Teacher series: The teachers who thought I was showing off!!
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 the first time in her life when someone was asking why the home-room role was not given to them. And she said, “since you are asking for it, it is yours”. That is how I came to be a Homeroom teacher.
I have never enjoyed anything more than being a homeroom teacher. It gave me time to bond with my students, to get to know them, to advocate for them, to learn from them…we had 10 minutes in the morning with students for attendance and I would spend time either discussing something with them or they would talk to me about what is going on in their lives. One of the two senior teachers who told me to be happy and not ask for Homeroom was in the room opposite mine. She would come to my room and ask me “Tell me Radha, what are you doing every morning with your students, tell me so that I will also do it” And naively, I would tell her, without realising that she was being sarcastic. I got to know this much later when other teachers told me that she was making fun of me and was telling them about it. But no comments would ever get me to change the way I bonded with my students.
Another incident was when we went on a school trip to another city. On the bus ride, I would sit with my Homeroom students, talking to them, forging a bond not possible during school hours. They would talk about their issues, what brought them comfort, their pets, their parents…we shared so much. I got to know that another teacher who was on the trip told other teachers on the trip “poor kids, she does not leave them alone even on the bus”. I felt bad on hearing this, but continued bonding with the kids. I worked closely with the trip leader, a senior teacher, by planning all the activities for the next day, sharing my concerns and ideas and making sure all minute details were taken care of.
We came back. There was a school party. The trip leader and his wife (who was also teaching) approached me. He said that he had shared this with his wife as well and he wanted to appreciate me for my role on the trip. He said that if he had a choice next time, he would select me all over again. He said that in his opinion there were two trip leaders on the trip– him and me. He praised me for how involved I was with the kids, how I spent time planning with him their activities and coordinating with the trip organisers and how I was so very hands on, even though my main responsibility was just to supervise the students, I was thrilled!!!
The third incident was later during the year, when we had a PD session. The school called an expert who conducted a session. My friend and I sat in the front row and had lots of questions. We also raised our hands when we did not understand something to ask for clarification. Later, other teachers told us that the same senior teachers said that we were trying to show off by asking questions. I felt bad, but that did not stop me from asking questions or sitting in the front seat for PDs and making the most of the opportunity.
I knew these teachers made fun of me, but what I was doing was important for me. I would not change that, just to be on the good side of these teachers. I was okay with a polite, professional relationship. Often new teachers are dragged into school politics and to please senior teachers, must speak as they speak and do as they do. But that has never been what I have done. I may have less close colleagues, but will not give up my passion for my work and my integrity towards my profession for having better relationships with some colleagues. And remember, if you are sincere, committed, look out for your students and are a good teacher, your work will speak for itself. You don't have to worry about what people say behind your back!!
