August 9, 2008

Today's letter from TRYING HARD IN TENNESSEE concerns his effectiveness as a high school teacher. He begins by describing himself as having a bland personality and speaking in a monotone. He then discusses his inability to control his students, who blatantly ridicule his clothing and voice. Sometimes he feels bullied, and he expresses that the entire class participates and finds him hilarious. The question is, "What can I do to control my students?"

Dear Abby responds by first suggesting he talk to other educators in his school about his inability to enforce discipline. He should also explore whether the school district offers any classes in assertiveness training. "If it doesn't, then please give serious consideration to changing careers, because you are not only shortchanging yourself but also the students you have allowed to turn you into a doormat."
-------------------------------------------------------

Of course this engaged my careful scrutiny because I have been teaching since 1985. Observations -

• I think the original letter itself is false. The fact that the writer recognizes it is important to describe himself as bland, and speaking in a monotone, indicates he recognizes the root of the problem is his own blah-ness.
• Why they are writing to Dear Abby for advice about a profession in which she has no experience is idiotic. I would expect a college graduate to have more sense than that. It's like asking the grocery checker for advice about your car engine, knowing they have no experience with car engines. But this is typical of the type of letters Dear Abby gets.
• Abby's response is actually not half bad. She encourages the teacher to seek advice from other educators. Good. Asking her to look into district-sponsored assertiveness training is optimistic but unfortunately unrealistic. I don't know of any districts that offer assertiveness training, because they are too busy offering reading and math training, to save their asses from the repercussions of the No Child Left Behind act. But I digress.
• Her last sentence, "If it [the district] doesn't, then please give serious consideration to changing careers, because you are not only shortchanging yourself but also the students you have allowed to turn you into a doormat." This is extremely hasty. The nation already has a problem retaining new teachers beyond five years, for a myriad of reasons I won't go into now. However, before a teacher decides to throw away their credential training, I recommend they read this book:
  "The First Days of School: How to be an Effective Teacher" by Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong.
  
  
  
  
  I have read a ton of books about education, and this is hands-down the best. It prepares the teacher with hundreds of hands-on suggestions on classroom routine, discipline, etc. I recommend this to all my friends who have gone into teaching, and I review it myself every few years.

Good luck to "Trying Hard in Tennessee" and all frustrated teachers!