It has been one week, but it feels like much longer. To some, this may imply boredom or disillusionment. For me, it is just the opposite. I left every day more inspired and excited to be a part of this incredible team. This is truly the most intelligent, talented, and competent group of people with whom I have had the privilege to work. Though everyone on the staff seems to have a unique skill-set, we share common values and a trust in one another’s abilities. Every single person adds value to the team. Every comment seems to be insightful. Everyone contributes. What resonates with me in this reflection is that I am a public school teacher. I wonder how many other teachers have shared in this inspiring experience… My guess is not very many.
Unfortunately, this is not the norm in our field—far from it, in fact. When I began explaining my new school to people, they were surprised and impressed. I must admit that I had fun bragging about my new Ivy League colleagues. But as I reflect on the implications of this reaction, I start to realize the overall flaws in our mindset in regards to education. No one is surprised when a doctor, lawyer, or even a financial advisor is a Yale graduate, but people are shocked to hear that my new principal is a graduate of both Yale and Harvard. No one questions a doctor who works 75 hours a week. However, when I tell people that this is an average workweek for teachers at my school, they think I am crazy.
Education is the most important field. It is the solution to many (if not all) on-going problems in our society. Though some may wish to debate such a cut and dry conclusion, this is not a particularly controversial statement. If there is overall consensus about the importance of educating our children, why do we wince when we hear that teachers are working 75 hours a week? Why are we surprised when I mention that my co-workers are alumni of some of the best universities in the country?
On our first day of training, my new principal said these words: “This is harder than most things.” It seems simple, but in practice it’s true. Getting kids who are four or five reading levels behind to college success… That is hard. Thus, if teaching is among the most difficult but important professions, it requires the most competent and committed individuals to get the job done.
Moving public education forward requires a fundamental shift in mindset: We should no longer be surprised that some teachers are highly educated and committed. Rather, we should wonder why others are not.
