Today, I Will Judge

Well, friends, it’s that time of year again. The time to make false promises to ourselves that this year, we will leave our classrooms early to get to the gym.This year we will be totally on top of all our paperwork. This year we will greet our little friends with a smile and a positive attitude every day. Yes, I said every day…even those days when you accidentally leave your coffee untouched on the kitchen counter and must forge on sans caffeine. I mean, talk about a resolution!

My infamous resolution is to “be more positive in (insert year here).” So far it’s been negativity 4, Mrs. Mimi 0, but who’s counting?

What can I say? A solid dose of negativity combined with a dash of snarky is the way of my people. That and an unreal love of all things cheese. My sister and I try to be better people. We raise our hands to our hearts and pledge, “today, I will not judge.”. Again, so far we’ve only got the pledging part down, but baby steps, my peeps, baby steps.

However, this year THIS YEAR, Mrs. Mimi is feeling a little crazy. I’m all, “Let’s mix it up this year, eh?”.

Friends, today I will judge.

Ta dah! Quite the resolution, no?

I am going to judge what is best for teachers and, ultimately, what is best for children. Because, in my humble albeit outspoken and in your face opinion, what nurtures the souls and minds of gifted teachers will nurture the souls and minds of children. It’s not all about the kids and it’s not all about the teachers. It’s all about the culture of the school and relationships.

I am going to judge others when they make remarks about my job as they awkwardly straighten their ties, realizing that they have no business speaking with their lack of classroom experience but refusing to keep their mouths shut all the same.

I am going to judge the new-fangled snap-your-fingers-and-everyone-learns approach to teaching. If it dumbs down my work, it’s a no go. If it makes me feel like I’m a trained seal? That’s a no too. And if it makes learning about as interesting as watching paint dry, I’m going to have to pass on that too.

Finally, I’m going to judge teachers. Who is rocking it in their classrooms and who is just getting by? Who is bringing us down with their “but my contract says” and their refusal to work hard (and therefore should be ashamed of themselves)? And who could use a helping hand because this work is balls out HARD?

So, welcome to the judgement zone, my lovely readers. Somehow, I think this is going to be a banner year for resolutions….

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

 

Location:Mother-effing blogs on a mother-effing plane! (Sorry, I had to.)

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11 Comments
  • I love your resolution and, as one irritated educator to another, cannot wait to hear your judgments! How come people like you aren't in charge? Oh yeah, 'cause you're helping and making a real difference in the classroom, working with students!

    January 1, 2011 at 2:48 pm
  • Funny….
    Happy New Year
    Kelly
    I've Become My Mother

    January 1, 2011 at 2:48 pm
  • Judge away!!!

    She may not be the best person to quote after her year last year, but Dr. Laura once said, "Without judgement, there is no right and wrong." We need to stop covering for bad teachers because they're bringing us all down.

    January 3, 2011 at 3:37 am
  • I can't wait!

    What methods do you think principals, etc. SHOULD use to assess teachers? And how can we best recognize the teachers who rock?

    January 3, 2011 at 3:37 am
  • LOVE your resolution!!! Can't wait to hear more. Happy 2011

    January 3, 2011 at 3:37 am
  • Woo-hoo! I heartily agree with your "judgment calls" and second the motion for myself. I'm jumping on your bandwagon (I play clarinet) and will do my part here in my own little educational world!

    January 3, 2011 at 3:37 am
  • You know, it sometimes bothers me when there are those teachers who arrive just before (or after) contract time and that leave the second they are able to.

    It just seems that they aren't invested at all. There was one gal at my last school that usually arrived just after the tardy bell rang and was sometimes out the door with her students right after the end-of-the-day bell rang.

    January 3, 2011 at 3:37 am
  • Great blog today. Thanks. I'll pass it on.

    January 3, 2011 at 3:37 am
  • Love it! Here's my post of the unspoken- I'm tired of being put into the pot with the negative teachers who get all the press after their arrests.

    "When Teachers Go Astray"

    http://web.me.com/jorobert/A_Teacher%E2%80%99s_Kaizen/Home/Entries/2011/1/7_When_Teachers_Go_Astray.html

    Look forward to another year of your posts!

    January 11, 2011 at 8:09 pm
  • Love the blog!
    I was shocked that we actually have contract times in our contracts.
    I thought it said 24/7 and NO we don't get summers off!

    January 17, 2011 at 3:29 pm
  • Recently our entire schedules had to change because it wasn't "in line with what was being asked of the other teachers".. blah blah blah. Everything has to be perfect fair. This keeps everyone perfectly mediocre in the education system. Sometimes some people are better then others, sometimes more efficient, some work harder, some deserve more. But because everything has to be "fair", everyone suffers. Thanks for your insight! Hope we can connect more in the blogging world! Jessica Balsley
    http://www.theartofed.com

    February 9, 2011 at 1:26 am

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