Recently Cathie Black was approved as Chancellor of NYC public schools. Upon hearing she was approved, I was concerned that someone outside of education could not really understand what the day of a teacher involves from a managerial viewpoint to the emotional adventures we experience. I translated this appointment as an affront to my profession.
Yet as I contemplated this choice by the Mayor, I began to focus more on my teaching and less on the political landscape. A couple of ideas became more concrete for me in regards to the life of a teacher. My relationship with my students is based on the collaboration established in class that develops with patience and understanding. My ability to translate content into knowledge for my students rest on how effective I can create a climate of inquiry. Lastly my ability to teach is directly correlated to the community I, my students, and my principal develop to make sure we are all respected members of a learning environment.
In all of these factors the significance of an outside variable does not need to be large or negative. What is significant is what we want for ourselves, what our students deserve, and how we can make that happen in our communities.
