Courageous Online But Still Cowardly Lion in my School | Blogush

Why don’t I ask for help with the people I work with?

I have been putting off this answer for over a week.  Have re-written the post three times.  Considered telling Elissa that maybe we should change the question.  FIrst I thought maybe it was fear.  Then I went with I don’t want to feel like an outcast because of my very un-traditional beliefs.  But the real answer…I can’t figure out how to write the real answer without seeming like the most egotistical conceited big headed person in the world…the real answer to why I don’t ask people for help is because I don’t want it.

via blogush.edublogs.org

Wow! I have wanted to say this for years, but never found the words. Perhaps it's because of the "fear" of hurting someone's feelings if I told the truth. What my colleagues do, is not always in the best interest of the students, so I'm not really interested in their advice.

Too many of my colleagues gripe and complain about "how the students act," yet they continue to use the same techniques as other teachers who make the same complaints. If I am having problems with students, why would I try what isn't working as a school? Makes no sense to me.

As for content delivery, the same holds true. Teachers tend to do the same thing other teachers do, and they also do what they observed their teachers do.

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, yet expecting different results."

I hesitate to mention who I am reading for classroom management ideas, but I will. Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer. My wife and got a new puppy a month ago, and I have read both of Cesar's books. [NOTE: his show makes more sense now that I see some of the foundational information he demonstrates in the show.]

Does this mean I will treat my students like dogs. No. Too many other teachers do that, and it doesn't work - I had to say it even though it's a joke.

It does mean that there is something about the idea that students want rules, boundaries, and limitations. They, like nearly all humans, want someone else to be the leader. When there is a void of leadership, then you have problems of others trying to take over the group. The idea of "calm-assertive" leadership is one that rings true to me. I do not mind following (learning from) someone who is confident in where they are going. I may go along just to see where the road will take me.

However, too many roads in education make me know early on when it is time to turn around.

Thanks, Paul, for pushing and leading me in this sensitive area.

Posted via web from rrmurry's posterous