Professionally, I want to be judged for the work I do, and I judge on the work I see being done. Over the years I have learned to speak out, stand up and confront when I see things that don't sit well with me.
Over my teaching career a number of distinctive moments have shaped me.
I think back to early in my teaching when our provincial government was going to stop funding school meals programs. I was working at the neediest school in our district and I knew how desperate things would be for my kids without the food the school was providing. So I worked up some courage, made an appointment with my MLA and met with her. I actually ended up walking out of that meeting when I recognized my MLA was not "hearing" what I had to say. (As I type, I chuckle at the irony in that.)
Low seniority and bumping - it seems that many of the moments that have shaped me revolve around the political climate. A number of years ago, schools in my district were closing by the dozen and I was bumped out of my teaching position for the second time in two years. The second time, I believed I was bumped when I shouldn't have been. I went to my own union and was told 'sorry can't help'. This didn't sit well with me. I read my contract, I got my ducks in a row, and I made an appointment with our director of Human Resources. In my mind this HR director had it going on - she was straight shooting, very intelligent and didn't give you the run around. In the end - my hard work paid off- because I spoke up, the bump was rescinded! (note: I was bumped for a third time the following year!)
Another moment that has shaped me was when I was taking a leave mid-way through the school year. The workplace was in disarray and our district and district personnel were in the dark! I wanted the 'higher-ups' to know why I was going on leave - so I made an appointment with the same HR director and was given permission to speak freely. I did. I was heard. I was told something would be done, and something was.
I have seen the value in speaking up. I've got a few more moments that I could go on about but it's today's moment that's important.
I had to sit through a pretty sobering meeting today. A meeting that confronted my direct, straight shooting 'let's get things out in the open and deal with this' manner. Without getting into specifics I was asked to "actually hear". Although it was not the first time I was asked, it was the first time I truly did hear.
What enabled me to hear? I heard today, not because I was directed to, or was told to. I heard today because the person who spoke, spoke with care - and I heard today because this person has my respect. The respect has been earned through dialogue, through actions, and through character.
In my school we have an enormous sign posted in our gym that says "RESPECT: learn it, you earn it." That sign has resonated with me ever since I laid my eyes on it. I think of how it applies to me. I think of how it applies to my students. I think of how it applies to admin and our district folks. For me, words, action, inaction all contribute to respect. For me, power does not denote respect. Words also mean very little unless they are spoken with care. After today's meeting, I've come to recognize that my words can sometimes go unheard as well.
The medium IS the message... I value conversations, I value openness, I value transparency. The message I heard was delivered with just that tone - thus I heard the message.
Confucius says "I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand." - I got it. Thanks
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