Yesterday, all of the teachers in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board were on their one day rotating strike. This blog post is not about politics though. It’s not an in-depth look at Bill 115. It is about what happened when I was on the picket line.
As I walked in circles for three hours yesterday, I spent lots of time talking to different teachers at the school. We didn’t talk about what we did on the weekend though, or about our holiday plans — we talked about school. We spoke about our classroom programs, and what we think we’re doing well, and what we think we need to change. We exchanged ideas. Many of us spoke about resources we use in the classroom, and what we’re going to continue to use, and what we will re-look at using. We spoke about what we can do to help more students, and ensure that all students become independent learners. On the picket line, we created our own professional development. We put kids first!
A Photograph From Yesterday – From THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR Website
I love teaching! I’ve wanted to teach since I was a child myself, and I can’t imagine doing anything else besides working with students. I come to school every day with a smile on my face, and I leave with one too. Teaching is not a job for me: it’s my passion! I know that I share this passion with millions of other educators that constantly look out for the best needs of students. Yes, it was hard not being at school yesterday, but I’m glad that “school” still made its way to the picket lines!
What are your “positive teacher stories?” I hope that people will share their thoughts here.
Aviva
Aviva:
It was kind of strange, because we didn’t talk about school on the picket line – we do that pretty well in the building (especially in the staff room!) and particularly within the division where I teach….we did, on the other hand, really talk to one another. We teach in a big, spread-out building, and our break schedule means we’re almost never all in the same place at the same time, so Friday was a chance to connect with people we may not have really talked to since September, as horrible as that sounds. A fair number of people had their young kids with them, so we played and danced and sang with them, but we talked about whose mom/dad/siblings/friends were sick, and how we could help; we talked about why people’s holiday plans were driving them bananas; we talked about our kids and our parents and church and life and it was amazing. I think our kindergarten teachers, to be honest, did a bunch of planning, but they’re amazing like that. Any number of people asked if we could do this again sometime, with a wry smile, because we got out, and were physically active (I work out 3 times a week, and my calves didn’t speak to me until Monday!), and really talked to each other. It was remarkable and very powerful.
Lisa, thanks for sharing your story from yesterday! It’s funny how schools can be different, but it’s good to know that the “talking” that happened on the picket line was so good. Connecting with others is a very positive thing, and yesterday definitely provided the opportunity to do just that. Hopefully we can continue to spend more time really talking to our colleagues without having to do so with a sign in our hands!
Aviva