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May 11, 2007
We can't all be Erin Gruwell, right?Wrapping up our week of celebrating teachers, BoardBuzz takes a different twist on teacher heroes that we think is worthy of discussion. Our friends over at Teacher Magazine have scratched the surface of some teacher discontent over the exposure of teachers who save the world a la Erin Gruwell, portrayed in Freedom Writers, and Ron Clark, portrayed in the Ron Clark Story.
This apparently began when Tom Moore, who teaches history in a Bronx high school, published a recent op-ed in the New York Times in which he said, "The great misconception of these films is not that actual schools are more chaotic and decrepit. ... No, the most dangerous message such films promote is that what schools really need are heroes. This is the Myth of the Great Teacher." Extended excerpt here.
In his piece, Moore "finds it difficult to recognize himself or his students in recent films about teaching post-desegregation urban poor; describes decrepit conditions, poor security and student misbehavior that is far worse than anything on screen; objects to teachers being blamed for what system does not provide; and says no maverick teacher in real life can create safe, adequately staffed school with highest expectations for all students."
His opinion got teachers to talking and Teacher Magazine, in partnership with the Teacher Leaders Network, has published some of these comments here.
Asked one Michigan teacher: "How do we find a way to portray what life in a real classroom does look like? How do we find a way to be everything to our students without sacrificing our own lives?" A teacher from Atlanta noted: "I am frustrated with the mythology of the 'great teacher' who sacrifices his or her entire life for the kids. I tell new teachers all the time: Your job is not your life. Your job is your job... Healthy, well-adjusted teachers fit teaching into their lives, not life into their teaching."
Interesting, no? Talk amongst yourselves and let us know what you're thinking.
Posted May 11, 2007 3:54 PM | Teachers
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Comments(3)
Posted by: Carol on May 26, 2007 11:43 PM
If you are not up to the challenge, you should all find other jobs and let other teachers like Erin Gruwell teach.
Posted by: Jennifer on May 29, 2007 10:54 PM
I think Carol missed the point: there is a difference between being dedicated, investing a lot of personal energy into the classroom, and a system in which children are only exposed to great books if the teacher spends personal money to bring such things into the classroom. Teaching is as much about letting the children lead you to the right curriculum for them as it is about you being the leader in the classroom.
Posted by: dee on June 18, 2007 7:56 PM
I think Carol missed the point because Eric Gruwell isn't even "teaching" per se anymore!! Teaching is hard. I love it, but it's hard. There aren't enough people in the world who live their lives in tolerant ways, let alone people who live that way and want to be a martyr-teacher. I am certainly not defending "warm bodies" in the classroom, but if the only people who taught were Gruwell-clones, there would be about 6 teachers in the world. People can't sustain it--even a rock star like Gruwell couldn't.
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