on authenticity.

I woke up in hangout heaven yesterday.

Imagine an environment with cold beer so aromatic and fresh, panoramic views of promise, art, music and food wrapped up in one pretty package of realness, so much that you pinch yourself before realizing that the friendly Berliners surrounding you are even more genuine than the atmosphere itself.  

The authenticity of this place was unreal.   I wished I got this feeling more often.  

Klunkerkranich, Berlin, Germany

Not always, but other times, when you walk into a food and beverage establishment, it just feels forced.  Not just kitschy, but more of a... we’re not trying to be kitschy, we are witty and ironic and our space and menu reflect our signature quirky taste.

When it comes down to it though, the bacon-infused brussel sprout bake, with a Sriracha kale whip sometimes misses the mark.  Mason jar cocktails, rimmed with rosemary-infused jalapeno salt might look pretty, but often end up tasting ugly.  

It’s like our moms used to say, why are you spending sixty-eight dollars on a pair of ripped jeans from Urban Outfitters? Why don’t you just take some scissors to your old denim shorts?

Image is everything, right?  There are multi-million dollar branding agencies dedicated to this slogan.  Instagram and Facebook filter our lives for the world to view our best versions.  I mean, just today my comrade and I spent twenty minutes hashing out a hashtag with, not only alliteration, but (wait for it) also a pun.  

No matter the root of the image obsession, like most other social and cultural factors, it trickles into our classrooms.  Kids, in this department, have it harder than any of us.  Adolescence is all about image and it isn’t until we’re older that we realize how much it doesn’t matter.  Be yourself, and the right people will like you for the right reasons, right?

Absolutely.  For some reason though, teachers find themselves doing things to please others or jazzing up regular routines for a scheduled observation or district visit.  Sometimes we do things without even knowing why we do it, it’s just a norm that we follow.  No questions asked.  

As I grow, I do this less and less but still rev up the dog and pony show from time to time or teach mason jar lessons with Urban Outfitter materials.  

What’s wrong with a good ol’ fashioned solid lesson with rich student discussion and thoughtful questioning techniques?  Nichts. It may not get a NY Times rave review or a reservation wait list during its first month of operation, but it’s authentic goodness pleases the customers.  

Our customers are our students.  Not our bosses...not elected officials and not even the parents.  Satisfaction, though rarely recognized immediately by students, should be guaranteed.  

I’ve never won Teacher of the Year and probably never will.  And I'm cool with that. Striving for a classroom rich in critical thinking, discussion and debate is hard enough.  

I appreciate a quick shout out at a morning meeting, though that only lasts me through the morning. Praise from other adults feels nice temporarily, but staying true to authentic learning feels better.  

Popularity is over-rated anyway.

For now, I’ll tuck away my BBQ Rib flavored Lay’s potato chips for the night and check how many likes I have on my recent Instagram post before drifting off in this Berlin hotel room.  

Mason jars in moderation, teachers.  Happy summer!  Power to the teacher.