Silencing Teachers…
I am still trying to figure out why someone would be asked to leave for trying to build an academic community and helping our students learn. The quote “I had been forced out of the school where I had worked enthusiastically for more than five years because I had challenged required instructional practices that I believe interfered with teaching and learning” makes me feel a little lack of respect for a teacher as a professional. What is it going to hurt to let a teacher use the knowledge that they know to branch out a little for what actually seemed like the better. Because now what is the new buzz word? “Differentiated Instruction” She is probably thinking, “I told you so!” If they respected Jaeger as a professional they would have let her explore these areas of literacy and trusted her teaching and I will say professional instead of teacher because that is what we are. We are professionals in the area of teaching!
This article also makes me think of our conversation about philosophies and finding schools that match our philosophy of thought for our students and profession. I know this has nothing to do with literacy and may not seem important but to me it is part of my belief system as a teacher. On Friday we received a Friday take home letter from our principal. On the letter she mentioned how there will be no Valentine’s Day party and please do not send in treats. As a Kindergarten teacher and a parent I was saddened by this thought. It is not like we party all day for Valentine’s. We take about 30-45 minutes at the end of the day to pass out valentines and have a cupcake. If the administration would trust that we are having quality academic time then I do not think these 30-45 minutes should make a difference. These are the little things that may help keep our kids going. What else are we going to take away? Maybe it is my play class coming out 
. Some of my own personal memories of elementary school include Valentine festivities and making my Valentine bag, etc… I also want my own children to experience these small rituals. I know Valentine’s Day is not the most important celebration in any-one’s life including my own but it is the point that my philosophies are starting to change against hers with various topics(including her ideas of what a literacy coach should be doing) and I have been asking myself do I stay in the school because it is easy, do I stay and try to speak out and fight, or do I find somewhere else to go? Like we discussed with Michelle’s quote, it is scary to me and how do you find the right school? Is the grass going to be greener? Risky to me! I am so proud of Jaeger and am thankful we have professionals like her that are not afraid to speak their mind whatever the consequence. She believed in it and she was going to fight for it! We need to continue to be advocates for our students and for our profession.
Question for all: Would/Do charter schools make a difference with flexibility?
Thank you Teresa for your background info on Jaeger!
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Wow! It’s nice to see someone shares my concerns. As many of you know, Jen and I both work at SES and are both kindergarten teachers. In fact, we are the only two teachers in the building with a connecting room (through a bathroom). It has gotten to the point at our school that we are locking our door, collaborating with one another, and teaching what is best for our students. Not only has Valentine’s been cancelled, but school morale in general is depleting at a remarkable rate. Our (new to the school this year) principal seems to be offering criticism to a variety of teachers within the building but without any help/support for improvements. I am finding more and more that her philosophies about what education should be are not matching mine. Like you, Jen, the more I sit in Olga’s play class and the more I read the more I feel like I need to begin the search in finding a school that I can work comfortably at. You’re absolutely right. It’s a hard decision to make a change and the grass may not be necessarily greener but shouldn’t it at least be a slight shade darker?