There is a misconception or assumption that exists in the education world. Simply put, it's that those that chose to become educators loved school and performed well in it. While that may be true for some it's a far cry from the truth for me.
When I was a student I wasn't motivated at all to perform well in school. I didn't graduate top of my class or anywhere close (something like 380 out of 1,000). I knew how to play the game so I wasn't too worried about things like class rank. As a good test taker, I knew that my SAT would conquer my lack of class rank and getting into a university would take care of itself. I found myself bored, uninspired and unengaged. The grades I made were more about staying out of trouble with my parents than about the learning. I particularly loathed reading in schools. Mostly because the books were often chosen for you, and they were almost always fiction. I prefer non-fiction. You went from class to class, red binder for ELA, blue for Math, green for Science and so on. School was boring, predictable and redundant. It was my lack of engagement in school that led me to want to become an educator. I thought that school could be more than what it was when I attended. I wanted to ask questions that didn't have the correct answers. I wanted dialogue with kids and make connections across contents. I wanted kids to be able to read the things they wanted to, not what they were told to. That same lack of engagement allowed me to foster relationships with students that others found challenging or difficult to have in class. I learned a lot (maybe not what a teacher wanted me to) in my time as a student. Above all, I learned a lot about what not to do. As educators we ought to cultivating more educators. Often times we do, just too often we only look to the ones who are engaged and excited to be at school. I challenge educators to consider kids that are like I was a student. Encourage them to become educators. Education could stand to gain some teachers with the perspective and experience that being disengaged in school offers.
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AuthorJeff Lahey Archives
January 2020
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