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Welcome to our advice column! Today we’re helping a teacher who’s fed up with a district policy and a substitute teacher who’s feeling lonely. See what our writers have to say, then share your own advice in the comments! You can read a couple of our previous editions of Ask The Educator’s Room here and here.
Dear Educator’s Room,
I’m required to hang up an “In God We Trust” sign in my classroom, but this year I refuse. It’s something they will look for when they check my classroom, but I don’t care. I’m thinking of hanging up a Coexist sign instead. (from Reddit)
Sincerely,
Conscientious Objector
Dear Conscientious,
While most employers expect their employees to be apolitical, educators face pressure to maintain neutrality that often forces them to put aside their personal beliefs, experiences, and identities. I’m sure that you, like many of your colleagues nationwide, are feeling the stress and anger from recent court decisions, state legislation, and school board drama. I know that lately I’m working extra hard to avoid landmines while doing everything I can to help my students become good humans.
As it stands, the sign you are required to have in your classroom can be found on US currency, public buildings, and license plates. Depending on the type of school that you teach in, it would not be unreasonable to make a display that includes both a “In God We Trust” and Coexist sign to encourage diversity of thought. It is possible to follow requirements while standing by your own principles. You should be able to keep your job, follow the rules, and also stand by your beliefs.
– Sarah Styf
Have a question for The Educator’s Room and our readers? Submit your anonymous dilemma to us here!
Dear Conscientious,
You’re not alone. It was news to me, but apparently there are states with laws in favor of displaying “In God We Trust” signs. Eight states’ laws say the sign “may” be displayed while nine others draw a harsher line with “must.”
If you’re in a “may,” you have wiggle room; if you’re in a “must,” I don’t think you have much of a choice. It’s up to you if you’re willing to break the law, and risk your job, by refusing to put it up. I, for one, would applaud you.
To me, this is a clear violation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, which prohibits the government from making laws that create an official religion. Unfortunately, recent Supreme Court rulings seem to indicate we may no longer be a country that honors the separation of church and state.
As MLK wrote in Letter From to a Birmingham Jail, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” But, moral responsibility or not, you also have a responsibility to your safety and livelihood.
I wish I could say that you would be protected for what you chose to display, or not display, in your classroom, but the religious, right wing attacks on gender affirming education clearly tell a different story.
If you don’t want a target on your back, I would, begrudgingly, keep it up, but hang whatever else you want around it. It seems like your state, and maybe your school community, could take issue with pride flags or Coexist posters, so know that you’re still taking a risk.
But, at least this way, you’re not breaking the law while still exercising your freedom, something right wing lawmakers and constitutional originalists claim to support.
– Emma-Kate Schaake
Dear Educator’s Room,
I’m a lonely substitute teacher. Nobody wants to get to know me because I won’t be here next year. (from Reddit)
Sincerely,
Lonely at Lunch
Dear Lonely,
I know how difficult it can be as the new person on a staff. It must be even more difficult to be in a position where you don’t know what your employment future holds. A school is a small community with a teaching staff that keeps the community functioning. Successful schools work because staff members respect and encourage each other but that also takes a lot of work.
I’m an introvert who struggles to be the one to make the first move in developing relationships with new colleagues, and I’ve done it five different times in twenty years. The key is finding ways you can get to know the other teachers. Make sure you eat lunch in the teacher common areas. If there are teachers in the same grade or subject as you, take advantage of their classroom experience and knowledge of the school building as a starting point for relationships. Stand out in the hallway for short conversations with teachers and attend any faculty events made available to you.
The school year can be incredibly busy and often teachers are so focused on their own classroom needs that they don’t notice new faces in the building. It’s entirely possible that your current colleagues are unaware that you are lonely. Give them the benefit of the doubt and take a step toward relationship building.
– Sarah
Have a question for The Educator’s Room and our readers? Submit your anonymous dilemma to us here!
I’m sorry that the school community doesn’t think you’re worth their time and investment. Don’t they know that with sub shortages, you are worth your weight in gold?
I myself started my teaching career at 22, and am still the youngest staff member, which can feel alienating. Throw in not having kids (or grandkids!) in the mix, with a hopeful dash of optimism about the profession, and lunchtime conversations can be challenging.
What I have found helpful is to find one person you think you can confide in. They might not be your automatic best friend, but who do you make eye contact with in staff meetings? Who has said hello to you in the hallway, even a few times? Who do you run into in the copy center during your prep period?
In my experience, when you’re vulnerable and say “Hey, I’m really lonely” or “I could really use help with this lesson plan,” teachers are more than willing to help.
Because teaching is such an extroverted profession when it comes to kids, people don’t realize that we often get siloed into our classrooms and routines, without a lot of input from our peers. I think “work besties” or authentically collaborative professional learning communities are more rare than you’d think. Who knows, maybe that person you decide to reach out to will really appreciate it too.
– Emma-Kate
About the Advisors
Sarah Styf is a 19-year high school English teacher. She lives in the Indianapolis area with her husband and two children. She is passionate about education reform and civic engagement. She can be found on Instagram @sarah.styf and Twitter @sarahstyf.
Emma-Kate Schaake is a National Board Certified English teacher in Washington state. She’s passionate about her teacher leadership role at the building and district levels, creating professional development on equity, school culture, and social justice. She writes about her ongoing journey to unlearn myopic history, act as an advocate for her students, and think critically about her role as an educator. Follow her on Instagram @msschaake
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