professionals treated like animals

I think it's bullshit that people can put me down, harass me and verbally abuse me because I am a teacher. So because I went to school, I get to be treated as less? Or is it because I work with children you have the right to treat me like one? Better yet is it because you have a child that you have the right to treat me as an inferior?

I chose this profession and I knew that parents complicate this job but I'm appalled that verbal abuse should just be let go like it didn't happen. That it should becomes water under the bridge just because the parents need to "get it off their chest" or because they were feeling frustrated.

What about me? I slave over the books and the papers and my world is about your child. And you don't think I have feelings? Like I don't need to be treated better than this? Like I don't deserve to?

But you can scream at me, advise me how to be "successful" as a teacher and demand more of my after work time to be devoted to your child.

You want to complain about me and what I am doing. Be my guest. But do not share those thoughts with me.

I chose a profession where I am giving myself up for this job. I chose a profession and fall in love with my children each year. I chose a profession that allows me to change the world.

I didn't do it to get your lip or to be your personal servant who you can berate and put down just because you are having an off day. Think before you send something. Be professional.

Positivity is key

Finally, finished the book. I would be curious how my past workers feel about me as a leader. I was not a know-it-all. I listened to their concerns and made them my own, I helped them problem solve (two heads are better than one) and I created ideas and checklists as I went to help myself figure out what to work on. Oh, that preschool was my baby but it was also my burden.

Looking where I am now, I am the youngest of my cohort by a landslide (everyone I teach with is minimally 20 years older than I am). I am not expected to be the leader by them, I am expected to be lost and immature. I believe in some aspects I am expected to fail. And that doesn't mean that they don't respect me or like me or learn from me. Just that being the youngest and least experienced isn't the person you pick to lead.

So how do I become a leader of a group of leaders? (After all, that's what teachers are.) For one, I admit to my weaknesses both in lack of experience and in what we are doing. I also need to be on the same page as them but keep us on track. (This is something I may struggle with because effective learning happens when you get off the track). I need us to bounce ideas off of each other and let people complain about the system but also work on ways to resolve those complaints. I need to enforce "take aways" (what you are walking away from the conversation with that you can use) and actionable requests (your homework). And I have to do all this without it being a burden (on themselves or on me!)

I think this could really work. I think my group is pretty good about listening (And loves to complain) now we have to make it manageable and hopefully cut down some of our work time. This is going to be interesting.

Managing ‘‘has to be learned . . . not just by doing it but by being able to gain conceptual insight while doing it’’ 

 I started reading the book Change Leader and I was inspired by the first few lines of the book expecting to see greatness at the turn of every page. Really, all you have to do is read the preface and the chapter titles. The rest of the book is trash. I am struggling to finish it. But I will and then it will all be over.

On the flip side, I do think education needs this book and I like that my district provided it to me. It is showing me that the district knows there are problems and that they know they aren't fixing it.

It is focusing on looking internally, at the organization and at your own abilities and working with a team to step up the game. I think this is exactly what can fix education. Teachers working together, teachers deciding what is going on, teachers focusing on what they know each other needs.

Why at the beginning of the year doesn't the principal ask us where we struggle? As teachers, I am sure we would share because we have to reflect on what we do daily. So instead of giving us pointless Professional Development on: Recess, How to group student work or how to put the unit in the answer of a math problem. We could be diving into the actual issues: some teachers struggle with classroom management, others with inspiring the students, others with finding ways to use the textbook without pulling your hair out. I personally, suck at test making. These are the things that we could really be focusing on and diving into. And every year it may change and every year it may not, depending if the teacher is satisfied with their improvement.

But it would be much more beneficial and we could have actual conversations about problems some teachers face daily. Wouldn't we all want to help those that we know are struggling with something, we personally, feel good about and strong with?

After I left the preschool, I said that never again would I want to be a principal, but depending on how things move around and things change in education. I could consider it. I am a natural leader, I am not some micromanaging bitch (hell, I don't even pay attention to the details). So I may have to consider it when I get burnt out on teaching (and again with these 95 hour weeks, it is possible that happens sooner than later).