Filed under: Climate | Tags: meetings, professionalism, relationships, staff
I don’t think I was this screwed up when I arrived.
In the words of my administrator, here’s what our staff meetings will become.
“Instead of information transmission, our staff meetings will now emphasize relationship building, professional development, problem solving and decision-making.”
So, what’s different? Now, over three years here, I’m out of meeting norms. I’m weary of contrived relationship building activities, I have little faith in building-level PD beyond my Critical Friends Group. I’m always solving problems, and I’ve got no problem making decisions.
Of all the meetings I’ve attended here- including P/T Conferences, IEPs, etc- How To Get Along With Each Other is the most consistent theme. I’ve expressed my feelings, and I’ve listened as others have expressed theirs. I’ve looked within, questioned, and reflected about my relationships with others. I’ve emotionally beat myself fretting if something I’ve done has hurt someone, anyone. Finally, I’ve concluded these hack therapy sessions have damaged me, damaged us, and will continue to do so.
I know, I should give it a shot. That’s what the flock will do. That’s what I’ll do.
What will happen? Outside of top notch list generating, likely little, if anything. We’ll begin the process satisfactorily, then it’ll wane, like all the other attempts have.
Not to worry, this topic will be revisited often, in some form or fashion. The latest incarnation being the mediaiton process staff, administration, and the board will be engaging soon. Won’t they be discussing How To Get Along With Each Other? I feel horrible for my colleagues participating in this. Haven’t they been through enough already? It looks like self-flagellation.
At the risk of completely exhausting myself, here are THE three norms we should abide by; no meetings necessary.
- Be Professional
- Be Kind
- Students First
If you can’t be professional, you shouldn’t be working in a professional environment. You shouldn’t be working here. If you can’t be kind you’re an asshole, dying is the very poison you’re spewing.
We don’t need to be BFFs in order to work, learn, and progress together. We don’t need to even like each other. Student needs first, and placing our own insecurities and petty hang-ups behind is the best remedy for personal, professional, and community growth; no couch required.
