Do Teachers Still Know What It's like to Be a Student?
A thought that teachers often have when they disagree with administrators is that administrators have been out of the classroom for too long or that they just do not understand what it is like to be a teacher. What I am wondering is if we as teachers are willing to turn that question on ourselves and consider if we still understand what it is like to be a student. I stepped back into that realm this week when I sat in a classroom for 8 hours a day to become certified to teach AP Calculus. After day two I was exhausted, irritable, and lethargic. By day three I would frequently "go to the bathroom" just so I could walk around and take a break (oldest trick in the book). Don't get me wrong, the workshop was important and helpful. I fully believed in the importance of the content we covered each day. The environment was just draining. Now, imagine a teenager in a similar environment when they often do not believe in the importance of the content. Imagine them experiencing tha