Some co-workers in schools

I recently read a quote that resonated with me: "What they hate in you is missing in them." I can certainly relate to this in terms of my work ethic within the school system. See, I came from an undergraduate experience that pushed us extremely hard. We were teaching small lessons to real kids in Week 3 of our teaching degree as 18-year-olds. We needed to attend uni 5 full days per week, starting at 8:30 in the morning. No sleep-ins for us; no relaxed days working from home; no earnings possible during work hours. Some lucky ones were able to plead their case and get Fridays off since some courses had been organised to squeeze into the first 4 days of the week. So when I'm pegged as being overly dedicated as a teacher, it's because many of my co-workers believe:

• school is for socialising and having a party as well as teaching;
• 'winging' lessons is good enough when you have the hubris to pull it off;
• people who work hard make others look bad (I have been told this);
• people who work hard are martyrs for the cause (I have also been told this);
• there are no prizes for finishing off tasks after school, so why bother.

My response to these attitudes is:

• some sharing and laughs are okay but not when it adds up to hours of time;
• some decent planning should go into lessons to cater fairly for students;
• the salary is good overall, so working hard in school hours is par for the course;
• people who work hard are merely doing their jobs (or beyond due to a lack of funding, which is out of their control);
• some teachers seem to think the 7.6 hours printed on their payslip is literal when in fact it is indicative of school-based hours only. There are many more hours that teachers are paid for (e.g. school holidays) that form part of their total hours.

I'm just so glad I recognised what teaching in schools was becoming a few years ago. I started my own tutoring business where teaching, and teaching well, is the sole focus. In fact, parents wouldn't have it any other way! The pay might be less, but my passion for teaching is still alive and well. - Mel

Blast from the past...

I recently spent a small fortune on Snatch n' Sniff stickers when I found out that Trend Enterprises, the creator of these quirky stickers, is saying goodbye after 55 years in business. It was rare to receive one of these stickers as a student, but I have never forgotten the novelty of the different scents such as dill pickle, cowboy boot, peppermint and popcorn. The scents aren't quite as powerful now, probably due to laws restricting the chemicals that can be used, but they're still a whole lotta fun. I'm hoping my tutoring students will enjoy receiving them for a job well done! - Mel

A lasting impression...

Image credit: Ross Macdonald 2023  Location: Loch Eck, Argyll  Quote: Maya Angelou

I can't take credit for the following written piece (I'm not sure of the source), but I love the sentiment:

"After a long day at work, I was walking to my car when a row of Canadian Maple trees caught my eye. Their leaves glowed with a vivid, almost neon red against the cool autumn air. The sight was breathtaking. A final flourish of beauty before the leaves began their slow descent to the ground. Weeks later, the same leaves lay faded and broken underfoot, barely recognisable. And yet, what remained was just as striking: delicate impressions etched into the pavement, quiet reminders of a former brilliance.

This description makes me think of the people in our lives who leave a lasting impression, not only in the prime of their lives (like gorgeous maple trees), but also in their quiet acts of love, and beyond their presence among us."

I often think about the many volunteers who gave their time to teach me when I attended free extra-curricular activities as a child. My parents never wanted to spend money on these activities, so they sought out ones that had minimal or no fees: PCYC T-ball, gymnastics and Ju-Jitsu; Brownies, Guides & Venturers; Little Athletics, basketball, tap dancing (this did cost something), Shopfront Theatre, youth group... there are probably a few I have missed! Needless to say, I was a busy child, barely at home, and I'm thankful for that. I'm thankful for the many adults who gave up their time to teach, nurture and guide me. People who weren't even my own parents, who weren't remunerated, but gave a lot to me and others, just for the sake of giving back. It seems as though this type of altruism has faded in modern society, or at least it has where I live.

I write this post in memory of May (Ballamara) Jones, who served the Girl Guide movement with dedication, sincerity and wisdom. She was strict and never let me off the hook! (lol) She had such high expectations of me. She used to tell me that my 'badge preparation' impressed her. At times, she would fail me for sections I had completed in a half-baked fashion. She gave so much of herself and I will always remember her effort. I can't recall how many times I went to her house for badge assessments! She passed away during a difficult time in my life, and I had not visited during her convalescence. For that, I am deeply sorry. - Mel

Building the foundations...

 

I agree with these observations by Brian Tolentino (a gifted educator btw - I strongly recommend checking out his website), but I feel powerless in my school-based role to change the current situation. While I can instigate change in some areas, overall, it requires a united effort across an entire staff to bring about tangible change. Fortunately, I run my own small business and I can conduct my tutoring sessions in the way I know works.

Whenever possible, my sessions involve:

• Short handwriting warm-ups (letter formation, spacing, pencil control);

• Stopping to review a spelling misunderstanding, highlighting patterns;

• Modelling editing aloud, showing how to spot punctuation errors;

• Pausing to highlight particular words or sentences during writing tasks;

• Constantly questioning to activate engagement and idea-sharing;

• Reiterating the purpose, meaning and structure of written texts;

• Reading aloud and rereading to solidify language patterns and fluency.

After a while, momentum really starts to kick in. I also encourage students to make links between tutoring sessions and how they function in the classroom. These micro-tasks keep the tutoring highly interactive and instructive while directly building the foundational habits needed for school success. - Mel

Encouraging feedback...

It's quite a rare occurrence, but every now and again a parent will take the time to send me a simple message of thanks for my tutoring work. It makes it seem worthwhile when I know I'm making a small difference in one student's life. I have had students where the parents are very directive of me. It's very much a business transaction in their eyes. In those situations, I usually start to realise that it will be hard to make progress with their child. The tutor does need some agency. I am sometimes relieved when these clients discontinue tutoring. They often don't give a reason, but I suspect it's usually financial - they're very much about getting immediate results for their investment. You put in so much effort to help their son or daughter (sometimes hours and hours beyond what you're remunerated for), and their child never meets their unrealistic expectations. It's tough to witness.

A while ago now, I received the lovely message above from a grateful mother. One time, this parent wanted me to bill her for three hours rather than the two worked due to my preparation time, etc. (such decency is rare indeed). Of course, I didn't accept. If I was paid for every extra hour I have dedicated to teaching over the past 30 years, I would be a very wealthy woman indeed! - Mel

Teachers deserve to be valued...

 

I read quite a few anonymous posts on Facebook groups and so many teachers are dissatisfied with their jobs. It's easy to understand the frustration they feel. Many teachers are very altruistic. They're the kind of people who go above and beyond. On the whole, they are very giving people, generous with their time, knowledge and skills. There is a lot of unpaid work in teaching that the general public doesn't grasp. There is no real hourly rate even though seven or so hours per day are recorded on our payslips. I won't even bother outlining the additional tasks that go on in one's personal life, all centred around teaching. I prefer not to dwell on all the hours I've spent since 1993 when I first started studying to be a teacher. It's a rewarding profession overall and the holidays are a welcome period of respite. 

What's most disconcerting is the treatment that teachers face from some leaders, colleagues, parents and students. I learnt long ago that teaching is not as secure as some people think. Workplaces can be fickle, and full of politics, nepotism and cronyism. While not everyone is in a position to take charge of their own destiny, I encourage all unhappy teachers to make the sacrifices needed to keep teaching. Move if you need to; complete further study if you have to; find teaching roles that are edifying and enjoyable. Some teachers say, "Well someone has to do it. Someone needs to help those kids who are challenging and disrespectful." That's true, but it's not for everyone. Although teachers are social workers in many ways, they often did not enter the profession thinking that would be their main role. University certainly doesn't communicate that message often. 

Teaching is all about the love of learning - teaching students how to grow, think and be decent people. A disconnect is starting to emerge of late - teachers' goals are not aligning with families' worldviews. I'm sure this has always been the case to some extent, but more than ever teachers are finding it harder to actually teach. If this relates to you, I encourage you to seek positions that make going to work manageable. Life is too short to feel unappreciated and mistreated. Please don't allow people to bring you down when you're actually so talented, devoted and hard-working. - Mel