Re: Teacher Recognition

ELAR Teacher

Posted on 8/06/12

(6) Comments

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As a teacher, I disagree with the posters who feel as though
recognition LOWERS morale. For one, a little competition is
always healthy, as it keeps folks on their toes. But the real
issue, as explained by my teenager to me one day...generalizing
the hard work and effort teachers put into their jobs is akin to
a teacher who reprimands an entire class for "talking" because
s/he is concerned about humiliating the two students who are
doing the talking. The "good" kids lose respect for the teacher
when s/he does this because all they're thinking is "why is s/he
including ME in that reprimand...I wasn't talking". The same goes
for recognition...if there are a handful of teachers who bust
their hump everyday, go out of their way to make life easier for
the admin and their peers...and there are many others who just
show up for their paychecks and only do the minimum of what is
required of them, it's a little frustrating when the admin
acknowledges EVERYONE for the work that only the handful have
done. After a while, the outstanding employees will feel "why
bother" and one by one, their extra effort will diminish. It's
just human nature.

It is understood that many schools have many teachers, and not
ALL can be recognized...but not all deserve to be. However, many
do, and what is wrong with recognizing more than one at a time?
As a teacher, I do like the "Rose" idea, with what the admin
noticed most, written on a tag attached to the rose. Recognition
doesn't have to be in front of his/her peers, just as when I
reprimand a student, I do not make a public announcement of it,
but calmly walk over to the student's desk and quietly whisper
for him/her to focus on the assignment.

Bottom line is, teaching is really hard work...not just working
with the curriculum and students...but being able to work well
with the adults, and finding the thin line between going the
extra mile and becoming a doormat. If your teachers really feel
as though you appreciate them, they will work harder for you. If
they feel as though they are a "dime a dozen", the "good" ones
will not cease their extra efforts...for they are in it for the
kids, but will begin looking at greener pastures and jump ship as
soon as their contract is up for renewal...and all you will be
left with are those content with just showing up for a paycheck
because hey, they don't have to work harder for generalized
recognition.

On 7/22/12, Be aware that these types of things LOWER morale
wrote:
> If you have 40 faculty members, one gets recognized and 39 go
> away wondering "Why wasn't I the one chosen? I do good
> things."
>
> This kind of thing is generally more of a morale killer than
> booster.
>
> Putting out a bowl of pretzels, or boxes of donuts for
> everyone to share and giving sincere compliments to the staff
> as a whole for the great work with kids is far more likely to
> raise moral.
>
>
>
>
>
> On 7/20/12, Jennifer wrote:
>> My P and I were talking of ways that we could recognize
>> teachers in faculty meetings for going above and beyond in
>> an effort to build morale and school community. I am
>> curious what others have done that is creative and
>> inspiring to their staff. I've been in a school that has
>> done the Top Dog and Top Cat award where admin begins the
>> process of giving out the stuffed dog or cat to staff and
>> they in turn choose someone for the next meeting to
>> recognize. Ive also been in a school where admin only gave
>> a long stem red rose with a blurb to recognize staff. What
>> have you done?

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