Teacher Insights

Teacher Series: The leader who criticised teachers at the school lunch table                                     Many years ago, in an international school, I was given a role previously done by another teacher. In the new academic year, as part of the role, I had sessions with students and explained to them what needed to be done. We looked at work done until that time and set timelines. I regularly followed up with students to make sure they were on task. I had a colleague who was my assistant for this role. Once, she came to me and said that students were complaining about me and they preferred the previous teacher. I asked her how she knew about this. She said that my line manager, the person I was reporting to for my role, said this during lunch in the cafeteria at the teacher’s lunch table and asked her to inform me to look into the matter. I asked her what her response was. She said that sh...

Teacher series: The teachers who wanted to talk to me when I was taking a class. Many years ago, when I was a middle school teacher in an international school,  one teacher wanted to talk to the students in my class. He very respectfully and politely stood near the door of my class and told me that he wanted to speak to the students for a few  minutes. I told him that I was on a tight schedule and had many things to finish. He smiled and said that he would ask another teacher. I did not think about this at all. Many years later, when I, as a Coordinator, had to request teachers to allow me to make an announcement in a class, or speak to a particular student for a few minutes, I remembered this teacher. Now I think, why did I say no? It was a request for a few minutes. As long as it was not a pattern it should have been okay. I don't know if the teacher remembers this incident, but I do, even after all these years and I don't feel too good. There was another time when we h...

  The teachers who thought I was showing off! Three incidents come to my mind.   Many years ago, I joined this international school as a middle year’s teacher. I met another new teacher, and we became friends. I was told during the orientation that Homeroom teachers will be selected, and a list displayed.   Come the day, the list was displayed, and my name was not on the list. My friend’s name was. I was upset. I thought that maybe I was not good enough. Why would they not choose me? I spoke to some senior teachers at the school, and they told me “Don't be stupid. Homeroom is a lot of work. If your name is not there, good for you. Be happy”   But I just couldn’t digest that my name was not there. I thought that in the least, I need to know why I was not selected so that I could work in that direction and improve. I went to my line manager and asked why my name was not there. She smiled and asked me to sit down. She said that there was no specific reason, but this was...