is the title of an interesting piece from eSchool News, an email for which arrived in my mailbox today. It states the 10 myths, then gives responses from educators to each myth. I came about when
eSchool News recently asked readers:“If you could clear up one misconception about teachers and/or teaching, what would it be?”
Let me list the 10 myths, and give one example of responses, then encourage you to read the piece.
1. Those who can’t do, teach.
2. A teacher’s day ends at 3 p.m.
3. Teachers get their summers off.
4. If teachers are good at what they do, student grades and test scores will be good, too.
5. Teaching is easy, and anyone can do it.
6. Teachers are solely responsible for learning.
7. If you went to school, you know what teaching is.
8. Teachers are well-compensated for what they do.
9. Teachers aren’t as good as they used to be.
10. Teachers are all the same.
Please keep reading
Let me offer the response from the piece to one point:
7. If you went to school, you know what teaching is. Here is the first response:
“I think the most important one is that because you went to school, you understand teaching. I am not sure where this idea stems from; most people don’t feel that because they drive a car, they know everything there is to know about cars. But in education, it seems to be a common misconception that because you went to school, you know how to teach. We have policies and procedures made by people every day without any input from educational professionals, which just don’t make sense.” —Sherril Studley
Let me also respond myself to the last point, 10. Teachers are all the same.
Thank God, that is not true. Look, I have no doubt I am even on my weaker days a very good teacher - for the high school students I teach. I am quite effective down to about 7th grade. But there is no way I would be an effective teacher for 3rd graders.
Nor am I as effective with Special Ed kids.
For some of my students, I am probably not the best fit for their learning styles, although I do try to adapt to help all students connect.
Fortunately at a high school level students experience many teachers, some of whom are very different in their approach than am I, and as a result reach some kids with whom I am not as effective.
Last year at the peak I had 193 students in 6 classes of 4 different levels.
Part of what makes me effective is a willingness to be myself, to be genuine with my kids. One of the most effective teachers in our school is our just retired Latin teacher, who was a Disney American Teacher award winner a few years back. We are very different in style, perhaps as different as our politics. We were good friends, and shared a lot of kids between her Latin classes and my AP Gov classes. I think our students benefited from experiencing the differences.
Kids are not all the same. Teachers should NOT be all the same. I am not the same from class to class, because their needs are different.
Anyhow, a bit of verbiage from me.
If you have not already read the article, please do so, please consider what the educators who responded have to offer.
And keep those responses in mind the next time you encounter one of these mindless myths about teachers.
Peace.