Does Appearance Matter?

A question was asked of me the other day.  It came from one of my eighth grade students.  Now, she was not being mean or facetious, but just matter of fact.  She asked, "Mr. Irvin, why do you always wear a suit and tie, you're just a teacher?" This really got to me.  I couldn't figure out why at first, but I kept hearing that question in my head over and over again. 

Now, before I go on,  let me preface by saying that I am probably going to upset some of my friends and colleague. But, so be it.  What dawned on me was that this is how the students see most teachers (especially male teachers).  Most wear some kind of "Khaki" style pants with a "Polo" style shirt.  Let me also state that I do not always wear suit and tie.  In fact it is usually a sport coat and nice button-down shirt.  I wear a tie about 3/4 of the time.  and don't get me wrong, I love casual Fridays.  But even then, it's usually coat, button-down shirt and comfortable shoes with my jeans.

I really noticed the difference at a recent parent/teacher conference evening when most of the teachers were dressed up.  But most changed between the end of the school day and the start of the conferences.  I mentioned to one educator how nice she looked.  She thanked me and then stated that she wanted to look professional for the parents.

That was when my students question and comment came full circle.  Why not look professional for your students and fellow educators?  What is ironic to me is that I hear and read from many of these same educators on how they are tired of their profession not being given the proper respect that it deserves.  Well...dressing professionally, albeit a small step, is still a step in that direction!

And, I will go one step further.  I truly believe people, for the most part, act differently when dressed in a professional manner.  I know I do. And I also know students act different when they are dressed up.  We still have a few coaches that make their athletes dress up on "game-day".  I see a HUGE difference in the students behavior both in and out of the classroom when they are dressed up for those days.

And yes, there is some additional prep time in the mornings or the night before work, as well as a little monetary investment to be made.  But it is not out of the realm of what we can afford (time or money) and believe me, I am not wearing designer clothing.  I am always on the hunt for a good sale.

While we are on the topic of respect, let me throw one more pet-peeve of mine in for thought.  I am constantly correcting students when they address their teachers by using just the teachers last name.  Not using Miss, Mrs. Ms. or Mr. to preface the last name.  So many teachers are comfortable with this, and I can't figure out why.  In fact, I knew one educator that insisted that her students call her by her first name.  I about fell over when I heard that.  I asked her why she did this and she said she feels it strengthens the bond between her and her students.   REALLY???  At first I thought it was a generational thing.  But the more I think about it I don't see it that way.  Heck, I was a child and teenager in the '60's and '70's.  I don't know of a more radical era.

If we TRULY want the respect of our students and parents, there are so many of these little things we can be doing as a profession.  I wish schools districts all over would adopt more strict dress and conduct codes for everyone.  Both students and teachers. And this is coming from a teacher, not an administrator.  But, that's a whole different topic and battle.  But for now, why don't we as college educated professionals start looking and sounding the part!

You Know What They Say; "Those Who Can't..."

This is something I started working on over the past few months.  I thought I would share an excerpt from the introduction for some feedback.  So, here you go:

                                                “Those Who Can’t, …..Teach”

Love, Life, Lessons and Music

INTRODUCTION

It’s Just Me

“Those who can’t, teach”.  I cannot tell you how much I despise this moronic phrase.  I also cannot recall how many times I have heard this expression.  Some of the time it was said in fun, but mostly out of spite, arrogance or stupidity. And after twenty years as an educator, I still am hearing or reading this phrase.  So I decided to try and do something about this.  Maybe it is just a way of defending me as a person or professional, along with my fellow educators and musicians, or another outlet so I don’t punch somebody when I hear for the bazillionth time; “You know what they say, those who can’t, teach”.

 Let me introduce myself.  My name is Mark Irvin.  Who am I?  Well, really, in the grand scheme of things, nobody.  I am not rich, I am not famous, I have never been in a movie, or on television.  Not even on a reality show.  I am just not what is considered cool.  I have never been in a magazine other than the occasional music journal, because, well,…uh,  I am defiantly not model material.   I am not a saint and at times a little rough around the edges, which you will see from time to time as you read. I have never run for political office, let alone have been elected to one.  I have never done anything heroic, or death defying.  I have never saved anyone’s life (except for maybe all the women who wouldn’t go out with me).

Who I am is; husband, father, son, brother, friend, musician and educator, more specifically, a music educator.  It is the latter of the list that I will talk most about.  The road I took is defiantly not the normal path.  My timing in life is also far from normal.  

And, I am just guessing (or hoping), if you are reading this you are probably a teacher, or work in education.  Chances are you also may be a parent, spouse and possibly a musician.  Again, all the above is pretty much me, just not always in that order. It depends on the time of day. 

Please know this is written by a musician and music educator who is still “in the trenches”.  I have read so many wonderful books and been to so many great classes, clinics and workshops that were given and written by Doctor of this, or Doctor of that.  I just can’t think of reading anything written by a current public school teacher, other than articles in music education journals.  So I thought it would be a nice idea to share with my “brothers and sisters in arms”.  Whenever I attend conventions or workshops what usually stays with me the most is all of the sharing I get to do with others that are going through many of the same things I am. Let me also say right up front, I’m not here to preach or force philosophy on you.  Nor is this meant to be a “how to” on any of these subjects. So, I hope you will allow me to share a bit of what I have learned, what I am still learning and what I have seen and experienced with a few stories along the way. And, if you find something you can use or relate to, or get a laugh or two, great!  Remember that this is all coming from a current public school teacher and working musician. 

Who Will Be Driving the (School) Bus?

I haven't blogged for quite some time.  Mostly due to something else taking priority on my ever growing to-do list.  So, I apologize, or you are welcome...  Really, that is not a good excuse and I know it.  But reading an article in our local paper got me fired up enough to put this subject at the top of my list.  I live in the wonderful state of Nebraska. Omaha to be specific.  I know, it's where most people fly-over, but that's another topic for another day. 

An article in our local paper (the Omaha World-Herald) caught my attention quickly.  Titled "Should non teachers be superintendents?",  the article is about a new bill being introduced in the Nebraska Legislature (LB 539) under which the state could not require superintendents, principals and other school administrators to have teaching experience.  REALLY???

There is some irony for me in that one of my future blog topics was to write about how out of touch so many school administrators become with what happens in the classrooms. 

First, let me state how much respect I have for the office of any school administrator, especially that of a school principal position.  I am in year twenty of my teaching career and have never had the desire to be a school administrator.  But, I have made it a point along the way to spend time shadowing and interviewing school principals over the years to see as much as I can from their perspective.  THOSE JOBS HAVE MY RESPECT!  But, I cannot say I have the same respect for so many of the people in those positions.

The only time in the past six or seven years I see an administrator in my classroom is when they HAVE to do an evaluation or there is an urgent problem regarding a student or parent.  So many principals and superintendents around the country have either very little experience in the classroom or have been away from actually teaching for years or decades.  And now some feel they should never even have to have that experience. 

I want to see things changed from the other extreme.  I don't think a person should be able to be a school administrator until they have taught at least ten years.  And after that, once every five years they have to teach class for at least a semester.  This could fall under the heading of school administrators professional growth requirements. 

I keep reading and hearing that school leaders need to run it like a business.  Again, REALLY?  I have heard the analogy on many occasions that students are the products and it's our job as educators to put out a great product, hence the "brilliant" concept of "No Child Left Behind".  Here is the major flaw in that thinking.  We cannot discontinue a product just because it is not doing well.  For example, what happened to New Coke?  They didn't keep working with it until it was a successful product.  They simply discontinued the product.  They left it behind.

I know that administrators are under the gun to produce these unrealistic standardized test results in order to keep their job, which pushes them even further from the classroom.  It's not working...for anyone. 

Education does not need to be reformed.  EDUCATION NEEDS TO BE TRANSFORMED!