Entrance Slip (Sept. 12)

    This article did not speak to me very much. I think I could actually summarize it pretty well with a single question: “do you think thinking about how to be better at your job will make you better at your job?” Maybe I’m taking for granted the importance of self reflection when it hasn’t always been obvious, but I did find the article at least a little condescending. They briefly mention previous conceptions of classifying teachers according to some pre-defined dichotomies, they then go on to cite the work of Dewey who does some categorization of his own, and then finally they settle into discussing their two “distinct” types of teachers: reflective and unreflective (by the way, I feel this need to categorize everything is unhealthy, but maybe that’s why I’m not an academic). After extolling the virtues of being reflective for several pages, by the end of the paper they’re like, “so… what kind of teacher do YOU want to be: the good thoughtful kind or the crappy lazy kind? The choice is yours.” So anyway, I don’t appreciate the tone of the writing here, but I do have to acknowledge my privilege in being brought-up in such a way as to value self-reflection. Perhaps there are people who disassociate while they’re teaching, and don’t give it another thought after the day is done. Those people aren’t going to read this article anyway. Personally, I find it difficult to turn off my brain and not be reflective. 

    That’s not a brag by the way - I think it can be a problem. And I don’t want to be overly-dismissive of the article. For instance, I did really enjoy the bit where they address some of the criticisms of the "reflective teacher." With regards to turning off one's brain, I think teacher burnout is very real, and the degree to which teachers (myself included) view their cause as noble can be a double-edged sword which creates this constant pressure to do more for the students and community. I think Grant and Zeichner are feeding into that a little bit here, which is another aspect of this article which I maybe don't like. I think we've all seen disillusioned teachers before, who after decades of service, simply don't have it in themselves to care as much as they once did. I do understand that this article is targeted at teacher candidates, and we're all super excited to be teachers here of course, but balance is important, and I definitely appreciate that they acknowledge some of the arguments against.