My heart is breaking as I type this. I feel that my grip on my classroom is less and less by the days and by each passing school year. Recently, as I leaving to go home, I looked back at my classroom one last time and thought to myself, “My classroom doesn’t feel like mine anymore.” Rather than jamming out to music and skipping down the hallway, I put my head down and shed a few tears as I walked away.
That phrase is likely one that resonates with many educators. A classroom that simply isn’t theirs despite the teaching, the hours, the money, the laughs, and tears shed that have been spent it over the years. Education continues to change as fast as the world around us.
I remember my first years of teaching. They were my happiest years! I was such a risk taker! I was working nonstop. I was living and breathing education, not because I had to, but because I WANTED to! I was reading PD books more than I was eating vegetables! I was doing twitter chats constantly, always ready to learn! I loved being at school all the time! It was a special time period. One that I thought would last my entirety in education.
Fast forward to year eight. I’m still happy! I still skip down hallways, dress up in outfits, and do room transformations. I’m also still attending PDs and of course, reading constantly! I still enjoy teaching. I love all my students and hold them near and dear to my heart. If everything is so rosy still, then why not end the blog here? Well…
Not so fast! Unfortunately, the autonomy teachers have in our classroom is going away. What I mean is that our freedom to do what’s best for our class of students. Some schools want teachers in the same grade level to be teaching the same way and doing the exact same small groups at the exact same time. Some schools require teachers to submit their lessons well in advance. While other schools require teachers who have ideas for their lessons to email their academic coach and/or principal to get approval before implementing those ideas with lessons in their own classroom. Other schools force teachers to use specific curriculum and resources.
All this breaks my heart. Our profession is dying. Teachers, because of similar reasons above and countless others not mentioned are leaving the best profession. There are many solutions, but the topic for today is autonomy. Let teachers have autonomy in their classroom for their students. I’ve heard principals say teachers know their students best and should do what’s best for them, but those same principals don’t let their teachers do what’s best.
Allowing teachers freedom and trust can go a long way. Don’t you remember having a last-minute idea, whether it was for a lesson or even a trip that your plans changed for the better? I do! Some of my best lessons (especially during student teaching) were when I was studying the next day’s/week’s lesson plan and a more engaging standard-based idea for engagement popped up in my head. Can you imagine if you had to get those ideas approved a week in advance? My mentor teachers weren’t always thrilled, but they trusted me, and most times the ideas worked out great!
Think about the power we have as teachers. Now think about the power principals have. Better yet, think about the power superintendents have. Imagine a school where principals and teachers have a balanced autonomy! It gets me excited just thinking about it because it would do three things and probably more! Autonomy builds culture and individuality amongst teachers! It retains teachers! Teachers could teach in a way that’s best for their classroom will keep staying at their school. And finally, autonomy will bring in teachers! I left a great school after just one year to come to my current school because the principal (now former principal) Dr. Vazquez did a great job with giving autonomy within classrooms and a great school culture.
Autonomy lets teachers teach in engaging ways that are best for their individual students needs! Autonomy might just be a lifesaver in an ever-dying profession.
