I teach in a four-wall box of drab proportions,
But choose to make it a place that feels like home.
I see too many students to know them as they need to be known,
But refuse to let that render them faceless in my mind.
I am overcome with the transmission of a canon I can scarcely recall myself,
But will not represent learning as a burden to the young.
I suffer from a poverty of time,
And so will use what I have to best advantage those I teach.
I am an echo of the way school has been since forever,
But will not agree to perpetuate the echo another generation.
I am told I am as good a teacher as the test scores I generate,
But will not allow my students to see themselves as data.
I work in isolation,
And am all the more determined to connect my students with the world.
I am small in the chain of power.
But have the power to change young lives.
There are many reasons to succumb,
And thirty reasons five times a day to succeed.
Many decisions about my job are removed from me.
Except the ones that matter the most.
_____________________
From Carol Ann Tomlinson and Marcia B. Imbeau's book- Leading and Managing A Differentiated Classroom
But choose to make it a place that feels like home.
I see too many students to know them as they need to be known,
But refuse to let that render them faceless in my mind.
I am overcome with the transmission of a canon I can scarcely recall myself,
But will not represent learning as a burden to the young.
I suffer from a poverty of time,
And so will use what I have to best advantage those I teach.
I am an echo of the way school has been since forever,
But will not agree to perpetuate the echo another generation.
I am told I am as good a teacher as the test scores I generate,
But will not allow my students to see themselves as data.
I work in isolation,
And am all the more determined to connect my students with the world.
I am small in the chain of power.
But have the power to change young lives.
There are many reasons to succumb,
And thirty reasons five times a day to succeed.
Many decisions about my job are removed from me.
Except the ones that matter the most.
_____________________
From Carol Ann Tomlinson and Marcia B. Imbeau's book- Leading and Managing A Differentiated Classroom
2 comments:
WOW!!! This 3 letter word sums up my response to this poem!!!
On a separate note (or is it really separate)... I have been talking a lot within my TISS circle about the teacher and her/his status (and role) in the entire discussion of "quality education"... we need to talk more on this...
Well, we would be happy to facilitate a discussion around this with your group.
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