George Garrett, Maxwell Perkins, and (Open Until Filled)

In the June 13th Chronicle Review Madison Smartt Bell of Goucher College writes a touching rememberance of literary figure George Garrett, who was a mentor to her and passed away last month at 78 years old. A similar column last year in the Careers section introduced me to famed editor Maxwell Perkins, who shaped the writings of a generation.

It made me wonder—who fills that role in the world of teaching?

One of the long-time traits of teachers, and one that persists today to the detriment of the students, is that teachers, in general, are loners when it comes to the classroom. If you don’t believe that, consider this collection of teaching platitudes:

The first year is the toughest, because for the first time it’s just you and them. Sink or swim—if you’re meant to teach, you’ll be successful. Later on in your career you’ll know what you’re doing better than any principal or consultant will, so stick with what works for you. Be especially careful not to buy into the fads that they’ll try to shove at you, because they always go away eventually. Do your job in your room, and the rest of the world will take care of itself.

You, you, you, you, you, with the occasional “they” and “them” thrown in to add a measure of hostility to the proceedings. I think that we’ve made some progress towards breaking down this model via ideas like Professional Learning Communities, and there’s an excellent chance that within a generation collaboration will be the norm instead of the exception.

It’s a question, then, of whom current teachers learn the craft from. In my career there hasn’t been any one person who I would call my guide; my teaching style is my own, developed through trial and error, and through observation of what’s worked for others around me. In that sense, then, I’m a bit of a hodgepodge of traits and styles from all over, which is a direct counterpart to the old academe saw of, “Ah! You’re Professor Smith’s student, so you believe this!”

Who has shaped you the most in your career as a teacher? Is it a fellow teacher, your principal, a professor, a parent? I leave off the kids intentionally, because they are ultimately the ones who drive the instruction, and it’s your knowledge base that decides how you respond to their needs.

When it comes to teaching, who was your teacher?


(For what it's worth, this is the 700th post I've made to I Thought a Think. Thanks for being along for the ride!)

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Oh, You Silly....!

The News Tribune is a great punching bag, because they almost never get it right. The latest example of that is this editorial from the March 7th edition talking about the general low state of math education in Washington. Consider:

Washington’s community colleges have long complained about the large numbers of incoming students who need remedial math instruction. But when University of Washington professors join the chorus, you know our math problem has reached epidemic proportions.

Yes, because unless the U-Dub says it, it must not be true. Never mind that math has been an integral part of the WASL since 1993, or that "Math Wars" has become part of the cultural vernacular, or the many reports that have chided K-12 for not sending colleges math-prepared students; since Montlake has spoken, we may now attend to the matter.

(I may have lived in Cougar country for too long)

Later on:

Face it: Differential pay is the future. Washington needs skilled teachers if its students are to get the math and science education they need to compete in the real world. Simply ramping up teacher recruiting won’t be enough.

And this is why I support the budget line item in question, because it raises an interesting issue: exactly how much money would it take to get our best and brightest to commit to teaching in the public schools? If software engineer can net you six figures easily for work that you can do on your own time in your own home, then shouldn't teaching with its myriad responsibilites be paid at an even higher rate?

And what of the private schools? I've long wondered if they have the same problems getting math teachers. Another interesting case would be a place like KIPP or Green Dot, too--do they struggle to get math and science certified people, or does the attractiveness of their program put them in a better position?

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The more things change....

I'm reading the biography of Al Shanker, and in chapter 3 there's a section that's on-point for one of the great education debates of today. This is from the time after Shanker attended the march on Washington and saw Dr. King's speech:

While King's speech highlighted Southern racism as particularly overt, there was plenty of evidence of discrimination in the North as well, and New York City was no exception. In the early 1960s, there were three basic racial disparities in New York City public schools. There were very few minority teachers (fewer than 10 percent of teachers were black or Hispanic in a city school system whose minority student population was approaching 50 percent), there was considerable de facto segregation in the schools, and students in heavily poor and minority schools tended to get the least experienced teachers.

The UFT had proposals on all three fronts. The 1963 contract pushed for greater recruitment of black teachers in the South, to boost the overall number of minority teachers. And to address both the integration of white students and experienced teachers into ghetto schools, the UFT proposed an "Effective Schools" program (later renamed More Effective Schools), which would provide reduced class size and extra services in a small number of selected schools. The union argued this program would provide a realistic way of attracting experienced teachers (while avoiding forced transfer of teachers) and middle-class white children (while avoiding compulsory busing). Because the UFT members would never go along with forced teacher transfers, Shanker said "we felt an obligation to come up with a plan of our own."

And here we are 40 years later, still having the same conversation. It could it be argued, perhaps, that the problem can't be solved, or that the right solution hasn't come along yet. Or you could argue that there isn't really a problem here at all, and that personal choice has it's downside. One of the advantages of being in my small district is that we don't have these conversations, but in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York it's important.

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Where Do Teachers Go To Talk?

Over at The Chronicle of Higher Education’s website there’s a wonderfully vibrant section where folks throughout academe come to talk about all aspects of the job. The discussions are typically both thoughtful and thought-provoking; it’s an easy place to spend some time on a lazy afternoon.

One wonders, though—why isn’t there something similar out there for teachers? There’s more of us, with every bit as much diversity of thought as can be found in the University; it’s odd to me that there isn’t an on-line, central gathering point, the way that the college folks have. The closest that comes to mind is some of the blogs, but even the most deliriously successful teacher blogs (The Education Wonks, or Joanne Jacobs) are slow-paced in comparison.

Maybe this is a gauntlet that the folks at Education Week should pick up.

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Expiration Date

A teacher coach walks into the curriculum director’s office and says, “Bob, now that I’ve left the classroom, I’m worried I won’t have credibility with the staff. How long do I have before teachers don’t take me seriously any more?”

Her boss leans back in his chair, looks thoughtful, and says, “Ten.”

“Ten? Ten what? Ten years? Ten demonstration lessons?”

The director shakes his head sadly and keeps counting, “Nine....eight....seven....”

One of the most thoughtful websites for practitioners interested in the big picture can be found at the Teacher Leaders Network. I found a very interesting conversation there the other day on just how much credibility coaches and TOSAs have when they’re out of the classroom; in fact, the entire site is filled with mindful commentary on education today.

It’s a great place that’s well worth checking out!

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