on guilt.

The Case of the Teacher Patrol

We all know the stereotype of the high school hall monitor.  It’s kind of like the adolescent version of the parking patrol officer, trolling the the mean streets for expired parking meters.  Although equally annoying, both play a role in enforcing basic rules: if you’re in the hall without a pass, you get a detention.  If you’re parking meter expires, you get a ticket.  

Right now, somewhere in Big City, USA, teacher tone enforcement officers (TTEO) are in full force.  Raise your voice at a child?  Strike one.  Express a borderline negative tone when redirecting a student? Strike two.  Demonstrate a less than calm demeanor when addressing your class at recess?  Strike 3.  And no, not strike 3 -you’re out.  Strike 3 you are inconsiderate.  You lack empathy.  You are impatient and need to work on understanding your kids better.  You should reflect more.    

In the words of Michelle Tanner-DUH.  We teachers love our kids, we L.O.V.E.  love them to pieces.  Obviously we self-reflect when we lose our cool.  We realize that negativity, breeds negativity.  Raising your voice daily, holds no power when you need to play that card for real. Duhhh.   

But are we seriously monitoring teacher behaviors with clipboards?  And what constitutes a negative tone?  Is there such thing as an inflection meter?  Do we have a decibel meter next to the fire distinguisher in the east hallway to measure teacher voice level?  

When relayed to me, this miles-away teacher confession didn’t go in depth, but I can guess that the TTEO and school leaders enforcing these preposterous teacher behaviors didn’t directly inform the rebellious law breakers they were inconsiderate, lacked empathy or needed to reflect.  They didn’t have to.  The message was clear: good teachers are calm and patient at all times.  If they are not, they will be fined with a TTEO ticket of teacher guilt.  Don’t pay your fee on time?  Expect a TTEO with a clipboard and a smile, aggressively monitoring your hallway transitions and explicitly gushing over your law-abiding teacher friends’ tranquil teaching style at your next staff meeting.  

More recently, I’ve received frequent messages and texts from fellow educators sharing teacher tales that make my jaw drop.  As a former administrator and coach, and having failed a million times over in those roles and as a teacher, I believe that in most cases, the leaders’ intentions are good.  It just may be the execution that lacks empathy and differentiation.  

Let’s be honest, there are some teachers out there that flat-out, yell at kids all day.  They are the outliers.  Then there are many that aim for a calming presence, but raise voices and get a little snappy at times.  Lastly there are the zenned-out Chill Kings and Chill Kweens that ride the waves no matter the weather.  

As leaders and coaches, wouldn’t it be better to ask questions, provide behavior supports and check-in with teachers, rather than patrol their hallway tone and volume with kids?  Maybe even ensure meeting-free prep times and create a data-free lunch break rule to encourage teachers to recharge?  

Making teachers feel guilty for their tone and voice level can get pretty touchy.  We’re not talking missing deadlines, this is about how we express ourselves as human beings.  There have to be alternative approaches to addressing this.  

To the millions of teachers out there, fiercely committed to doing what’s best for your students...Every. Single. Day...

Doing your best is enough.  You are doing enough.   We can always improve, but stop thinking you’re not doing enough.  

Teacher guilt is powerful, whether self-inflicted or not.  Taking notes from the Chillout Kings and Kweens out there, I’ve been reminded that perfection doesn’t exist in anyone.  Accepting that fact combined with the understanding that school leaders are always growing,  just like teachers, helps a little.  

Power to the teacher.