Today, John and I headed to Beacon for one of the two last days we would spend with the teachers and kids. When first graders saw John, they pummeled him with hugs. The older students excitedly greeted him,
Hello Teacher John!!
Teacher Elizabeth and I talked about the respect we constantly see from kids at BOH. She could tell I was practically in awe. Elizabeth said,
Nicole, teachers here are valued. Parents want their children to be teachers because they are so highly respected in the community.
The position of a teacher has little to no value in the eye of the public. In Wisconsin, many teachers received a cut in salaries because of the attack on teacher unions. Many retired in Wisconsin in 2014, which is when I jumped in and started school. In every school – elementary, Middle school, and high school, I have met teachers who have worked for more than 20 years in the profession who regard teaching as a downward spiral. The kids are disrespectful and violent. How do we overcome?
Inviting guests, like farmers, construction workers, and business owners who are continuing their education and value learning, can impact students.
Teachers have to be valued by the community in order for students to value them. This starts with parents, who are a big part of the community. Teamming up with teachers and being invited into the curriculum/agenda can inspire the children and give value to teachers.
Object analysis happens with very young children. In Kindergarten, a teachers voice alone gives students a sense of safety, but bring in another teacher, and children will still listen only to their homeroom teacher.
Teaching by tone is a great way to impact students, which is followed up with appropriate behaviors and consequences as a human being. However, when those Kindergarten students grow up, more voices influence their learning.
In highschool (and probably middle school), students often battle teachers on two main objectives: cell phones and homework. Convinced that their careers will not require knowledge, these students no longer see the value in learning and will spend their time on phones instead of homework.
What will it take to find educated people within the community who value learning and invite them into speak? Reaching out to teachers within the community who know the place well can bring in voices that speak to students who are about to give up on education.
No Comments