Nobody wants to be dictated to. Not you. Not me. Not even children. But we try to. We think we can tell everybody what to do, how to do it, where to do it, and why they should do it. As if we have the answers to life's questions. As if we hold all the power in the Universe.
Why am I writing this blog? Well, I am sick and tired of teachers telling students what to do. That's right. Sick and tired. I watch teachers yell at the students. I watch the students yell back. I see the students shoot spit balls at the back of the teacher's head, and hit the target dead on. I watch the teacher send the students to ISS (In School Suspension) for everything, even if they sneeze wrong. I see the students acting a fool in front of their classmates. I see the teacher calling parents on the telephone, and cursed out by the parents who claim their children are angels. Well, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I know that if I don't try to do something about all of this insanity going down in the American Education System, then I am only adding to the problem.
Why am I qualified to write this blog? Well, I am sick and tired of having to explain my credentials to every Tom, Dick, and Harry Wong school teacher or know it all parent who thinks that a 20-something Black woman don't know dididly squat about running a classroom. If I am not some big shot lead teacher who hasn't paid her dues, then I must not be qualified enough to talk about education. I am sick and tired of holding my farts in front of hard nose administrators who think their flatulence don't stank. I am sick and tired of having to speak proper English all the time, when Ebonics is my first and commonly used verbal language. I am sick and tired of trying to play like I didn't hear my students say some hilarious stuff in class, turn my back as though I am writing something important on the board, yet have the biggest grin on my face.
We are all human beings, right? Or am I wrong? We all have our own unique personalities, both students and teachers. So, why is it that teachers want to dictate to students, and why do students want to dictate to teachers? I see students running the class most of the time. Smart-mouth students who want to be the center of attention. I see class clowns acting like they are the Original Kings of Comedy. Too many Lil' Wayne wanna be rapper students, or Paris Hilton snotty nose rich kid acting students. Too many tight booty crack squeezing, or overgrown bully teachers. Not enough facilitators, but too many dictators.
Well, you might say that I am trying to dictate to you right now by writing this blog. Nope, not dictating at all. I am offering my two cents hoping that some teacher can be strengthened by my stories, both humorous and serious. That the relationship between students, teachers, parents, and administrators can be changed to one of mutual respect. That everybody can be who they were created to be, without compromising their unique individual personalities. Teachers are public servants. That means that we should be here to serve the children, not the other way around. Just because you are in a position of power doesn't mean that it should be abused. Just because you have a college degree and a teacher's certificate doesn't mean that you are qualified to dictate to students rather than facilitate. What about teachers who complain in the teacher's lounge about all of these disrespectful students, yet during the staff meetings in the library, they are passing notes back and forth to their colleagues? Some are laughing and joking, acting a fool up in there. How can you expect your students to respect you when you don't show respect to your own staff members?
There is a huge difference between being a dictator and a facilitator. Which one are you? Which one would you like to be? Well, I may seem harsh in the way I communicate, but I am only trying to speak so that I may be heard and understood. This is my personality. I am not to be taken literally most of the time, most people cannot tell if I am joking or serious, and I like to keep it that way. Some may say that my ego is big and this and that. Whoa! Who doesn't have an ego? If everybody else can blog about education, then I most certainly can.
Countless teachers and administrators have walked into my classrooms and are amazed and baffled on how well behaved my students are. The same students who teachers kick out are the same students who are little angels in my company. The same students who teachers complain about are the ones I praise. The same students who stay on the ISS list, are the ones who have perfect attendance in my class. The same ones who come to school high on drugs, are the ones who write speeches and speak out against drugs in my class. The same students who refuse to do one assignment in class, are the ones who participate the most in my class. Why are people so amazed at the behavior of my students? Well, I can tell you one thing. It takes time and patience to get students to behave appropriately. It does not come through aggression, threats, or extrinsic rewards; it comes from learning how to be a great facilitator.
It takes courage and determination. It takes understanding and a willingness to serve the needs of every student no matter how rough they are around the edges.
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