- Five Ways to Brighten the School Day - September 24, 2019
- Opinion: Don’t Blindly Follow Edu-Celebrities - September 4, 2019
- Veteran Teachers Need Choice & Customized Professional Development - August 3, 2019
- Five Gems of Knowledge I Learned at the Annual Teacher Self-Care Conference - June 27, 2019
- Copyright Violations in the Classroom: When Beg, Borrow, and Steal Turns into a Crime - May 29, 2019
- Silent Compliance, not Honesty is Wanted in Education - March 7, 2019
- Why School Father & Daughter Dances are Antiquated - February 10, 2019
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Should Not Be an Inclement Weather Makeup Day - January 14, 2019
- Teacher Attendance Does Matter, but I Still Unapologetically Take Days Off at My School - December 21, 2018
- It’s the Most Stressful Time of the Year- A Teacher's Edition - December 19, 2018
I love to write, so I say more in written form than I tend to say in person. I acknowledge that I am an introvert, but I’m not shy. If I feel the need to verbalize an opinion, I will. Unfortunately, you don’t have to work in education for too to realize that honest feedback is really not wanted. Every single principal I have ever had has assured me they have an open door policy, and they are willing to listen. Experience has shown me that only a few have meant it; the rest were providing lip service.
This behavior does not stop at the principal’s office; it also can be witnessed from district level administration. How many surveys are educators asked to complete, or how many meetings are we asked to attend to give feedback only to find out that leadership considered none of it? School administrators put on the biggest horse and pony shows. They ask for your feedback to say they “listened” but instead go on with the plan they wanted to implement in the first place. Moreover, most of them will go the extra mile to provide you with research to back their decisions even though the research they provided a few years ago contradicts the research they are touting now. It seems like the only constant in education is change and not listening to teachers.
A picture for an article I recently read on LinkedIn said, “Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say.” I know I am not alone in finding this statement true in many schools. I would rather be silent than feed into a leader’s ego or give undue praise to quell the insecurities a leader might have.
“Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say. Click To TweetI’ve had colleagues say, “Shawnta, you should really share that idea.” Most times I think, “What is the point?” I’m tired of participating in the dance where I share an idea, a leader “listens,” and nothing I said is ever considered. Yes, I understand that every idea cannot be implemented and every change cannot be made. But when you bring up a valid point, have real proof based on what you know and not some research study conducted in a community far, far away, and you are always turned down, you become wallpaper. You are a faded fixture in the background of the school.
If you work at a school where listening to your ideas is more than lip service, and you are able to grow as a professional and impact students in a meaningful way, know that you are in a good place. Honestly, you didn’t need me to tell you that. Until we really start listening to the teachers, the ones doing the hard work, education in our country will remain stagnant.
Shawnta,
This is a very brave and authentic post. I really enjoyed reading. <3
Exactly right on silent compliance. Wonder who's doing that to our schools and why they want teachers afraid, obedient and on a leash-and if outcomes would improve with more educator respect and empowerment.
I have just lived this. In fact, far worse. I agree, if we feel valued and treated with the same fairness and respect we are expected to give our students, what teacher wouldn't want to give 100% of their time, effort, and loyalty to their boss. Do we expect our students to sit silently each day with no thoughts, opinions, or questions? Certainly not, so why are adults expected to do this. Sometimes the best ideas I get are from my quiet shy students......and I think "Wow, where was that hidden?" And I run off and use that idea as fast as I can while acknowledging to the class where it came from hoping there are more great ideas out there waiting to come out. Lesson learned.
bravo!
The truth of this article!! WOW!
Especially if you aren't a classroom teacher ( a "real" teacher). I retired 2 years for several reasons. This was one of them.
If a student strongly disagrees with a policy or behavior of a teacher, he or she has the ultimate power of getting Mom and Dad to call the teacher - or worse, call the principal or superintendent.
If a teacher strongly disagrees with a policy or behavior of a school leader, there is NO AVENUE for bringing the problem to light. Can’t go to parents or upper management without risking punitive transfer or worse.
It’s a scary thing.
Teachers are experts in how to manage their classrooms, and are incessantly being “trained” in how to do so by people who have little to no experience in the classroom. It’s as if someone called me and asked me to give horseback riding lessons - even though I have never ridden a horse. “But research says the horse will respond in this way when you do this thing.’ RIDICULOUS.