Nobody becomes a martyr or a cynical teacher overnight. Schools have a hidden curriculum—for teachers. Here's how we stop it.
This is about how good teachers get broken...and how we can stop it.
The cynical teacher who retires isn't necessarily irredeemable. Yes, I'm talking about myself. I'm now empowered. I am collecting my pension and a paycheck. Nothing can stop me now. I'm there because I want to be there and because there's no one to replace me. How are they going to justify taking me out? There aren't even enough subs to cover our normal absences.
When they come up with another rebranded previously failed initiative, I ignore it and I close my door and teach. I teach my way. I teach creatively. I experiment. And every single morning, I greet my kids by name in the hallway and I never fail to do the little things like hall duty. I keep my mouth shut during faculty meetings because I know what I say would be taken badly or worse, as a challenge to the status quo.
I don't try to lead. I used to do that. Before I retired, I was on every committee, and chaired most of them at one time or another. I was a union rep. But in August, it will be 39 years since I became a teacher. If I am actually asked a question in a PLC meeting, I answer it and no more. I don't volunteer. Is that selfish? Maybe, but I did my time in the front. Now, I do what I actually set out to do as an undergrad.
I love that you have included leaders in the ones who shape school culture for teachers. There is a fine line between being accessible and having boundaries. You have done a lot here to shape and make that line clearer for me. Thanks for taking the time to encourage the veterans to be aware of what they are modeling for the new teachers. I'm just retiring and my oldest is just starting student teaching this year...I will definitely share some of these ideas with him, especially the lunch table idea. I couldn't agree more.
Great piece! The Pokémon graphics are a nice touch. We get to choose our lens and our effort. Our influence somewhat shapes the culture. It’s a system that operates under pressure but doesn’t have all the right parts to handle it. You are directing teacher energy into the right direction. Thank you for that. I can grow from that. Something is happening culturally that the school is ill equipped for and my evaluation is more pessimistic after this yea.
Good piece. Captures a lot of the teaching experience. I suppose veteran teachers are rare. I will never achieve it, but aspire to come close. Like the rpg-meme: what doesn’t break you, teaches you.
The cynical teacher who retires isn't necessarily irredeemable. Yes, I'm talking about myself. I'm now empowered. I am collecting my pension and a paycheck. Nothing can stop me now. I'm there because I want to be there and because there's no one to replace me. How are they going to justify taking me out? There aren't even enough subs to cover our normal absences.
When they come up with another rebranded previously failed initiative, I ignore it and I close my door and teach. I teach my way. I teach creatively. I experiment. And every single morning, I greet my kids by name in the hallway and I never fail to do the little things like hall duty. I keep my mouth shut during faculty meetings because I know what I say would be taken badly or worse, as a challenge to the status quo.
I don't try to lead. I used to do that. Before I retired, I was on every committee, and chaired most of them at one time or another. I was a union rep. But in August, it will be 39 years since I became a teacher. If I am actually asked a question in a PLC meeting, I answer it and no more. I don't volunteer. Is that selfish? Maybe, but I did my time in the front. Now, I do what I actually set out to do as an undergrad.
I teach.
I love that you have included leaders in the ones who shape school culture for teachers. There is a fine line between being accessible and having boundaries. You have done a lot here to shape and make that line clearer for me. Thanks for taking the time to encourage the veterans to be aware of what they are modeling for the new teachers. I'm just retiring and my oldest is just starting student teaching this year...I will definitely share some of these ideas with him, especially the lunch table idea. I couldn't agree more.
Great piece! The Pokémon graphics are a nice touch. We get to choose our lens and our effort. Our influence somewhat shapes the culture. It’s a system that operates under pressure but doesn’t have all the right parts to handle it. You are directing teacher energy into the right direction. Thank you for that. I can grow from that. Something is happening culturally that the school is ill equipped for and my evaluation is more pessimistic after this yea.
Good piece. Captures a lot of the teaching experience. I suppose veteran teachers are rare. I will never achieve it, but aspire to come close. Like the rpg-meme: what doesn’t break you, teaches you.