Re: would like to hear from you

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On 9/19/11, lynne/ca wrote:
> On 9/19/11, poor quality teacher? wrote:
>> I often stay at work late to get things organized, etc... I
>> enjoy the quiet time and get alot accomplished. I am ready
>> to start the following day. I have been told this is a sign
>> of a poor quality teacher. Every one else seems to rush out
>> the door at the end of the school day. (It's just me and
>> the custodians). I have also been called crazy....and An
>> effective teacher can get things done during the school
>> day. (I can't imagine how because I am with students all
>> day except for a 30 minute lunch.) What is the consensus
>> regarding a teacher staying late. ineffective/crazy? please
>> be honest. I can handle constructive criticism. Thanks!
>
>
> Each school has its own culture and what you describe is part
> of that. I have worked in schools where it was considered
> normal and professional to stay after school and come in on
> some weekends to prepare; I have worked in schools where
> people would say "what are you still doing here?" if you were
> seen on campus after 3:30.
> Staying late and working long hours can sometimes mean a very
> dedicated teacher who is a hard worker... or a
> perfectionist... or a fairly new teacher... or a teacher
> teaching something he/she has never taught before... or a
> disorganized teacher... or other scenarios. So it can be a
> good thing or a bad thing, and basically, you can't make
> assumptions based on how late someone is there. Sometimes the
> teachers who leave quickly take mountains of work home. Some
> don't. Some stay late on certain days and take off as soon as
> possible on other days. Some work in neighborhoods (or travel
> through neighborhoods to get home) where it's not a good idea
> to be out late. Or they have kids to take care of right after
> school. You just can't make judgements based on when a person
> leaves because there are a million scenarios.
> You are obviously in a school where the culture is "don't stay
> after hours" but no, it doesn't mean you are ineffective. As
> for getting most work done during the school day... I don't
> know your grade level or how much prep time you have, but
> generally, teachers do have a lot of work that can't (or
> shouldn't) be completed while students are in the classroom,
> so usually that does require some before school or after
> school time.
>
>
Very well said, Lynne!

My father once had a boss (not in education) who told one of his
employees, "If you can't get your work done during the hours
I've provided for you to do it, I'll find someone else who can!"

I understand what he was saying - and it may have been
appropriate to that situation; I don't know - but as a longtime
teacher, I have certainly had occasions when I simply couldn't
get everything accomplished during "normal" work hours. I've put
in long hours after work at times, and I have also come in on
weekends.

Personally, I'm often tired by the end of the day on Friday and
just want to go home.By then, I can't even get my head in the
game for what I need to be ready to do on Monday. so I like to
come in from 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, when there is
nobody else to distract me. I can get my classroom and lessons
ready for Monday morning, then have the rest of the weekend to
myself.

So, I think that the people who rush to judgment regarding when
and how you get your other work done outside of your teaching
duties are out of line here. The mark of an effective teacher is
not when he works, but how effectively he teaches his students.
What he does to make that happen, or when he does it, is beside
the point.

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