I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed lately–too many irons in the fire–but I posted a photo of my old AGHS classroom a few days ago and a former student shared this about that room:

“I miss that room. I was going through such a difficult time but I felt confident in your class. It was a much needed safe haven. Thank you.”

Teaching is hard, and I’m so fearful because fewer and fewer young people are going into the profession–“calling” or “vocation” might be even better words.

Teachers have to plan meticulously but deal with chaos. Sometimes the lessons kind of sing and other times you’re like a comic–the flop sweat is notable– whose act is imploding on stage.

A sudden drop in barometric pressure—I am not making this up— or the addition of just one obnoxious student added to your class roll can turn thirty-four sweet kids into a pack of Tasmanian Devils.

Just when you’re almost begun to sort of manage your workload, Higher Ups decree a series of inservices with “breakout groups” and forms to fill, all about the latest teaching theory. The theories seem to come from a stylebook written, empty of humanity, by the behaviorist B.F. Skinner. The theories come with lots of buzzwords.

One example of the language: We actually had a superintendent once who announced at a beginning-of-the-year assembly: “I’m a data-driven kind of guy.” I almost threw up.

Another Higher Up once announced, with a straight face, was that our five-year-goal was to have every student in the district pass the No Child Left Behind exams. Every student. I had the audacity to raise my hand, in front of 700 people, and question his reasoning.

They have a shelf life of about three to five years, these theories do. Horizontal Alignment was replaced by Outcome Based Education which evolved into “Let’s Teach Them The Answers To The State Standards Tests.”

I got out just in time. The State Standards gave us two classroom days to teach the Vietnam War. I usually took eight.

I was recalling yesterday some of my principals over the years. Two were insane. Three were politicians. Two were fired, and they were among my favorites. Some I can’t remember.

You remember your students far more than you do those Higher Ups. And this marvelous young woman, my former student, just paid back my work in ways she can’t imagine. What a blessing.