The Eduwonks note that cliques - and stereotypes - are just as prevalent among teachers as among students, as noted by Mr. AB:
...All this time did afford me the chance to spy on my fellow teachers and I’ve decided that teachers in professional development trainings can be categorized into the following 10 types...Dumb David – David just doesn’t get it. You don’t understand how someone so slow can keep up with students. You feel bad for judging a colleague’s intelligence but geeeez. Dumb David’s come in two species: introverted (only revealing their confusion during group work) and extroverted (heralding their misunderstandings with loud and awkwardly timed questions.)..
Talking Terry – Terry loves to talk. In participative trainings, she’s that one, with her hand constantly in the air and with a suggestion or anecdote to follow every point. Non-participative trainings drive her wild, she whispers constantly and explodes with pent-up loudness during breaks.
Spot on. Mr. AB, who is a third-generation teacher, also has some sharp advice for any educator who is leading a professional development training session for teachers:
...We want to learn like we are in law school or grad school. That means no gimmicks, no games, no group work, and no, absolutely no, teacher-voice. If you could end that sentence with "Boys and girls," don't say it. Do not play chimes or a recorder to get my attention, do not make me sing, and do not make me sit on the floor. I teach elementary school, that does not mean I am in it! Only God, not the County Office of Education, can revert teachers to being children.
Good stuff. What is it about touchy-feely types and their love of sitting on floors, anyway? Is that somehow supposed to be more authentic, more emotional, more true to our childish roots? For someone with previous neck injuries such as me, it's just excruciating.
Posted by kswygert at August 5, 2005 10:12 AM