I heard it all the time from teachers in schools across the country: "as long as my students are learning, I don't care what else is going on outside my classroom."
It's hard to disagree with a statement like that. It truly focuses on the needs of students. For teachers who truly believe it and actualize based on that belief, I can really find no fault.
But (there always is one, isn't there?).
Imagine what our school system could look like if teachers increased their scope to include what is happening on the other side of their doors. Think about the power that teachers could wield for a noble cause: shaping the future of our country. As a Philadelphia resident, I think about that often: how can I play my part in the school system to raise Philadelphia's status up to where it should be?
To be clear, I am not advocating teachers should spend less time on their students. For those people who do not have the extra time to spend on orchestrating curriculum or attending voluntary professional developments, PLEASE just make sure your classroom epitomizes an environment of learning.
For the others who do feel they have the time to commit, I beg you to consider how the young souls we are educating now will be the driving force behind Philadelphia's economy in 20-30 years. Many of these kids feel disenfranchised because of policies implement across the School District or even at the school level. We need to work hard together with all possible partners to figure out what will make the current generation coming through our classroom doors know that they have the power to influence and they should use it for good.
Without this, I fear Philadelphia will languish. Young parents will move to suburban neighborhoods and wealthy families will send their children to private schools. I truly believe that if we make changes and ripples now, we will see the positive effects in the future.
Please: Think outside of your classroom.
It's hard to disagree with a statement like that. It truly focuses on the needs of students. For teachers who truly believe it and actualize based on that belief, I can really find no fault.
But (there always is one, isn't there?).
Imagine what our school system could look like if teachers increased their scope to include what is happening on the other side of their doors. Think about the power that teachers could wield for a noble cause: shaping the future of our country. As a Philadelphia resident, I think about that often: how can I play my part in the school system to raise Philadelphia's status up to where it should be?
To be clear, I am not advocating teachers should spend less time on their students. For those people who do not have the extra time to spend on orchestrating curriculum or attending voluntary professional developments, PLEASE just make sure your classroom epitomizes an environment of learning.
For the others who do feel they have the time to commit, I beg you to consider how the young souls we are educating now will be the driving force behind Philadelphia's economy in 20-30 years. Many of these kids feel disenfranchised because of policies implement across the School District or even at the school level. We need to work hard together with all possible partners to figure out what will make the current generation coming through our classroom doors know that they have the power to influence and they should use it for good.
Without this, I fear Philadelphia will languish. Young parents will move to suburban neighborhoods and wealthy families will send their children to private schools. I truly believe that if we make changes and ripples now, we will see the positive effects in the future.
Please: Think outside of your classroom.
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