Salutations to 2024

Starting a new year is going to be great. What is not great is knowing that I must go back to scripted lessons that have hindered my creativity. I’ve seen many pitched presentations in sales that have gotten me to buy their resort packages. Most presentations do work for selling products or packages because those items don’t change. They are things without a mind of their own. We teach human beings that do have likes and dislikes about things they want to learn about.

Our students are ever changing. It is hard to use scripts in teaching Reading and Math. Teachers wrestle with creating lessons that meet all their students’ learning abilities and interests. So, when scripted lessons came about, I cringe at knowing that this was going to be a detriment to our educational system.

As teachers we live on routines but most of all we live on being able to create fun lessons for students. This is why we became teachers. I don’t think teachers mind keeping to timed lessons but reading scripts on each subject is not enjoyable. Scripted lessons are killing our creative gifts that make us great teachers. Following a system that keeps us on track is great.

I know that we all need to follow a schedule and I know what needs to be done and at what time. Most people live on daily schedules, not just teachers. That’s life. Most people that work for any company have a routine or schedule that they follow most of the time and that works for them.

Usually having the autonomy to complete any task makes you feel successful and productive because you have the freedom to use your gifts and talents. Knowing that I have a routine to follow is a good thing. Knowing that I must repeat a scripted lesson to get a good evaluation is so disheartening.

In my 45 years as a classroom teacher, I’ve transitioned from having free autonomy in the classroom in the 70’s to subjugated scripted lessons in the 2000’s. I can truly say that this is Not working for most of us.

We need to have full autonomy of what and how we present our lessons. If improving scores to prove to the state that our students are on track, then give us full autonomy to be the creative beings that the field of education needs. Scripted lessons hinder our talents and our reasons why we became teachers.

I do believe that we are no longer the Sage on the Stage, but we are competent and knowledgeable. We know what we are doing in our classrooms. We do have the right to be happy in what we do. As stated in the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson, “People were created by God, and they have the basic human rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Teaching has taken away this pursuit of happiness for me and I do believe in many others as well. That’s why we have a shortage of teachers in this country.

Teachers want administrators to respect our differences. Teachers wish that administrators understand that there is not one way to teach, and we all have our own styles of teaching. They want administrators to understand that education would be boring if every teacher taught the same way. I want our administrators to see the brilliant ideas being used in the classroom and have them share them with others in the district.

I hope and pray that this Editor’s message is read by those that want to help make a change for this next year. Let’s make 2024 a memorable New Year.

To a year of New Beginnings for teachers and students. Let 2024 be a year where we get back full autonomy in our classrooms and can close those learning gaps that COVID and other unforeseen circumstances have been placed us. I salute you all and wish you a Happy New Year!

Published by: C&P Educational Consultants

Editors: Dr. Cathy Coker Rivette Pena