Of Course Teachers Deserve Respect, Duh!

[portrait of Jamee Miller in her classroom]

[portrait of Jamee Miller in her classroom]
Jamee Miller
Or: “What Don’t Teachers Do?”

Florida Teacher’s Essay Becomes Rallying Cry for Respect | NEA Today

When people were attacking her and her fellow dedicated public school teachers, Florida fourth-grade teacher Jamee Miller got mad. And then she got to typing.

The result? An essay called “I Am a Teacher” which caught fire in recent weeks on Facebook and blogs as supporters of teachers attacked by budget-slashing lawmakers and critics trying to score political points took it to heart and then took it online.

Glad to see this gets some attention. Teachers deserve as much (if mot more) respect as other professionals. We really are learning experts. Too bad everyone thinks they know best when it comes to kids. What would medicine look like if it were perceived like teaching is?

Crumbs of my Philosophy of Education

These are small parts of my overall philosophy of education. Very disorganized, not secret, and need a place for me to refer back to them.

  • My top classroom rule (stated positively) is: Always Allow Learning.
    (negatively: Don’t interrupt/prevent learning)
    Permutations follow:

    • Your [talking/other-behavior] isn’t allowing learning.
    • You [not being ready] isn’t allowing learning.
    • [Listen] to allow learning.
    • [Wait your turn] to allow learning.
    • [Be ready on time] to allow learning.
  • Try to push for the Maximum level for each student.
  • Reach at least a Minimum level for all students.
  • When doing Co-Teach, present a Unified message as much as possible.
  • State feedback positively at least 4:1 (pos:neg).
  • “Hate” the behavior, not the person. (who said this?)
  • Quotes
    • Kathleen Kryza, Inspiring Middle and Secondary Learners
      • This is a risk-taking, mistake-making classroom.
      • Fair is not everyone getting the same thing; fair is everyone getting what they need to be successful.
    • Albert Einstein
      • Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new
  • Don’t get mad; call home.
  • Call home, call home, call home. (inspired by the technology mantra, “backup, backup, backup”). Middle school students don’t want parents to know their “bad” behavior, and don’t get enough told to their parents about their “good” behavior.