The Daily News
1 I just woke up thinking once again that this was already written.
2 Curses!
3 Ah, whatevs.
4 I went through a "The past is prologue" things yesterday.
5 Do you ever have that song "Who are you?" drift through your frabjous brain?
6 That happened to me yesterday, for a brief stint.
7 I was at meetings until almost 6 p.m. They all reminded me of where I've been and where I am now.
8 Fifteen million people having meetings about how to teach.
9 I don't think I've ever changed my style because of meetings, or data, or new discoveries which inevitably become old discoveries.
10 At meetings, you always hear stuff like this: "They're going to want to see this. They're going to want to see that."
11 It's a very very very old hat.
12 Yesterday I had a conversation with this student who comes in at lunch each day to do her homework. I told her that I had meetings beginning right after lunch and going all the way into the early evening.
13 One meeting in particular I was disturbed about because I don't always play by the rules, as anyone who knows me will attest.
14 I knew one meeting was going to be me and an administrator who was going to give me a slight slap on the wrist for not crossing all my T's and dotting all my I's.
15 I usually dot my T's and cross my eyes, which inevitably pisses people off.
16 I was clearly a bit stressed about having this one-on-one, even though I knew that this administrator was a class act.
17 In the midst of stressing over that meeting, the student looked up from her studies and said, "You're the best teacher at this school, by far."
18 I don't believe that, not for a minute.
19 I said, "I don't know about that. I have colleagues who are awesome, although I haven't seen many of them teach. I admire them as professionals and as good, caring teachers."
20 I assume that all teachers have their fans.
21 I do know one thing.
22 I do know that an effective teacher must love teaching. They must love their job, and if they don't, then they're in the wrong profession.
23 I especially loved teaching a Yerba Buena. I ran into a whole bunch of my former colleagues last night at the meeting.
24 One teacher is now working at Independence, and mentioned Ponch. He is the maestro extraordinaire over at Indy.
25 We fell into brief conversation about teaching. I said, "Ponch and I had an answer to the statement that teachers always hear, which is this: 'I can't see how anyone can be a teacher.' " People say that all the time. "I can't see how anyone can be a teacher." Ponch had a great answer.
26 His answer, and our answer: "Beats workin'!" A double take and a Three Stooges moment. Always happens when I'm with that guy.
27 Pat answer.
28 Whatever that means.
29 On my way home I thought of how much I love the profession, even though it drives me crazy with all its accountability experts.
30 With all of my training over the years, I still think that the best teachers are the ones who are excited every single day about going in and teaching.
31 I still don't think I'm anywhere near the teacher I would like to be.
32 I've gotten near; I know that.
33 It sounds a bit cliche, but I've "mellowed" with age.
34 This means that I don't demand respect by throwing chairs across rooms, or throwing hissy fits. I don't cuss. If I get upset, the worst thing I might do is say, "Excuse me," and I'll walk out of the room for a minute.
35 I really try to keep things moving, and I smile, even if upset.
36 The best advice I ever received about teaching came from my first principal, Dr. John Hernandez, right after he hired me. I asked him what advice he would give to a fresh, new teacher. His advice: "Be genuine."
37 Brilliant.
38 Sometimes there are ordinary people who walk into our lives and give us awesome advice, and we are too stupid to realize the brilliance.
39 "Be genuine."
40 Fancy that.
41 Eight billion accountability idiots looking at data and all, and one gentle soul tells me everything I need to know about teaching in two words.
42 Iono.
43 I had a long day yesterday. I went all the way into the early evening having people at meetings trying every which way to make heads or tails about all of this.
44 Why do I teach?
45 Beats workin'.
46 And I believe in "Be genuine."
47 It just ain't that hard.
48 Well, it's getting late. Or early.
49 Whatevs.
50 It's once again well into the four a.m. so I think I'll crawl under some covers, close my eyes, and slumber for a bit.
51 Enjoy your Thursday.
52 I already know that I will.
53 See you again. Be genuine.
54 Peace.
~H~
www.xanga.com/bharrington
The Daily News1 I just woke up thinking once again that this was already written.2 Curses!3 Ah, whatevs.4 I went through a "The past is prologue" things yesterday.5 Do you ever have that song "Who are you?" drift through your frabjous brain?6 That happened to me yesterday, for a brief stint.7 I was at meetings until almost 6 p.m. They all reminded me of where I've been and where I am now.8 Fifteen million people having meetings about how to teach.9 I don't think I've ever changed my style because of meetings, or data, or new discoveries which inevitably become old discoveries.10 At meetings, you always hear stuff like this: "They're going to want to see this. They're going to want to see that."11 It's a very very very old hat.12 Yesterday I had a conversation with this student who comes in at lunch each day to do her homework. I told her that I had meetings beginning right after lunch and going all the way into the early evening.13 One meeting in particular I was disturbed about because I don't always play by the rules, as anyone who knows me will attest.14 I knew one meeting was going to be me and an administrator who was going to give me a slight slap on the wrist for not crossing all my T's and dotting all my I's.15 I usually dot my T's and cross my eyes, which inevitably pisses people off.16 I was clearly a bit stressed about having this one-on-one, even though I knew that this administrator was a class act.17 In the midst of stressing over that meeting, the student looked up from her studies and said, "You're the best teacher at this school, by far."18 I don't believe that, not for a minute.19 I said, "I don't know about that. I have colleagues who are awesome, although I haven't seen many of them teach. I admire them as professionals and as good, caring teachers."20 I assume that all teachers have their fans.21 I do know one thing.22 I do know that an effective teacher must love teaching. They must love their job, and if they don't, then they're in the wrong profession.23 I especially loved teaching a Yerba Buena. I ran into a whole bunch of my former colleagues last night at the meeting.24 One teacher is now working at Independence, and mentioned Ponch. He is the maestro extraordinaire over at Indy.25 We fell into brief conversation about teaching. I said, "Ponch and I had an answer to the statement that teachers always hear, which is this: 'I can't see how anyone can be a teacher.' " People say that all the time. "I can't see how anyone can be a teacher." Ponch had a great answer.26 His answer, and our answer: "Beats workin'!" A double take and a Three Stooges moment. Always happens when I'm with that guy.27 Pat answer.28 Whatever that means.29 On my way home I thought of how much I love the profession, even though it drives me crazy with all its accountability experts.30 With all of my training over the years, I still think that the best teachers are the ones who are excited every single day about going in and teaching.31 I still don't think I'm anywhere near the teacher I would like to be.32 I've gotten near; I know that.33 It sounds a bit cliche, but I've "mellowed" with age.34 This means that I don't demand respect by throwing chairs across rooms, or throwing hissy fits. I don't cuss. If I get upset, the worst thing I might do is say, "Excuse me," and I'll walk out of the room for a minute.35 I really try to keep things moving, and I smile, even if upset.36 The best advice I ever received about teaching came from my first principal, Dr. John Hernandez, right after he hired me. I asked him what advice he would give to a fresh, new teacher. His advice: "Be genuine."37 Brilliant.38 Sometimes there are ordinary people who walk into our lives and give us awesome advice, and we are too stupid to realize the brilliance.39 "Be genuine."40 Fancy that.41 Eight billion accountability idiots looking at data and all, and one gentle soul tells me everything I need to know about teaching in two words.42 Iono.43 I had a long day yesterday. I went all the way into the early evening having people at meetings trying every which way to make heads or tails about all of this.44 Why do I teach?45 Beats workin'.46 And I believe in "Be genuine."47 It just ain't that hard.48 Well, it's getting late. Or early.49 Whatevs.50 It's once again well into the four a.m. so I think I'll crawl under some covers, close my eyes, and slumber for a bit.51 Enjoy your Thursday.52 I already know that I will.53 See you again. Be genuine.54 Peace.~H~
www.xanga.com/bharrington
