Challenge to teachers: Engage

Three years ago I wrote a letter to the editor noting that “educational decisions and evaluation are too often based on the unfounded assumption that if students are simply given an environment conducive to learning, then they will choose to learn.” This assumption ignores a growing minority of students who simply choose not to learn. As a teacher it is frustrating to thoughtfully present material and have these students disregard and disrupt my efforts.

While I still find this to be the case, I have also come to realize that the role of an educator is more profound than thoughtfully presenting material.

The challenge to professional educators is to engage these students. It is to find the relational connection or the taste of success or the caring, high expectation that they need to get them motivated. Many of these students can be reached if we choose to go beyond refining presentations and start refining how we relate to students.

It is not written in a contract or a bargaining agreement, and it is not simple or well-defined. There’s no guarantee of reaching every student, but what makes educators professionals is that they find ways to help students be successful rather than finding excuses or reasons not to succeed.

Peter Lowe

Spokane Public Schools teacher