Every year I get foreign exchange students assigned to my classes. They are always European from Germany or France. I ask them at the beginning of the year, “What most impresses you so far?” Without fail it is the fact that Americans drive every place they go. They come from towns where they are able to walk or take public transports for daily activities. I then clarify my question, “What most impresses you about the high school?” The initial response is how the students seem to disregard the teacher and the lesson. It’s like our Chinese-national teacher who asked me, “Do your students talk all of the time even when you are teaching?” To which I sadly replied, “Welcome to education in the US.”
Don’t misinterpret my remark. I do not believe that lining them up in neatly arranged rows as they sit with spine straight, focusing on the teacher, hanging on every sagacious word, and writing copious notes equates to learning. But, come on, exactly what are the expectations? Do we expect respect? Do we expect attentiveness? Do we expect engagement? Do we even expect them to learn? Questions simple, yet profound.
The administration requires that teachers produce Classroom Rules, review those with each class, and post them conspicuously for all to see. Mine have evolved over the past few years from a DO or DO NOT list of a page long, to only DO directives of about half a page, to a review and posting of my personal philosophy. I share it with you as such:
Live as though you will die tomorrow;
Learn as though you will live forever; and,
Love as you wish love in return.
This isn’t anything radical or new or groundbreaking or step-changing or whatever label you care to stick on it. It is just a few words that I choose as a personal way of living. I give thanks to many, many sages, some renown, most common, whose lifelong assistance led to my development of this philosophy.
graphic: uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/.../education.jpg
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