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@TheWeirdTeacher Here’s my Instagram post from earlier (Thread)
I am currently working my way through renewing my teaching license so I can continue working in education in the future. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t considered just letting it expire. It’s a very scary time...
I am currently working my way through renewing my teaching license so I can continue working in education in the future. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t considered just letting it expire. It’s a very scary time...
to be a teacher- not only for myself but for my family, my friends & my students (& their parents/families). My school district, & many others around the country, are being pressured to reopen schools before it is safe. I know the picture is hard to read...
(yes I took a photo of a computer screen-I know this is silly but I wanted to document what I was seeing) here is what the TSPC is asking me to promise in order to continue being a teacher:
-Attest to all that I have a good moral character
-Put the welfare of children first and will do no physical or emotional harm to a child
-Conduct myself with integrity
-Avoid all forms of discrimination against my students and all others
-Put the welfare of children first and will do no physical or emotional harm to a child
-Conduct myself with integrity
-Avoid all forms of discrimination against my students and all others
-Commit to academic equity in learning for all of my students
-Commit to educational excellence in all I do
-Respect my colleagues
-Commit to lifelong professional development to improve my skills and the opportunities for my students and the profession
-Commit to educational excellence in all I do
-Respect my colleagues
-Commit to lifelong professional development to improve my skills and the opportunities for my students and the profession
-Resolve disputes with students with compassion, empathy and patience
-Be a role model for my students
-Never violate the student-educator boundaries critical for student achievement and success.
-Be a role model for my students
-Never violate the student-educator boundaries critical for student achievement and success.
As I read through these promises I realized that the “leaders” of this country are FORCING me (& my colleagues) to break these promises. I am being required to put my life & my students lives at risk by returning to a building ill equipped to handle what is required to stay safe.
This is not the fault of our teachers, or our administration, or custodial staff-it is the fault of our government. I am being forced to put my students at risk. I am being forced to teach during a time of great (and important) unrest.
I am being asked to teach equitably during a time of unprecedented and purposeful inequity. There is so much more going on here-lives are at stake. How can I be a good role model & lead by example when I’m being asked to do something that is fundamentally the opposite of what...
the opposite of what I believe to be right? My students lives aren’t a political statement- a small percentage of deaths is still CALCULATED STUDENT DEATH. An acceptance of harm. I love teaching. I love my students and I love my colleagues.
I love debating and learning and growing. I love seeing my students every day! I love giving hugs and high fives. I love dealing with the tough stuff and feeling frustrated, only to watch that same cause of frustration find success and knowledge through it all.
As I move into next school year (hopefully with a job still) I love into a time of serious personal contemplation. Im questioning a lot about myself and my privileges currently- and adding this knowing and purposeful risk to the students that I dedicated my life to,
Only make growth more important and more difficult. Do I agree to put my students at risk- to teach with inevitable inequity? What choice do I have? I have to survive as an individual person... unfortunately, I need a paycheck, and I know that many of my colleagues are in...
Are in similar situations. That being said, we have to grow and learn, right? We have to keep going. I just wish it wasn’t with these horrific circumstances. I wish our government would invest in the safety of our students by providing a better option.
The USA has a lot to learn, as do MANY of its citizens (me included). Hopefully we can use our voices and our votes to bring a better future for our youth... I don’t have the answers, but I know that we can do better.
