Delpit Blog

     One of the biggest things I noticed growing up, whether it was in my own education or observing other teachers, is that a lot of teachers struggle with the responsibility of having power in the classroom. I've noticed that teachers will sometimes recognize the power that they have and will abuse it tenfold. On the other hand, some teachers can not see the power they have and end up abusing it unknowingly. Both of the cases make it seemingly impossible to have a safe class room for their kids. 

    It is incredibly important as teacher that you recognize the relation of humanity to your students. If you want a safe and open classroom that you need your kids to see you as another human being and not a tyrant in front of the class. Either way the students will accept that you know more than them but in one case over the other, the students will actually listen. As a teacher if you do not make the effort to show the kids they are cared for and they are heard, they will not care for a single word you have to say. To be completely fair they have every right to think that if you show them that you do not care for anything they have to say. If you listen to your students and respond to them not just in the classroom learning setting, but also just as people, the kids will learn to listen to you. Even when it comes to discipline, it is important to show that you are disciplining because you care for the well better of the class and not just because you feel like it. 

    Both cases of either recognizing your power and abusing it or having no idea play into the ideas I've introduced greatly. For example if a kid is trying to share and express something that they care about this situation could go three ways. A teacher who recognizes and abuses their power will completely dismiss the kid and show them that they shouldn't feel hear in the class. A teacher who doesn't recognize their power won't even hear out the kid and the kid will feel dismissed and unheard. Finally, if you as a teacher recognize your power and take the time out of your day to talk to this kid and have a conversation with them, they will feel heard and feel like they belong. Furthermore, your class could be the reason this kid wants to come to school. It could be the reason the kid even shows up in the first place. I've seen cases personally where one teacher can be the reason why a kid has a reason to keep fighting in general. 

    As a teacher you have the power to both make or break a kids life. Yes it is a large responsibility but I hope it is a responsibility every teacher has thought about and recognized. We as teachers have the power to shape the rest of our kids education and maybe even the rest of their lives. I know personally my music classes were the reason I went to high school everyday.

Comments

  1. Ms. Moreau's Literacy BlogSeptember 15, 2024 at 7:30 PM

    I agree with you, I think it is one thing to have power in a classroom and another thing to be able to balance and control it. Too many teachers act like they do not truly care for their students because they are just numbers on a chart. I agree with your last paragraph, it is up to us to be that change and I too, hope one day to be a teacher who uses my power everyday to ensure the best education for my students.

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  2. AlanaSeptember 17, 2024 at 6:57 PM

    I fully agree, its crucial to create a safe and trusting environment to let students be able to have a successful experience with the education system. I like that you mentioned even in discipline it should be clear it is done for the benefit of the student/class.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tiaja G.October 3, 2024 at 10:26 AM

    I'm so happy you discussed the teachers role when it comes to power. I had a horrible math teacher who loved embarrassing me because he knew I didn't understand the content. I never felt comfortable to ask for help, never even cared to because I didn't feel safe in the space.

    ReplyDelete

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