As I was driving to the store today, I saw a small protest beside the highway. It was a political protest and those in it were holding signs with slander and derogatory name-calling. I have no idea what they politically stand for but I know what they hate!
This made me remember something my pastor once said. He said, “We should be known more for what we STAND FOR, rather than what we STAND AGAINST.”
This is also true as educators. We can be so passionate about our educational philosophies and ideas that we have to be careful not to come off like these protestors. I have been doing some self-reflection since this morning and know I have been guilty of stating my viewpoints the wrong way. For example, I am VERY passionate that math should be taught differently than the way I learned. I was an “A” student because I could spit out math through algorithms but I didn’t understand the math behind them or why the they worked. Sometimes I find myself saying, “We need to teach students differently than how we learned. It’s not good enough.” Well, if you only teach that way, I probably just made a mental protest sign stating that you aren’t teaching math well.
Instead, I should be a cheerleader for teaching math with understanding. I should say, “Here’s an activity I did yesterday with my students and I was amazed at the mathematical understanding happening in class.” Now, I’ve offered a possibility or an idea with no judgement about how they teach the same skill. Hey, they might even try it!
I am a very positive person and I really hope that I am known more for what I stand for rather than what I am against. However, I am sure I have failed at this many times. To help with this I have made these goals for education discussions:
- Focus on and share what I stand for without instantly comparing it to the opposite view.
- Be excited for what I stand for- passion is contagious!
- Let the little things go- everything is not a “us” against “them”
- Really listen to an opposing viewpoint without thinking of my rationale against it or how it won’t work. I might learn something or change my mind! 🙂
Something to ask yourself: Am I known more for what I stand for or for what I am against?
Great post! You definitely gave me something to think about. I consider myself a very positive person, but I know I can also be very opinionated – especially if it’s something I really believe in! For instance, I am a reading workshop teacher- I use trade books to teach reading and independent reading is the center of my teaching and classroom life. Our district recently purchased a basal reading series that I don’t use. I often get lots of questions about this. I work on keeping it about the philosophy of a reading workshop and less about my opinion of the basal. Lol Like I said- I am working on that. But seriously, your thoughts on how we present our ideas and opinions to others is great food for thought. I like your thinking.
@DebraRosenquist
Amostlyrosyoutlook.blogspot.com
We are opinionated because we are passionate about what we do and that is GREAT! However, others who feel differently than we do may feel the same way but just on the other side of the argument. I feel the same way you do about a basal. I taught for 13 years with one but the last 8 with trade books. I have had much more success with trade books and the reading workshop model. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. 🙂