The Task of the Educators

Task of the Educators

“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts.” by C.S. Lewis.

Samuel Durr writes this guest post. He was given the quote by C.S. Lewis to interpret and give his perspective. Durr is a special education teacher who has been teaching in Chicago for 15 years. He has authored one published book, a few novels, and a barrage of short stories.

The phrase, irrigate deserts, is interesting in this famous C.S Lewis quote. The author probably means educators should encourage enthusiasm and curiosity, which is a good rule. Still, for me, the desert imagery has a different, probably unintended, possible tangential, effect. Since I carry my own associations and personal experience like an over-stuffed backpack, I will write about what questions it raises for me. Is education, are classrooms, are students, deserts? A desert is a resourceless, brutal environment where nothing flourishes, and everything has protective spines and spikes.   

Education is a Desert

The quote by C.S. Lewis offers an interesting perspective about the task of the modern educator.

In short. Yes. Education has become a desert. The need for a sea change is obvious to just about everyone. Recently, five large schools in Baltimore, Maryland, four of which were high schools, were found not to have a single student reading at grade level. Is Baltimore a city of fools? No, and so it’s clear that something is wrong, and I can’t help but wonder if maybe general education has become too available. 

The hard truth is that when anything is generalized, in fact mandatory, it becomes worthless and sometimes even loathed. Ask any teacher tasked to hand out free breakfast. Proportionally, far more of it ends up in the trash than in the mouths of those it intended to help. Students even complain about free breakfast as they drop it into the can. In other words, I’m not so sure we have a problem with how we educate.

Force to Educate

 Maybe, we have an issue with who we force to educate? If a family honestly doesn’t want to send their kid to school, why should they, and why do some schools have to take every student? This is a little ridiculous under a microscope. It has turned many public schools, unfortunately, into minimum security prisons.

Luckily, I have a solution. Picture, for a moment, if public schools could be more selective about which students they take? Just slightly. I’ve worked at four different schools over my fifteen-year career, and I can say without flinching each would have benefitted profoundly from booting ten kids, almost all for severe behavioral reasons. It’s easy to get all squirmy about the idea of leaving children behind. 

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Good Intentions

Still, perhaps it should be considered that despite good intentions and hard work, no teacher, counselor, priest, or coach can right the worst of the worst. Isn’t that nature? Some of the brood doesn’t make it for reasons beyond the control. With enough concentration, or maybe delusion, it’s possible to imagine an unnatural world in which every child becomes successful, but in such a world, the bar for success would be significantly raised. And if it were, we would still have students who didn’t “make it.” 

The point is that prioritizing students based on their sociability or intelligence is not evil, it’s realistic. It’s time to fully consider that organizing institutions around rotten principals leave us with rotten schools. Ten students, out of five hundred, give or take, isn’t very many but would change the overall tone. Similarly, imagine if a school had the ability to boot a kid because of parent harassment? Only in the most extreme cases, of course, but if schools simply had the authority, however weak, imagine the change. 

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Education as a Status Symbol

Consider also, if the government didn’t take money out of taxes to pay for public education but instead invited parents to pay out of pocket? If education became a status symbol, as it is to many parents already, they would be willing to spend money to send their children to better schools, and they wouldn’t trash their neighborhood schools and teachers. Competition can be healthy if it’s refereed. 

Problematic Institution

There are shining lights in every classroom, even in the worst public schools: brilliant students, self-sacrificing teachers, thought-provoking lessons, and dedicated staff. I don’t want to degrade education. There are many positives, and some of the best humans we have are teachers. Still, this institution has far too many problems, and the positives of change are worthy of the risks. It’s sad to say, anyone who’s been in a public school lately can attest to the lack of resources, brutal environment, ineffective teaching, poor social behavior, disorganized, stupid factories they have become. The point is, we can do much, much better. C.S. Lewis uses the term desert, and it works, it’s effective, but I wish it weren’t. 

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7 Ways to Protect Your Health 

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Protect Your Health

Educators, protect your health because no one is worried about your health. The Delta variant of COVID 19 is raging across the country and world. School districts are intent on returning students to class by all means necessary. Anti-vaxxers and anti-mask persons are creating havoc at school board meetings. Some even harass and physically abuse teachers and administrators who try to enforce policies. So you see, no one can protect your health better than you. You have permission to take care of yourself!

COVID-19 Hits Hard

Let’s review how we got to this point of contention. COVID hit our country hard in early 2020. Suddenly our hospitals and emergency rooms filled up with very ill patients. Medical personnel was overwhelmed with the number of people overfilling hospital beds. Businesses, schools, and government offices closed down. Mask and health mandates became requirements for us all. Scientists rushed to create a vaccine to help stop the carnage of COVID. In the United States, over 600,000 people died within 12-18 months.

For a few months, we thought that we might have a reprieve after people began to vaccinate. The number of Covid cases decreased as more received the shots. Hospitalizations also reduced, and people began to let down their guard. Cities and schools began to open again. Suddenly we felt like we could live again, hug people we love, take off masks, hold family gatherings, or go out to restaurants. We were throwing caution to the wind too fast created another dilemma for us to navigate.

Decisions, Stress, and Frustration

As decisions come, the teachers and school administrators are not a part of the process. What else we have to navigate is how to keep ourselves safe and healthy. School boards and politicians make policies and mandates without knowing the full effect and impact their decisions have on the teachers and administrators in the trenches every day. Afterward, the impact hits hard, and we are left to pick up the pieces. Unfortunately, picking up the pieces adds extra stress and frustration to one’s personal and professional life.

Eating nutritious and balanced meals can improve your overall health.
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We know how stress and frustration affect the teacher burnout statistics. Pile on the effects of a pandemic, and now more teachers and school leaders than ever want to leave the profession. The anxiety level of fearing of getting infected with COVID is a reality for many. Educators worry about the possibility of sick colleagues and students, unclean classroom surfaces, masks slipping off of students’ faces, and wondering what happens to you if you become ill. 

So that the worry is not overwhelming, it’s time for you to protect your health. What can you do to keep yourself healthy and safe? Here are several ways to protect your health.

Proper Nutrition and Hydration

Good health begins with eating nutritiously. Your body needs healthy foods and plenty of water. Frequently, teachers and school administrators do not take the time to eat proper meals or to stay hydrated during the school day. On the other hand, stressed-out educators may emotionally binge on the junk or processed food as a way to self-medicate. Or some of you drink coffee or sugary drinks all day instead of water. Your body needs foods rich in nutrients, vitamins, proteins, etc. Check the CDC website for suggestions on preparing and eating nutritious meals.

Exercise and Stay Active

Your body needs exercise and movement! Being sedentary is not suitable for any human being. Our bodies are to be active. So, let’s get moving! Do not say that there’s no time to exercise, because you can make the time. During preparation periods, find a few minutes to stretch, leg lifts, yoga moves, jumping jacks, etc. Roll your shoulders and neck, deep breathe and work the kinks out. Walk around the playground or football field. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Even in the classroom with your students, you can have stretch breaks between transition times. You will feel better and get your body more accustomed to constant movement. 

Get Adequate Rest

Your body needs exercise and movement! Being sedentary is not suitable for any human being. Our bodies are to be active. So, let’s get moving! Do not say that there’s no time to exercise, because you can make the time. During preparation periods, find a few minutes to stretch, leg lifts, yoga moves, jumping jacks, etc. Roll your shoulders and neck, deep breathe and work the kinks out. Walk around the playground or football field. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Even in the classroom with your students, you can have stretch breaks between transition times. You will feel better and get your body more accustomed to constant movement. 

Maintaining Healthcare

Are you the person who never goes to the doctor or takes your medicine? Do you go to work sick and spread your germs to others? Why are you saving your sick days? Do you have a chronic condition like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, or asthma? COVID-19 took a toll on persons with underlying health issues. Many infected people with previous health issues either died or continue to have serious side effects. Protect your health by taking the necessary prescribed medications or schedule regular appointments with your primary care doctors. By the way, if you feel sick, stay home or see the doctor!

Take Stress and Anxiety Seriously

All of the chronic illnesses mentioned earlier are exasperated by stress and worry. Stress kills, and anxiety causes disease. Brushing off one or both are not good for anyone. Protect your health by recognizing the damage stress and anxiety causes to one’s body. Develop positive coping skills to combat the effects and damage of stress and anxiety. Try to stay positive and not focus on negative things. Seek professional counseling if everything is overwhelming and it feels like the walls are closing in on you. Also, find positive activities, including exercise, a hobby, journaling, reading, or meditating. A healthy mind helps to keep your body healthy, too. 

Stay Connected With Family and Friends

During times of hardship, illness, or worry, some people disconnect from everything and everyone. Please do not isolate yourself from friends and family members. Protect your health by reaching out to people who care about your well-being. You may feel like you want to curl up in a ball and be left alone. However, you desire to be around people because we are social beings. We need to talk about how we feel and what’s going on. You want advice when there doesn’t seem to be an easy answer. Stay connected by reaching out to friends and family. 

Keep Your Workspace Clean and Healthy

One of the biggest things teachers can do to protect your health is to keep your workspace healthy and clean. The classroom should not be a petri dish. Create health and safety routines with your students. First, you need a few items to have a clean workspace and classroom. It would be best to have anti-bacterial wipes and gel, Lysol spray, masks, rubber gloves, paper towels, tissue for runny noses, and a few more items. Hopefully, the school can provide the supplies to have available for daily use. 

Establish a schedule in the classroom for cleaning moments. Delegate specific responsibilities to students (helpers for the day). They can help to wipe off desks; door handles, etc. Students do enjoy having duties and jobs in the classroom. Build out an hourly schedule, or between transitions, so the cleaning becomes a daily routine. Also, turn it all into a teachable moment about how a clean classroom environment reduces the spread of germs and illness. 

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Students Need a Well Teacher

Educators, your health is a significant priority. Of course, students need a healthy teacher, but your family and friends need you to be whole, too. Put yourself and your health first! Even when we get beyond this COVID pandemic, the seven ways to protect your health remain essential to fighting disease and illnesses. 

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Power in Principals

Principals Have Power: Perception vs. Reality 

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Do Principals Have Power?

Reading recent social media posts in education groups, I noticed a trend. Many teachers and staff were blasting their school administrators. While complaining about one’s boss isn’t unusual, people were going pretty hard against their principals. Not negating anyone’s experience, some complaints were disturbing because, as a former principal, I know it is a tough job. Also, there is an ingrained idea that principals have too much control. I hear people say,  “Principals have power to…”  Really?  Now, let’s take a look at principals’ power and what are perceptions of reality.

Some people are already mad after reading the first paragraph! Let me be clear that this is not an anti-teacher post. Instead, it clarifies what is real and perceived about the power principals actually have in real life. It is a pro-educator post!  Both teachers and school administrators have extremely exhausting jobs. Add in a pandemic, and the job became much more complex and more stressful. When things become more difficult and stressful, it’s easy to lash out or blame each other for the troubles that neither have control over. So first, teachers express dissatisfaction with principals. Then principals grumble about district administrators or superintendents. They then complain about school boards and politicians who have never worked in a school. It is a vicious cycle.

Principals are Unsupportive

Some complaints that I read about principals and sometimes assistant principals are about being unsupportive. I often ask, what is your definition of unsupportive? What does it mean to an individual teacher? Being unsupportive can be defined as the principal does not discipline an unruly or disrespectful student that the teacher finds acceptable. Another teacher may think the principal does not support him or her during a meeting with an angry parent. Some staff members can be displeased with a new administrator for making changes to long-standing traditions or rules in the school. These are just a few examples of being unsupportive. Indeed, there are many more, and the list can continue to grow.

Micromanagement and Busy Work

“My principal is a micromanager or gives us too many directives or busy work.” I read these types of posts many times, especially during the pandemic. Some despised the daily checklists and safety precautions during the pandemic. But on the other hand, teachers’ workloads were too heavy, and expectations were high. Many decisions about these two things and others probably did not come directly from the principal but from the district office. 

Some say, “Principals need to stand up for your teachers!” Perhaps your administrator stood up for the teachers and got shot down by the superintendent. Also, maybe he or she didn’t give you all of the checklists that the district required to save you from having one more task.

Harassment and Abuse

Another item I read on social media posts is about principals who harass, bully, or verbally abuse staff members. I never condone anyone who does mental, emotional, or physical damage to their workers. If it is happening to you, report it to the union or district. Document all events or times when the harassment or abuse took place. As a former principal, I experienced harassment and bullying from a supervisor. It was not pretty and not worth my health. Eventually, the supervisor left the district, but the damage was done to me and many others.

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Principal Responsibilities

Another perception is that principals have unyielding power. The reality is that they don’t have it, and there is not an “S’” on their chests. While many teachers and school administrators are superheroes in the lives of children, we all are just human. Principals put their pants on like everyone else, one leg at a time. However, people have their own ideas of what school leadership looks like or should be in their school buildings.

The reality is that principals have a long list of responsibilities, too. Here is a list of some things they are responsible for handling on a day-to-day or year-to-year basis.

  • Being an instructional leader
  • Observing and evaluating teachers and staff
  • Hiring teachers and staff
  • Spending the budget (not creating it)
  • Scheduling
  • Safety of all students and staff
  • School-wide communication
  • Professional development
  • Day-to-day operations
  • Student Outcomes
  • Meeting with parents, teachers, students, community members, district administrators, school partners
  • Discipline
  • Fundraising
  • Implementing all federal, state, and district mandates and directives
  • All aspects of school planning

The Job is Overwhelming

Many principals will tell me that I missed some items on the list. The job is overwhelming and then adds a pandemic, too. Hours are late and long. It’s a lonely job, but somebody has to do it. 

Despite the long list above, principals must develop and build upon the policies, procedures, and relationships in a supportive and conducive to the culture of their school building. Principals do have the power to create a supportive and healthy environment within their schools. However, they also need the buy-in of teachers and staff. 

Sometimes, the perception is that principals have power and they are the bad guy. The reality is that they are not the evil villains in the story of education. This post will anger some people, but that’s life. Agree to disagree and continue scrolling! Those who believe they can be a better principal and do a better job go for it. Be the change agent!

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Lead with Empathy and Grace

Principals are often told to lead with grace and empathy but aren’t necessarily on the receiving end of either. Shouldn’t some things be reciprocal? For example, administrators are advised to celebrate teachers throughout the year and not just during Teacher Appreciation Week. How many teachers actually know the date of Principal Appreciation Day?

Frequently, I see social media posts of principals showing how they celebrated or thanked teachers for doing great jobs and being supportive. Reciprocity is suitable for everyone. Celebrate each other when good and great things happen. Principals have the power and teachers also. The blame game cannot be one-sided. We all have an essential job to do every day. Sometimes it feels like it is a no-win and thankless situation. Yet, we cannot continue to be divided. 

Let’s Use Our Power Together

Teachers and Principals Have Power
Together principals and teachers have the power to make positive change in schools.

Let’s Use Our Power Together

We have a unique opportunity to change or re-imagine education. During the pandemic, our way of teaching students changed very quickly. Now we all have the power to take the pieces that worked well, fix the gaps, even some playing fields, and provide the education our children deserve. Use your power to come together and create a stronger bond between teachers and principals. We are in the trenches every day and can provide a new path to teaching and learning.

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