To administrators, teachers, students, and parents if you aren’t familiar with Clay Burell, I recommend that you check out his most recent blogs at his site. Clay is diving into incredibly uncharted waters in education that deserve, no, demand attention in this modern world of teaching and technology. Last year Clay decided to not renew his contract at our school and is currently blogging about his experiences as a educator and what it means to teach. During one unit, Clay confronted the fear all teachers must face at least once in their careers — what if I get fired for teaching this? It is a legitimate fear.
The responsibility of teaching is mammoth in scope. On the part of parents, it is a leap of faith and trust; on the part of students, it is a promise for the future; on the part of the teacher, it is a balance between what students really need to learn and what the school will allow them to teach. Sadly, the teachers job rarely is forgiving in nature. Parents demand more, students require care far beyond what teachers can usually provide, and administrators always seem to pile more duties and ridiculous requirements on to the job. But through it all, somehow, someway, teachers get the job done — students learn.
I think some words of advice are proper here for all shareholders I’ve mentioned in the learning circle. Teachers: continue taking risks in the classroom; any teacher worth a dang, knows that those risks produce engagement and learning.
Parents: do not jump to conclusions when your child tells you something about a lesson or teacher; what seems like harm to you, may be producing tangible, valuable, life learning. One of my teachers was often referred to as the worst teacher in my high school, but I remember learning a great deal from the man and being challenged in new and interesting ways. Give your child’s teachers some credit. If you have questions, ask; but ask assuming the best, not the worst in the teacher as a person and professional. After all, how many people come to your office/business/home and accuse you of intentionally harming a child? Teachers love kids.
Students: open the doors of your mind to learning, not for grade, but simply to learn something. Learning is an amazing gift and too few children in the world receive good opportunities to do it. If you are from a family that can provide you with a quality education, take full advantage of it. Many children in the world walk miles to sit in overcrowded classrooms with no air conditioning, books, or even pencils for the chance to learn. Look for the subtle lessons inside the class; learning is all around us. I learned many things from people who were not in charge of “teaching” me anything.
Administrators (this goes for me, too, now.): Believe in your teachers and when you must, stand up to parents. Bullies come in many sizes and shapes; and the parent who claims that he/she will pull his/her child out of the school if you do not fire so-and-so, or change the curriculum, or change the teacher’s style is a bully. They may have their child’s interests at heart, but it does not change the fact that the method is manipulative and therefore corrupt.
