Responsibility

Teachers have a huge load of responsibility. This cargo comes in a number of different forms.

First, we have the responsibility to educate our students. We want to see them be successful. When they fail, we take it personally. Even after thirteen years of school, if they struggle, we may see that one year we taught them as the critical moment.

When I say we, I really mean me. I worry about my students' future every day, both on an individual level and a global level. People tell me I shouldn't take it personally. Yeah, uh huh. I challenge you all to work with children every day and not take their struggles personally.

Another area where responsibility applies is safety. Teachers must be aware of their students whereabouts at all times they are in their charge. If two students together equals a safety issue, teachers must be sure they are never together unsupervised, such as in the rest room. Tipping back in a chair may seem inconsequential, but my student teaching supervisor didn't think so twenty years ago, and I don't tolerate it today.

We are responsible for our students' self-image. We should be constantly building on their strengths and successes, and minimizing their shortcomings. The human psyche is a fragile thing. One teacher, saying one thing at the wrong time can crush a sensitive child's ambition to succeed. Who wants to be responsible for that?

Teachers must care. It comes down to that. We can't afford not to.

Snarling About Snow

Today is our second day back after an unexpected break due to snow. Road conditions made it unsafe in many parts of our district for buses and cars to be out driving. At such times, you hear complaints from many residents who come from more snowy parts of our country, such as the midwest and New England.

These people are usually disgusted by our inability to deal with snow and ice in our area. They don't seem to understand that the relative rarity of snow makes it impractical to have and maintain snow removal equipment, so local governments have minimal numbers of snowplows and sanders. This fact, along with the inexperience of northwest natives driving in these conditions, tends to make driving a nightmare.

If this is really such an intolerable situation for non-native northwesterners, complaining will do nothing but create additional stress and tension. Employers need to be more flexible and understanding of their employees with children, especially when emergency child care is a problem. Not everybody has options in such a situation.

Finally, if my words aren't enough to smooth over the anger, read this article by a friend.