Leadership / First Year of Teaching
Making the right decision.
Today’s post is written as a follow up to my most recent article where I asked you to think about what you stand for. As you progress throughout your career you will called upon to make many decisions. You may be asked to make the wrong decision for the wrong reason. I ask you to think about the ideas outlined below to help guide you.
You should also understand that along the way you will have to make certain compromises. I strongly believe that we live in a world of “gray.” Very few things are as simple as black and white. These trade-offs or compromises that one makes must never cross the line of right and wrong, legal and illegal or ethical and unethical. There may be times that you may feel so strongly about something that you may make a choice to leave a district entirely. When you are confronted with these type of issues I advise you to seek a trusted mentor to discuss the situation. Relying solely on a significant other may blur your choices because of personal loyalty and personal relationships.
When you are faced with a situation that causes you to be in a quandary, I ask you to reflect upon the following questions as a guide:
- Is what I am thinking of doing legal, ethical, and in-line with district policies?
- How will I sleep tonight?
- How would this situation be written up in tomorrow’s newspaper?
- What advice would I give my child to do in a similar situation?
- How will I feel about myself in the morning?
- Am I being fair and honest?
- Do these comments cross my mind or do I utter these thoughts?
- No one will ever know.
- Well, maybe this once.
- I can hide it.
- I can shred all documentation.
If these questions and comments resonate, please change your course of action.
Let us look at a couple of examples.
Example One
You pride yourself in having your students achieve very well on mandated standardized tests. This is extremely important to you. You have built a solid reputation in the school and overall community regarding this topic. In the pursuit of these scores, will you cheat? Of course not. Hearing that word cheat is powerful, and you certainly know better. However, would you stretch the boundaries of helping and assisting your students beyond the scope of any rules or guidelines? Your answer might not be as rapid, and you may not be so sure. If this line is blurred for you, trouble may be coming. Why would you consider doing this? Is it to help the students or to help your reputation? Regardless of your answer, the ends do not justify the means. You are cheating. I caution all principals to be wary of the pressure placed upon teachers either overtly or covertly in this area. Sadly, this era of accountability has forced us to think much more deeply about this topic.
Example Two
Your class is continually recognized as being well managed and well disciplined. Local parents seek to have their child placed in your class. The principal calls on you regularly to take that hard to manage student. Is your success and reputation based upon the fact that you are mean and ruthless with your students? Or do you manage your class using well researched best practice techniques? Hopefully your success is based upon the positive relationships you have made with students, not the fact that you can scream the loudest or rule by fear and intimidation.
At the end of the day, you must be a person of substance and character, and if you are and you couple that with hard work and the right attitude, I am convinced that success will follow you.
Good luck!
