Comments on: I'm Not in the 408 http://erichoefler.com/2008/05/22/im-not-in-the-408/ Notes on education, writing, litracy, and culture Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:56:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Shawn http://erichoefler.com/2008/05/22/im-not-in-the-408/comment-page-1/#comment-249 Shawn Wed, 28 May 2008 11:11:12 +0000 http://blog.erichoefler.com/2008/05/22/im-not-in-the-408/#comment-249 Wow...that last sentence is soooo right...I wholeheartedly agree. Wow…that last sentence is soooo right…I wholeheartedly agree.

]]> By: Eric http://erichoefler.com/2008/05/22/im-not-in-the-408/comment-page-/#comment-248 Eric Fri, 23 May 2008 14:57:15 +0000 http://blog.erichoefler.com/2008/05/22/im-not-in-the-408/#comment-248 Thanks Doug. You're right, of course. The comment here is appreciated, though, and I hope the "good luck" in my post is taken at face value for TMAO. I think you're right about the authority issue, too. I don't value rebellion, but I also believe teachers need to be consulted as professionals about decisions that directly impact their practice. It's particularly troubling when the decision-makers are clearly less experienced and knowledgeable than the teachers and the decisions are demonstrably ineffective or damaging. I'd rather be able to discuss best practices and make decisions collectively (as a department) based on in-class experience and outside research balanced with or tempered by the larger needs and limitations of the school. It seems like a simple model, and maybe somewhere it actually exists. I didn't find it during my nine years, though. Wishing you well! Thanks Doug. You’re right, of course. The comment here is appreciated, though, and I hope the “good luck” in my post is taken at face value for TMAO.

I think you’re right about the authority issue, too. I don’t value rebellion, but I also believe teachers need to be consulted as professionals about decisions that directly impact their practice. It’s particularly troubling when the decision-makers are clearly less experienced and knowledgeable than the teachers and the decisions are demonstrably ineffective or damaging.

I’d rather be able to discuss best practices and make decisions collectively (as a department) based on in-class experience and outside research balanced with or tempered by the larger needs and limitations of the school. It seems like a simple model, and maybe somewhere it actually exists. I didn’t find it during my nine years, though.

Wishing you well!

]]> By: Doug Noon http://erichoefler.com/2008/05/22/im-not-in-the-408/comment-page-1/#comment-247 Doug Noon Fri, 23 May 2008 04:17:55 +0000 http://blog.erichoefler.com/2008/05/22/im-not-in-the-408/#comment-247 Always difficult to comment on something this personal. Teaching (and leaving it) is always personal. IMO, what is needed to keep teachers engaged isn't more money (AND certainly not less!) but more authority to make, and live with the consequences of, decisions that impact "the system" for better and worse. How else will we learn anything? Support comes in many forms, and sometimes it's pretty damned thin. Always difficult to comment on something this personal. Teaching (and leaving it) is always personal. IMO, what is needed to keep teachers engaged isn’t more money (AND certainly not less!) but more authority to make, and live with the consequences of, decisions that impact “the system” for better and worse. How else will we learn anything?

Support comes in many forms, and sometimes it’s pretty damned thin.

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