Briefly spiraling a little bit out of my collection of depressive blogs, I want to briefly note on something I've reflected on through my practicum and teaching terms.
So I am a very curious monkey. I can't seem to get rid of that innate personality trait.
But I'm finding it hypocritical that although as teachers we promote and encourage curiosity in our students, that as a colleague to fellow teachers, sometimes, curiosity to learn and ask questions is taken with the attitude as "inexperienced" and "childish".
I guess once the teaching job's landed, time to separate the life philosophy from job philosophy, eh.
As an example is the idea of observing other teachers' classes for learning purposes.
I've read that in Finland, supposedly the best education system in the world, that in addition to teachers being the top achievers in their undergraduate/graduate programs, they also undergo extensive observation and mentorship from seasoned teachers frequently.
But in Canada, once you step out of the "student teacher" role, there are practically no opportunities to observe other teachers' teachings. It's just not part of the natural understanding of the profession.
Because I love to observe and run around to different classes (not just math, English, ESL, geography, sciences etc.) I have had teachers tell me that it's wonderful that I want to learn and to observe as much as possible because for them, even if they want to observe there's not that much opportunities to.
I have learned so much from observing other teachers. Often times, there's that moment of epiphany that sparks in your mind "oh I've never thought of it that way before."
But now, if I, suppose I've gotten a job, and I ask one other teacher (who is supposedly on the same "level" as me now), "hey Mr.ABC, I'm not teaching Period 3, may I observe a couple classes of yours see how you teach topic XYZ?" I would not be surprised if I received a blank stare and the other teacher thinks of me as an exotic, surreal creature.
In fact that is what I would expect.
I think from my perception of the profession, especially in some office-politics heavy/mainstream Canadian public schools, an already teaching teacher asking a fellow, equal teacher to observe in order to learn (or out of curiosity for that matter), is a big taboo.
Why is that? Because in Canada we protect what's called "professional human rights". As a result, other teachers can feel offended and self-conscious in front of another teacher, because they are being judged.
But then the above becomes over-sensitively taken as the common understanding - if a teacher observes another teacher not from a student teacher's perspective, it often brings tension and a judgmental tone to the classroom.
So let's make that a "no-no" part of the professional "soft-rule".
While the scenario can totally be taken with another spin - yes in a way the observing teacher is "judging" the performing teacher. This is easily a mutually helpful learning experience. The observing teacher learns and takes note of techniques, while the performing teacher receives feedback given from another teacher with similar experience (and for that matter, equivalent knowledge).
It's simple as that.
In fact I have heard stories from my fellow teaching friends that some teachers would not even allow student teachers to observe their classrooms (or never takes on student teachers because they've had bad experiences, which, in someways this is understandable). And I really cannot understand this for the life of me - why would you deny the chance to be helpful to someone in need of it?
But a profession culture, especially in a bureaucratic public sector melting pot, has rock solid resistance. Couple that with people's defensive nature of their own personal boundaries and general government employment culture which inadvertently exaggerates that, this soft-rule looks like an impasse that will not be penetrated in the foreseeable future.
Given two sides of the spectrum, I'm not really sure if there's a correct answer to this. I do know for sure though is that when I become a supervising teacher to student teachers, I would give them a lot of opportunity to experiment, and make an effort to value every bit of their opinion.
And I would never say "no" to a fellow teacher asking to observe my class - to be appreciated by your own kind, for me, that is an immense honour.
I wonder if Finland's teachers would think of our teacher observing teacher taboo as exotic and surreal.
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