As I finish my third year overseas, after teaching in the US for 15 years....I'm noticing something about the attitudes of educators here. It seems no matter what the topic, everything is sunshine and rainbows. No one ever wants to be realistic when discussing students, curriculum,parents, expectations, or even other teachers. Everyone wants to maintain a false sense of sweetness. It's so blatantly false and phony. Does this only exist is certain types of schools or regions? It really comes to the surface at the end of the year when discussions about progress and plans for next year happen.
Thoughts?
Sunshine and Rainbows
Re: Sunshine and Rainbows
Where do you teach? I thought teaching in the ME and Egypt was definitely hard but teaching in Asia is a dawdle in many ways. The students are better, parents are less confrontational, favorable exchange rate and incredible travel opportunities - and the savings potential is much better.
Response
Maybe everyone is just happy?
Yes, there are regions in IE and ISs like that, and there are regions ISs where its nothing but gripes and complaints. Most ISs tend to have a normal curve where the majority of ITs are somewhere in the middle and there are small groups of unicorns on one end of the curve and a small group of gnomes on the other end of the curve.
Maybe after 15 years in the US your conditioned and used to end of the year 'drain' and your looking for some drama, because thats what you had for 15 years. It could be that in your region of IE with a lot more mobility among ITs, everyone is just leaving for a summer with actual plans to enjoy the time off and travel, without having to care about coming back, or maybe they arent coming back and they are moving on to their next adventure. Its easier to walk away from attachments when they are only 1 too 2 years in development. Maybe everyone is just happy to not have to put up with the idiocy of DE. Students that do work, being respected, freedom in the curriculum. Leadership that just cares about getting the job done. Being on the upper end of the regional lifestyle, not having to spend their own coin on classroom supplies. Maybe they appreciate those things and others enough that they arent waiting or looking for the other shoe to drop.
Yes, there are regions in IE and ISs like that, and there are regions ISs where its nothing but gripes and complaints. Most ISs tend to have a normal curve where the majority of ITs are somewhere in the middle and there are small groups of unicorns on one end of the curve and a small group of gnomes on the other end of the curve.
Maybe after 15 years in the US your conditioned and used to end of the year 'drain' and your looking for some drama, because thats what you had for 15 years. It could be that in your region of IE with a lot more mobility among ITs, everyone is just leaving for a summer with actual plans to enjoy the time off and travel, without having to care about coming back, or maybe they arent coming back and they are moving on to their next adventure. Its easier to walk away from attachments when they are only 1 too 2 years in development. Maybe everyone is just happy to not have to put up with the idiocy of DE. Students that do work, being respected, freedom in the curriculum. Leadership that just cares about getting the job done. Being on the upper end of the regional lifestyle, not having to spend their own coin on classroom supplies. Maybe they appreciate those things and others enough that they arent waiting or looking for the other shoe to drop.
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wrldtrvlr123
- Posts: 1173
- Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:59 am
- Location: Japan
Re: Sunshine and Rainbows
I would say it varies wildly by school/region, etc. Many schools seem to have the exact opposite situation where everything/everyone sucks (according to many/most teachers). Sometimes there just seems to be a culture of positivity/negativity that has developed for various reasons. Sometimes when it's overly positive/unrealistic it could that because negativity is looked down upon or even punished within the school. Sometimes people might just be trying to convince themselves that everything is just fine with their class, school, temporarily adopted home city, country, etc.
Of the two extremes, I would say you have the better end right now. Being around/a part of an overly negative or even toxic culture is exhausting, stressful and can have a strong and harmful impact on many aspects of your life. So, either be a Pollyanna in public, or decide to be the resident grump if you think it will not be held against you.
Of the two extremes, I would say you have the better end right now. Being around/a part of an overly negative or even toxic culture is exhausting, stressful and can have a strong and harmful impact on many aspects of your life. So, either be a Pollyanna in public, or decide to be the resident grump if you think it will not be held against you.
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twoteachers
- Posts: 120
- Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:15 pm
Re: Sunshine and Rainbows
Sorry if I didn't say it clearly enough. For example, when students clearly have learning difficulties, or behavior issues, it seems educators I come into contact with want to pretend none of that exists, because it's difficult to discuss. I'm in a for profit school..is that part of it? Just afraid to lose customers?
Reply
@twoteachers
For profit ISs tend to have lower admissions standards and requirements, whatever the students issue there is usually a price point that will overcome any admissions obstacle.
Usually in these scenarios, ITs just dont care, and its easier to pretend that none of these issues are problems so that they dont have to do anything about it. There are just as many 'for profit ITs" as there are ISs, ITs that go through the motions that do enough to keep the coin coming in. Doing "more" doesnt have a benefit to them they can quantify or they have and the benefits dont justify the cost and your forcing the issue just ruins their happy place.
For profit ISs tend to have lower admissions standards and requirements, whatever the students issue there is usually a price point that will overcome any admissions obstacle.
Usually in these scenarios, ITs just dont care, and its easier to pretend that none of these issues are problems so that they dont have to do anything about it. There are just as many 'for profit ITs" as there are ISs, ITs that go through the motions that do enough to keep the coin coming in. Doing "more" doesnt have a benefit to them they can quantify or they have and the benefits dont justify the cost and your forcing the issue just ruins their happy place.
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wrldtrvlr123
- Posts: 1173
- Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:59 am
- Location: Japan
Re: Sunshine and Rainbows
twoteachers wrote:
> Sorry if I didn't say it clearly enough. For example, when students clearly
> have learning difficulties, or behavior issues, it seems educators I come
> into contact with want to pretend none of that exists, because it's
> difficult to discuss. I'm in a for profit school..is that part of it? Just
> afraid to lose customers?
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That is probably part of it. The other part is what meaningful options are there at your location? If you and the other teacher agree that the student probably has significant learning, behavioral, emotional issues, what course of actions are open to you? If there are good learning support options available then the attitude makes less sense (unless you are in a location where culturally your news will be viewed as unwelcome).
If there aren't really any great options other than telling the parent, school head etc. that the student may not be appropriate for your school, then it would much easier to pretend that the elephant in the room is really a unicorn and that what is coming out of it's backside is really a rainbow.
It sounds like people there are just trying to put in their time and fly under the radar and at that location, wearing deeply tinted rose-colored glasses apparently makes that a whole lot easier to do. Hang in there!
> Sorry if I didn't say it clearly enough. For example, when students clearly
> have learning difficulties, or behavior issues, it seems educators I come
> into contact with want to pretend none of that exists, because it's
> difficult to discuss. I'm in a for profit school..is that part of it? Just
> afraid to lose customers?
===================
That is probably part of it. The other part is what meaningful options are there at your location? If you and the other teacher agree that the student probably has significant learning, behavioral, emotional issues, what course of actions are open to you? If there are good learning support options available then the attitude makes less sense (unless you are in a location where culturally your news will be viewed as unwelcome).
If there aren't really any great options other than telling the parent, school head etc. that the student may not be appropriate for your school, then it would much easier to pretend that the elephant in the room is really a unicorn and that what is coming out of it's backside is really a rainbow.
It sounds like people there are just trying to put in their time and fly under the radar and at that location, wearing deeply tinted rose-colored glasses apparently makes that a whole lot easier to do. Hang in there!