't the kids' fault that the system is flawed! I get them ready big-time, but I also do so much more! No matter how busy it is now...close your classroom door so that it is only you and your kids, and teach them...guide them...show them...let them perform. Become the teacher you were (You teach amazingly! I mean the happy teacher) by putting all your focus on your kids. I do have to say, if I didn't have the ability to do this...I would be a pissed off camper now that it is ten days to the new school year!
I am still part of a minority group of teachers, only because there are very few of us who are actually looking forward to getting back into the classroom. I am also part of the whole...part of a community of educators second to none! I am honored to serve alongside them...well, MOST of them!
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