You're Not Teaching if You're Sitting Down!

This is what I was told, in so many words, by more than one administrator at my school. This is also something that I am truly concerned about... It seems that the administrators at my school think that where a teacher is positioned in the classroom has something to do with their effectiveness as a professional educator.

I sat in the library at my school today and listened to the principal try and explain what it is, exactly, that he would be looking for when he walks into teachers classrooms throughout the school year...he asked the staff members (the one's that were present anyway) what we think an administrator would look for first, as soon as they walk into the classroom of one of their teachers? One staff member stated "look to see if the students are engaged in the lesson" and of course, that was not what he was looking for, another said "see if the students are answering questions, or working on something, making sure there is an Aim and a Do Now" Again, this was not what he was looking for... instead he proceeded to say that the first thing they will be looking for, will be where the teacher is and what the teacher is doing.

I sat for a moment and thought about my profession, thought about how I do MY job, and then thought to myself... It doesn't matter where the hell I am in the classsroom, I can teach a lesson from any position in the room, I usually sit at the front of the room; it is a strategic position based upon my classroom management and I have class discussions or have the students work in groups or pairs or filling out charts... I know that I do my job because when I see those same kids again, or hear about them from other professionals I hear that these students are success stories... so what the hell does where I am in the classroom have anything to do with my ability to teach a lesson?"

I am concerned about this initial tactic of administration, because I think that if someone comes into my classroom, where I know I reach students, and they immediately judge my ability to teach based upon whether or not I am sitting when they walk in, then I am afraid that they will miss the real reason that they are supposed to be coming in to watch me teach in the first place... to assess whether or not students are learning. If they are more concerned with where I am positioned, how can they be focused on the important aspects of my classroom? such as whether or not the students are engaged in the lesson, or if there is discussion, analysis, critical thinking, writing, speaking?... I don't know what is important in education anymore.

I couldn't believe that I was sitting in a room filled with educators who were listening to this man spew this nonsense... he was subjecting us to a ridiculous conversation that was meant to be one sided; he was definitely not looking for any response to what he was saying... I mean this is a man who has not had ONE faculty meeting this year... he has disguised his faculty meetings as "differentiated faculty conferences" which means department meetings twice a month... and there is nothing that can be done about it... it's the classic "divide and conquer" technique and it's unfortunate that some teachers may fall for it.

I work in a school where there are MANY relatively new teachers who may or may not be made aware of the rights they have as educators and it's unfortunate that they have to be subjected to these conversations that mean, a teacher is not allowed to be human and take a moments rest in the classroom, a teacher is not allowed to pause and think for a moment... working needs to be continuous, consistent, NON STOP ... not that the rights we have matter in these days with BLOOMSTORM running things.... he's like a tornado of destruction! AHHHHHHHH

And so, I have to continue to teach my lessons, work with the kids and remind myself constantly that they are the reason that I do what I do... they are the reason that I work myself DEAD TIRED.... they are the future... they are my future...

So I keep moving, keep striding, keep writing, keep reading, and keep working so that they can have it, make it better... later... Hope this is not all in vain...

xoxo
Lulu ;)