I happen to think that teaching is society’s most important profession. The future of our kids is in the hands of educators who care and who are continuously learning and trying new strategies to engage and empower their students to be their best. The caring relationships that teachers create with their students can have a long-lasting positive impact. Teaching is a hard job and requires stamina and the willingness to keep pushing forward even when things get challenging. It is not a job for the faint-hearted.
I also believe that our society has diminished the important role of teachers. We hear our leaders claim that education is a priority, but the reality is that it isn’t. Funding is inadequate to update facilities, and schools must sometimes choose between classroom teachers and a librarian or an art or music or physical education teacher because there is not enough to go around. Many teachers are forced to get second jobs in order to pay their bills, young people are discouraged from becoming educators, and the public is quick to criticize schools for new ways of teaching and learning that they don’t understand or that conflict with how they learned the same concept years ago when they were in school. It is no wonder that we have a teacher shortage; and it can only get worse.
As schools deal with a shortage of teachers and the availability of technology, what will they do? One option is to purchase a personalized learning program where students work at their level until they achieve mastery on the specific standard. Teachers review the data and then plan small group instruction for groups of students with similar areas of need. It sounds like a good plan, but does it work for every child? According to this report, the results are mixed. Some students would probably thrive in a system like that because they are capable and competitive, but I think lots of kids would have difficulty in this kind of system. They would find it boring and would not be motivated to do their best. I also am concerned about whether learning for mastery in a personalized learning program translates to application of skills in real-life situations. Yet, I can see schools spending their funds on these types of programs as a solution to shortage of teachers.
I am as guilty as the next person of using the self-checkout line at Wal-Mart or going to the ATM machine to deposit or withdraw money instead of going to a sales clerk or a teller. We hear about robots replacing maids at hotels and robots efficiently preparing items for packaging and mailing at Amazon. Will this happen in our schools as well? Will teachers become obsolete? I certainly hope not.
This morning, I read a blog by Principal Derek Minakami, and I knew the picture of a rock wall was the perfect analogy for me. His blog so poignantly shares why and how teachers fill the “little spaces of aloha” to make a big difference for our students. The Tripps of this world will always be there, and they will need the aloha from teachers to overcome the obstacles in their lives to become productive citizens.
And that is why teachers and students need to tell their stories because teachers truly make a difference for their students. Teachers need to share stories with their students about why they chose to become teachers. Students need to hear from teachers about how much they love their job and how the little successes are sometimes the most heartwarming. And we need students to share their stories as well about teachers who believed in them and helped them to overcome difficulties they were facing. Those “empty spaces of aloha” that Principal Minakami shares in his blog? Those are the memories our students will have when they have move on from our classroom. It is what sustains them during challenges in their lives: I know you can do it. I care about you. I love how you never give up. Talk to me. I believe in you. Tell me what matters to you.
As an educator for 45 years, I cannot think of a more honorable or fulfilling profession than teaching. Educators and students, let's share that message with the public!
#leading with aloha
I also believe that our society has diminished the important role of teachers. We hear our leaders claim that education is a priority, but the reality is that it isn’t. Funding is inadequate to update facilities, and schools must sometimes choose between classroom teachers and a librarian or an art or music or physical education teacher because there is not enough to go around. Many teachers are forced to get second jobs in order to pay their bills, young people are discouraged from becoming educators, and the public is quick to criticize schools for new ways of teaching and learning that they don’t understand or that conflict with how they learned the same concept years ago when they were in school. It is no wonder that we have a teacher shortage; and it can only get worse.
As schools deal with a shortage of teachers and the availability of technology, what will they do? One option is to purchase a personalized learning program where students work at their level until they achieve mastery on the specific standard. Teachers review the data and then plan small group instruction for groups of students with similar areas of need. It sounds like a good plan, but does it work for every child? According to this report, the results are mixed. Some students would probably thrive in a system like that because they are capable and competitive, but I think lots of kids would have difficulty in this kind of system. They would find it boring and would not be motivated to do their best. I also am concerned about whether learning for mastery in a personalized learning program translates to application of skills in real-life situations. Yet, I can see schools spending their funds on these types of programs as a solution to shortage of teachers.
I am as guilty as the next person of using the self-checkout line at Wal-Mart or going to the ATM machine to deposit or withdraw money instead of going to a sales clerk or a teller. We hear about robots replacing maids at hotels and robots efficiently preparing items for packaging and mailing at Amazon. Will this happen in our schools as well? Will teachers become obsolete? I certainly hope not.
This morning, I read a blog by Principal Derek Minakami, and I knew the picture of a rock wall was the perfect analogy for me. His blog so poignantly shares why and how teachers fill the “little spaces of aloha” to make a big difference for our students. The Tripps of this world will always be there, and they will need the aloha from teachers to overcome the obstacles in their lives to become productive citizens.
And that is why teachers and students need to tell their stories because teachers truly make a difference for their students. Teachers need to share stories with their students about why they chose to become teachers. Students need to hear from teachers about how much they love their job and how the little successes are sometimes the most heartwarming. And we need students to share their stories as well about teachers who believed in them and helped them to overcome difficulties they were facing. Those “empty spaces of aloha” that Principal Minakami shares in his blog? Those are the memories our students will have when they have move on from our classroom. It is what sustains them during challenges in their lives: I know you can do it. I care about you. I love how you never give up. Talk to me. I believe in you. Tell me what matters to you.
As an educator for 45 years, I cannot think of a more honorable or fulfilling profession than teaching. Educators and students, let's share that message with the public!
#leading with aloha
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