Politicians Could Learn from Teachers

This morning while watching the news, my husband stood up and walked away from the TV muttering, “Politicians would never survive in the classroom.”

I giggled at his humor and then realized; he wasn’t attempting to be humorous; he was disgusted. Since we both work in schools, we have seen our share of poor educators. No professions is free of the human element and humans are flawed. However, recently politicians in the news are creating a blot on the face of democracy.

When a new teacher walks through the school doors, students begin scheming of ways to unify their peers to mutiny. Their eyes sparkle as they work harder to sabotage learning than they have worked on any previous assignment. They are like sharks in the ocean who smell blood; if they sense weakness, they go in for the kill.

Veteran teachers quickly identify which adults will survive the biting student comments and sharp behaviors and who will go down with the ship. For a body to find success in the dark, cold waters of the public, whether a teacher or a politician, certain traits are essential.

Poise

“Fake it until you make it” and “never let them see you sweat” identify the two most important mandates for any adult employed in public service. If the dog puked on the carpet or your child spilled the entire gallon of milk before your workday started, those become events of the past. Upon entering the work building, the role of teacher requires a display of confidence, a positive attitude that all is right with the world.

Just as it is the teacher’s job to reassure and establish a warm inviting environment, constituents deserve representations by leaders who can handle stress. The world is a big, scary place filled with problems but success in public service requires a level head that accepts challenges as opportunities to find solutions instead of barriers to progress.

Kindness

Students come to school carrying baggage from daily concerns just as each American currently struggles with economic, emotional, and physiological problems. An expression from the 1800’s “handle with kid gloves” references gloves made from the soft lamb’s skin allowing the wearer to manage a situation with compassion. Teachers address issues with kid gloves because they recognize each child struggles and needs to be supported.

After watching press briefings or speeches from government personnel, my shoulders tense, nerves become shattered, and my mind is marred by scars as if recovering from a celebrity roast filled with insults. Adults are not very different from youth. A foundation of trust and compassion must exist before structure can take form.

Love of Learning

The ability to inspire students requires teachers to model a love of learning. As an English teacher, teaching my two favorite texts The Diary of Anne Frank and To Kill a Mockingbird provides opportunities to explore life from the past and make connections to the present while forecasting the future. The adage, “The past repeats itself,” states the reason to celebrate the messages of these narratives.

Each year in the classroom, conversations with students shine new perspectives on old themes. Though I am the teacher, I never stop being a student simultaneously. Strong leaders recognize the value of listening and learning from others. Public servants’ duties are to serve not to push a personal agenda.

Sense of Humor

One of the first and most important lessons a teacher learns is to refrain from using sarcasm. When it is misunderstood it becomes mockery and if the joke must be explained, it is not funny. Successful teachers use humor to promote a positive learning environment:

To laugh at themselves when they make a mistake so errors accepted as inevitable and chances to grow

By allowing students to share their creative sides

When creating connections between content and life events

Redirecting attention from inconsequential comments or behavior

The intent of humor is to produce positive feelings, to lighten spirits, and unite individuals. If it produces the opposite of any of these, the possible positive effects become lost.

Interpersonal Skills

Education demands all people work in collaboration to support a positive outcome. When conflict exists, the response can’t be to fire the students, the parents, or the teachers. All parties must compromise to resolve problems.

If government’s response during conflict prompts further resistance, compromise is nonobtainable. Casting blame divides. Pointing fingers creates discord. Ignoring opinions invalidates. Strange how two public entities that are both expected to function in the interest of society display such a dichotomy of management techniques.

Self-Evaluation

Teachers are required to participate in annual self-evaluation as well as a system of observations and assessments by an administrator. Feedback is provided and used for professional growth. Politician receive feedback with each election cycle when they win or lose an election. However, elections do not provide constructive criticism for improvement.

Possibly one of most important jobs of a teacher is to manage the masses. Disruptions impact learning negatively. When the teacher in the room relies on an outside source to maintain order, they lose control and are viewed as ineffective. Seldom, if ever, does a competent, qualified instructor relinquish management of their command because in so doing, they surrender power.

Effective leaders possess the tools to supervise without calling in the National Guard or military troops. Teacher do not have the option to retreat from conflict. In fact, teachers are trained to attack if an active shooter enters the building and they are held accountable for inappropriate behaviors.

School do not use electoral colleges to promote teachers. Teachers are hired for skills, experience, and knowledge. They are constantly under scrutiny to perform professionally, disperse accurate information supported by science and follow a code of conduct that identifies ethical norms and standards of behavior. Teachers are expected to use researched based strategies, follow best practices, and gather statistical data to support their effectiveness.

From my observation, most politicians would not survive the keen senses of American teenagers, the expectations of a school board, or the demands of parents of student in public education.

Leadership holds incredible responsibilities. Media has the responsibility to report the news with bias. The phrase alternative facts warps reality.