Kim Frencken: Don't judge a teacher

I just read an article by someone I am sure is very nice and very well intentioned. Someone who thinks they know just what a teacher should do and just what makes a good teacher. But.... it made me angry.

I get so tired of reading what makes a good teacher and what good teachers should or shouldn't do. By people that have never taught. Never spent one day in a classroom full of kids that need more than immediate feedback or candy rewards. By people that think having a child or being a child qualifies them to determine what makes a good teacher.

This article had three examples of teachers that shouldn't be teachers. I guarantee you that on any given day every teacher has found themselves in at least one of those scenarios.

Take for example the complaint that a good teacher will always give immediate written feedback on every lesson. Someone who doesn't provide this shouldn't be in the classroom. 

Really? 

So every assignment must be graded and have meaningful comments written on it? Yes, I'll agree that most assignments should have feedback. But in order for that to happen to every assignment some things are going to have to change. 

My class size can't soar past 20 students. The usual 32 isn't conducive to building relationships and spending time giving them, not only written feedback, but also verbal feedback. 

Having a minimum requirement of taking two (or preferably ) more grades per week will also have to disappear. In order for learning to take place, students have to practice. Then they have to have time to correct their mistakes. Learn from them. 

Parents might not see all of the rough drafts that a student did for practice. Just because you don't see a written comment on every lesson that doesn't mean that learning isn't taking place.

Ever have a bad day? Apparently the person writing the article doesn't. It's nice to know that there is someone out there that has never been frustrated with another human. Someone who has never said a harsh or unkind word to someone else. Someone who never loses their patience. That's awesome. But that's not how most of the world react. 

We have a splitting headache and the little darling tugging on our arm pushes us over the edge. We were up all night with a sick child and the loud, demanding student gets on our last nerve. We're human. It happens. We aren't proud of ourselves. In fact, we're harder on ourselves than the person who wrote the article.

What do you think of the last indicator of a bad teacher? Someone who gives kids an assignment then allows them to have free time if they finish it before class ends. Wow! That should be punishable by death. That should never happen. Quick! Get out the handcuffs. We've got to lock up this no-good teacher. 

You mean to tell me that you've never had a moment where you wrapped up a great lesson. Kids were engaged. They were on track. They mastered the content. So you did the 'unthinkable' and allowed them some down-time. A few free minutes to talk, draw, read...

Teachers do not manage numbers. They manage people. Kids. They're human. Most have families of their own. Or fur babies. 

There are some bad apples. Teachers who teach for the wrong reasons. Teachers that never have a kind word. Teachers that don't prepare any lessons or provide any feedback. But just because a teacher has a bad day it doesn't make them a bad teacher. 

Sometimes we could all use some understanding. And a little grace.

(For more of Kim Frencken's writing and information about her educational products, check out her blog, Chocolate For the Teacher.)