Lead by Example

I was just watching the movie Mona Lisa Smile.  If you have not seen the movie, it deals with the teacher Katherine Watson who comes to Wellesley.  She is independent and full of feminism in the 1950’s world of housewives, cinched waists, and pot roast dinners.  What struck me about this movie (this is probably the 4th time I have seen it) was the letter Katherine received from the Dean about her “invitation” to return the next year and teach.  Here is the letter:

that this invitation...

...is absolutely conditional
upon the following:

Number one:

You will teach only the syllabus
as outlined by the department chair.

Number two:   

All lesson plans...

...must be submitted at the beginning
of every term for approval...

...and revision.

Number three:

You shall not provide counsel
beyond your own subject...

... for any student at any time.

And finally:

That you will agree to maintain
a strictly professional relationship...

...with all members of the faculty.

Assuming you accept the conditions,
we look forward to your continuing...

... to be a part
of our Wellesley tradition.

Have you ever felt like this?  As an innovative educator, do you ever feel like the subversive weirdo teacher trying to make MySpace a regular part of the classroom?  No doubt if you stumbled onto this blog, you are very much a part of the weirdo movement of educators who read blogs, use them in the classroom, establish and use wikis, use RSS, and social network.  Although you may be in a school or a community that is very innovative and open to that, many of us are the minority… or maybe the only one… who even speaks this language.

No doubt that Al Upton felt a little like Katherine Watson when his blog was shut down by the “powers that be”.  I have felt that way in two separate jobs.  I did not fit the mold.  I did not conform.  When I went into teaching, I never saw myself as the voice of change.  I was a rule-follower in high school and college.  I got married to my high school sweetheart at 19.  I teach Sunday School.  I have never seen myself as a non-conformist, yet I feel like many of us have had to be that non-conformist teacher to help lift our students out of the 1950’s where chewing gum is punishable by death.

Worksheets, lectures, straight rows, silent classrooms, dictatorship… even before the influx of technology tools, many of us found ourselves rebelling against these ineffective teaching practices.  Even without research on engaging instruction, we knew that things had to change.

So what is the point of this post?  I am proud to be a part of this movement.  It may be many years down the road before anyone (those in authority who are not privy to the “language” we speak) will acknowledge that this work we are doing is powerful and student-changing.  I know it is career-changing for me.  I know I have links and a blogroll, but here are the people (the ones I started with) who are real changers.  If you are new to the movement, start with them-

Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach

Darren Kuropatwa

Wesley Fryer

Vicki Davis

Clarence Fisher

Bud Hunt

Will Richardson

Brian Crosby

Be subversive!

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