The Classroom

As a whole – teachers are a bunch of hypocrites. I know. I’m one of them. I try not to be… I want to treat my students fairly, but it doesn’t always happen. Sometimes we can’t always follow the straight and narrow – but what I saw today gave me pause to think.

As I do every year I was enjoying (or rather trying to enjoy) my teachers’ convention. Some of the sessions were good – others dreadful – but all gave me something to think about, so I’ll chalk it up to a great experience. But what shocked me is hundreds of teachers freely doing what they frequently tell their students NOT to do. I know some were skipping (did anyone call their parents?), but they were also talking, laughing and being loud during presentations. If they were bored they just got up and left. They didn’t raise their hands to speak, and some even openly ridiculed their presenters or colleagues during “class”. Had these been our students they would have had detentions, calls home, and for the repeat offenders suspensions. But at convention it all seems ok.

And you know what – I understand that. We’re adults right? We can make our own decisions. We can be rude if we want to, right? What really got my attention though was something that’s been a buzz in my staffroom, and the subject of many discussions with colleagues – the use of cellphones. Read the rest of this entry »