©2019 patrickbrandy
Yesterday, we were able to have a conference of sorts with Molly Robbins. She currently works at Cherokee Trail as an English teacher, and prides herself on being an advocate and an ally to students. While the interview was short, she gave a lot of information that guided me in the right direction.
When she stated about if you are enabling your students rather than empowering them, that hit me deeply. I think as a young teacher you want to be likeable and have students think you’re cool, but is that what you always want to be? The cool teacher? While in many cases yes because then you can have a lot more conversation in the classroom, you still have to find the right balance between being a “friend” and a teacher. It just kind of reminded me of what my mom said about parenthood; “If your child hasn’t said I hate you at least once, then you’re doing it wrong”. Regardless, you aren’t there to be their friend. Maybe someday in the future when they’re out of school and starting their own lives, but you are their to teach and to inspire. You are the foundations that give them every way possible to succeed in and out of the classroom.
I think sometimes being an ally can be hard, and that there are times when you are so down on yourself that you think this isn’t going to work, and I’m not cut out for this. Maybe that’s one of the many reasons young teachers get so burnt out. But I think it’s also important to remember that every life you touch and help, even in a small way, impacts a student for the rest of their life. Maybe you don’t always see it or hear about it, but you do. And I think talking to Mollie, and hearing from other past students who have gone to class there have said what a difference she has made, is why you’re a ally in the classroom.
Comentarios