This is the second Post on my Blog, so I am still working what to say and how to say it. I also have to gage how often to do this. My fear is using up all of my ideas in a month. Then what? My intent is not to offend so many people that my message is never delivered. I also don’t want to sound as if I have all of the answers, because I do not. As an educator who travels to many schools in many Districts on Long Island, I am in a unique position to make observations based on real experiences.
My first considered observation is that Parking is terrible for visitors at about 80% of the schools I visit. I have no idea if that observation will amount to big changes in Education, but it is a pet peeve. I get to do that with my own blog.
I have always enjoyed talking with elementary students about their school experience. Little kids LOVE school. It does seem however, that as they get older and are influenced by the more experienced students with whom they have contact, this educational enthusiasm dwindles with each year. The final culmination of this has been fondly referred to as “Senioritis”. Yes, I know there are other factors too, but they do not support where I am going with this.
This same love of school may, for the purpose of this post, be compared to the Pre-service teachers that we put out each year. Pre-service teachers are student teachers. They must spend several hours of actual teaching in order to qualify for certification. Their great enthusiasm for teaching is evident in most students, but only after the first few days of terror at the beginning. Everyday has a light bulb moment when students see and experience so many of those things they have been theorizing for months and now they get it.
If they are fortunate enough to get a job, they carry that new enthusiasm with them. They understand and employ all that they have been taught. They have energy and a passion for teaching. They are like those little kids in elementary school loving it all. They are into Bloom, Rubrics, assessments, authentic learning, technology tools, pedagogy and they do Lesson Plans.
At that point in their careers they are sponges for everything educational. That is when they are helped along by the experiences of others. How many times have we heard something like, “you’re not in a college class anymore. It doesn’t work like that in a real classroom”. That may be an accurate statement. It probably does not work like that in every real classroom, but why not?
I would almost prefer that the experience of the new teacher would take hold on the Veteran teacher. That enthusiasm and understanding and energy for teaching and learning would become the dominant form of experience for teachers. That might move the change in the system that everyone seems to agree is needed.
Now, you are thinking, “He is nuts, my school is not like that.” I believe that too, but if that were true of every school why is our education system in the shape it is in. What happened to that glow that we all had when we started. Yes, there are hundreds of reasons that an existing negative attitude persists in many, but not all educators. The mere fact that you are still reading this post sets you apart from thousands of other educators who would not have any interest in reading anything talking about improving attitudes in education. Your action of reading this post on a computer also sets you apart from many other educators. These are positives.
Our educational leaders really believe that they are addressing this need to change attitudes by providing an inspirational speaker at the beginning of every school year. That works well for feeling good as you leave the auditorium. For me that inspired feeling never lasted more than a day. There was never a real take away. I would suggest that the thousands of dollars spent on inspirational speakers be used to pay teachers to share best practices. Support those things that educational research tells us really works in the classroom. Allow those teachers who have been successful to share their successes. Do not allow soured experiences sour our new teachers. Use their energy to inject a system that sometimes becomes too lethargic.
Best practices are not necessarily based on experience. We need to establish what constitutes a best practice in the classroom and promote that with every member of the staff. We need to showcase what works and what we expect. We do not need merit Pay. We need to use that money to enable successful teachers at any level of experience share their successes. Additionally, as veteran teachers, we should always consider the advice that we share with our younger colleagues. We are models.
I realize that this is all based on generalizations, so you need not remind me of that. There are places where this may not hold true. It would be my hope that all schools would exhibit the positive attitudes needed for success. I also wish that as long as my wishes are being granted, that somebody does something about the damned parking situation so poor at so many schools.
My Island View 
OK, you’re on a roll now! Blog on, my friend, blog on!
I appreciate the remarks about the sharing of best practices at the beginning of the school year when we are open to the newness of the process. Teachers have hope of new beginnings and change and making a difference. If that continued through the year, difference would continue and improvement would be part of the practice. Nice thought provoking blog entry.
You are on the money. We choose our attitude -be it your first year of teaching or 30th.. We have a collective responsibility to our students to stay on top of our profession and to do our personal best for them – EVERYDAY. Determining best practice, supporting teachers with their personal growth, understanding and implementation is key. Sometimes that means coming out of our comfort zone but with support and collaboration it can happen. Comfortable is not always effective – effective is not always comfortable 🙂 I hope you always find a parking spot..
I agree with Ms. Maestro – they say “age is a frame of mind” – I believe that your level of enthusiasm for teaching falls into that adage as well.
I have been teaching for 16.5 years at the same school and have to say that I am more enthused and excited now than I was in my first year. I would even risk saying that I think I am working harder now than I ever have been because I have learned different things and want to share all that wisdom and those resources with my own students.
I would rather feel this way about something I describe as my “passion” than have the “Senioritis” of a veteran teacher.
I would challenge schools to go beyond “first day best practices.” Challenge yourselves and your peers to present best practices to each other throughout the year. Dedicate staff meetings, professional development days, peer observations, etc. to ongoing best practices learning. Just as students learn from each other, so should teachers. Plus, it’s cheaper 🙂
I always envied the teachers who taught in suburban schools that offered plenty of parking spaces. In the urban areas where I taught you were lucky to find a spot close to your school and even more fortunate to find your car in one piece at the end of the school day.
Speaking of parking we need to park the good practices that occur in many classrooms in one place so that they can be shared. Why do we “keep reinventing the wheel?”
Your first blogs are definitely thought provoking and much needed. “Keep on blogging!”
Well, I think you’ve just voiced what many of us experience… and let me say it is not just in k12, it is also in vocational learning as it is in HE…. most likely in other sectors too!
Having entered the system as a “novice”, I was told that the enthusiasm would fade away after a couple of weeks, and I would just become one more of those teachers whose goal is to do your working hours while nervously waiting for the ‘bell’ to tell me to go home. I must say that at the beginning it felt hard to believe, after a while I became shocked that some of my young peers took similar, when not worse, routes… And so the gap between me and my local teacher community grew bigger and bigger. So big it became, that I was ‘forced’ to find alternatives to link to people who still felt passionate about what they do. You see, I need to relate to things… I can only do well if I, somehow, am able to establish a connection – identify a passion – with what I am doing. And I need a critical mass around me, who instead of complaining, gathers efforts to solve the problems and issues we all face. So yes, the web has come handy in that sense. I can select who to learn with and from, but, unfortunately, I cannot choose who I work with…
After having spent 5 years in Vocational Learning, I am currently working in HE and the biggest problem I face now is not much different from the one I faced before: working culture! Changing culture is just the hardest thing I have ever come to do. I am not sure I will ever achieve it. I know I cannot change people. They have to want that change themselves… [and I could go on and on…]
The problem is that I can’t stop to be amazed at some people’s attitudes. Being part of a system whose motto is to generate new knowledge, and learn and experiment new things [= education, right?], you would think that everyone would be wiling to embrace new challenges, test new approaches and share what they know with a smile on their lips and brightness in their eyes, as a sign of enthusiasm…
But no, people create routines, distance themselves from others and above all have a hard time listening to others, let alone taking in any new advise!!
But like you’ve said not all is negative. There is also positive things and I must say that I have encountered people who are willing to take a chance, who still get that light bold moment when they come to work, who are keen to make a difference… as much as for themselves as for those who they teach. And that, I think, is crucial. Teachers have to like what they do, but above all they have to care for their students!
Being an educator is [should be] a special thing. Passing on knowledge, helping create new knowledge, being part of the new generations’ learning paths…. isn’t that something?
I just don’t understand how someone could get so bitter about it…?
Great post. Keep it up! 😉
P.S.: parking in HE is apparently as bad… 🙂
There seems to be an attitude among administrators that teachers will not listen to a colleague from their own district.
So they hire someone from outside to spread their message. And they pay these outsiders a good amount to come and share their expertise.
I worked in a school district that had great professional development. However, they would not pay their own staff to provide staff development. Sharing expertise with colleagues requires a great deal of time to prepare and teachers do it on their own time. Some teachers felt resentful when an outsider gets a nice fee and they would get practically nothing for the same work.
Judie –
I feel compelled to reply. Administrators do spend money bringing in someone with ideals that may be unrealistic. So many of these people start out with, “I WAS in the classroom for 12 years before doing this” As I listen to them, it is obvious that they haven’t tried to implement their ideas into the classroom.
I have just been “hired” by my district to create a 90 minute presenation on a tech implemenation practice that I do. Great! Price – $100. It will take me in the neighborhood of 10-12 hours to really finalize the product so that it is entertaining, informative, and productive for the attendees. Now, I know, still $10 per hour. I am presenting three times throughout the course of the day. To top it off, as soon as I present, people will be asking questions through email on “how do I” do this. Which, on top of my teaching duties, will add more to do. I know that top outsiders that come in get more than $100!
Not complaining, just saying!
Not unlike the weekly #edchat discussions, your blog posts invite many threads! You ask why our classrooms do not work like those we remember in college and I would guess that the fact that we are able to choose those classes and the built in motivation of that fact may have something to do with it. Try as we might, not every student is going to be as interested in what we teach as we may be. But the best teachers always try and many get close!
From the studies that I have come across, some of the most effective professional development comes from our immediate peers because of their relevance and insight. You are right on the money here. Speaking of money, it certainly may be better spent on taking advantage of those who know our school and system best. I guess that precludes me from asking you to come speak at my school at the beginning of the next school year which is too bad because we are just completing some construction and have added many more parking spaces. 🙂
Very good post–enjoyed reading it! It makes me wonder why “experienced” teachers become this way. Are there identifiable reasons for this? And if so, how can we remedy the situation. I agree that each teacher is responsible for their attitude and enthusiasm–but I hope we can remove the obstacles that the educational system puts in front of teachers.
You are right. As a teacher you have to find ways to keep your passion for teaching the same as when you started. It gets harder every year, but that is why there has to be change. We can’t always do the same things over and over and expect to stay happy.
Another thoughtful post. I think Jeffrey’s comment is dead on. There are schools where experienced teachers are enthusiastic, reflective and inspired. We should look at those schools to see what’s working.
I laughed when I got to the part where you said, “The mere fact that you are still reading this post sets you apart from thousands of other educators…” because I was just thinking that you were preaching to the choir, Tom! That’s okay so long as you know it!
Finally, I must confess I am tired of the term “best practices.” I’ve been in education for more than 25 years, teaching middle school for nearly 15, and I have heard the term best practice used so much that it is meaningless. Who determines what are best practices and how do we get teachers to practice them? Clearly, just stating something is best practice is not enough.
Tom,
Great post. Many of your points are the reason I stay out of the teachers’ lounge. When I first started teaching I learned how to avoid the negativity. That and trying new things in my room to keep me excited about teaching (almost) every day.
I feel the exact same way about my blog…so afraid I’ll run out of ideas. So when I think of something, or hear a quote that might possibly, turn into a post, I write down. Hopefully I’ll remember what I meant when I read my notes later on! 🙂
I agree that the veteran teachers often seem to lack the same experience as those just entering the profession. However, I’ve found that that’s not always true. I’ve found several veterans on twitter, you included, who have inspired me to make a positive change in education, and have recharged my batteries, so to speak.
I find it hard to believe you will ever run out of things to write about 🙂 My only suggestion is to develop a tag line at the end, like a signature. Something like, “Goodbye, remember I love you all!”
I am enjoying your blog and all of the comments so far! This year I am a F.A. ( faculty associate) and have an intern ( student teacher) in my classroom for 3 days a week and she attends classes 2 days per week at San Jose State. Although I consider myself someone who strives to be “always learning, reflecting and changing” my practice, I do believe that mentoring a teaching intern holds me to an even higher standard. Her insights, energy and willingness to go the extra mile make me very hopeful that there are committed people joining our profession. I learn so much from her and we have formed a strong partnership where we use a reflective interactive journal to keep track of our discoveries, challenges, and questions.
On another note, all of the talk here about professional development is interesting as well; I would rather talk to an audience of strangers at a conference, than present to my peers. I realize that there is something very wrong with that. I feel like I work with many teachers who resent those who go the extra mile. I need to learn how to ignore those people and do what I know is best for my students. Thanks for inspiring a wonderful discussion.
Tom,
I appreciate your understanding of the enthusiasm pre-service teachers and new teachers bring to the profession. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed working with over 20 student teachers. I enjoy learning from and with these excited teaching prospects.
Each semester, I tell my middle school students that I do NOT know everything. I explain our class goal is to learn together. It’s amazing to see the look on their faces when I admit that I want and need to learn too. It is even more fun when I’m asked a question and can honestly answer “I don’t know, would you like to figure this out together?”
I have been at conferences where we’ve had the “inspirational speaker” who tries to excite us about the importance of education or thinking about the worth of a child. I personally feel that every student is important and am still involved in teaching because I LOVE MY JOB!
I regularly invite my new principal to drop by my classroom. I explain the activity my students will do. Sometimes he drops in for 5-10 minutes. After a recent class visit, he asked me if I to share the activity to our entire faculty during a Professional Development day. I was concerned about doing this because of previous faculty comments. I’ve heard experienced teachers say … “Why is … better than me? His students are no better than mine!” My principal said “Everyone should benefit from seeing an example of Best Practice.”
I hope I never feel that I’ve learned everything and can just pull last semester’s lesson out to use again. I started this education journey because I enjoy learning and want to share this excitement with my students. I appreciate your post reminding me that I’m different because I read and respond to such posts. Please continue to provide reasons to be different from the “tired educators.”
Hi Tom
A classic Antipodean study summary by John Hattie to ponder exactly the question:
Click to access teachers_make_a_difference.pdf
Cheers & good luck with the blog.
Tomaz
Didn’t realize that you had only started blogging, after reading this I wonder what took you so long?
New teachers renew the spirit of hopefulness in me. I learn from them and am inspired by the freshness and unjaundiced view they bring to education.
Without them, I think my teaching career would have ended long ago, mired in the despair that is so evident among most of the “experienced” teachers have.
I do my best just to avoid the “vets.” While trying to plan for this current semester, I tried doing some a little planning over break so we could have a CHANCE to get prepped for our End of Course Algebra II exam. My 30 – year vet deskmate told me to relax and that we could wait until the day before. Granted, I’m sure she will do a fine job following the same materials/timeline as previous years, but I was completely turned off by the way she was “supporting” me.
[…] Does Experience Help or Hinder? Writer: Tom Whitby Date Posted: January 10, 2010 Subject: Don’t let educators lose their […]