I like to help people, I really do. It's
the kind of world that I want to live in, where everyone is willing to help
each other out. The issue that I'm having is that upon becoming the broadcast
teacher and making and editing videos, it's mind blowing how many teachers in
my building just assume that my students
or I would not mind "making a little video" for them. It's
frustrating really, because it puts me in a position to make a choice. I
can either say yes and cram their project into my already jammed up schedule,
or say no and have them upset with me. I have to get more comfortable
with choosing the latter, or it will cost my students production time and my
marriage will no longer be a happy one.
One of the latest requests by a colleague is, and I think you will
agree, quite interesting. I am teaching my 2nd period class and he
walks through my open door. I walk over
and say, “Hi, what’s up?” He tells me
that he is currently participating in a workshop across campus where they are
learning to expand their use of technology in their teaching. He said that they were given an assignment to
create a video, edit and export it. He
said that he immediately thought of me and wanted to enlist my help. I stood there in front of my students, who
were waiting for our conversation to end so that we could go back to our
discussion, and asked him about the due date of the project. He said, “Oh, we are supposed to turn it in
before we go to lunch, but I think we could work on it during lunch, if you
need to.” In my head…oh really, if I
need to? So, let me get this straight, he was expecting me to stop teaching my
class, film him doing something that he hadn’t made clear, and then edit the
video, all before or perhaps during my lunch….TODAY! I smiled and said, “Well, that’s a tight
deadline I’m not sure I can get that done.”
He said, “Oh no, I just thought your students could work on it.” I explained that my students were also on a
deadline and were all working on a project themselves. Not wanting to leave him without a solution
in his time of need, I suggested that he go upstairs to his classroom and get
some of his students to help out, there is a sub in his classroom and it would
be perfect. He said….and I’m not making
this up…. “Well, I didn’t want to disrupt the class. I left them with an important
assignment.” Does anyone see anything
wrong with this?
You are so much more polite than me. I would have said, "Let me see if I understand this clearly... and restated that his students were working on an assignment of importance and my students were what exactly..." Then I would have said, "I need to get back to teaching, excuse me." Being of service is one thing, a door mat, another. A lead time of 10-14 days is acceptable, what he did was unacceptable. Likable person or not, this is unacceptable and unkind. Before school starts this year, at an all school staff meeting, I would get up and be with your awesome sense of humor, let the staff know the lead time you will need to help with projects and what your expectations are. Let them know you have a curriculum and dropping by during your class time is uncool. If you let everyone know at once, you look like you have your act together and anyone who wants something on the fly looks unprepared. Your heart for service will come through AND you will maintain your dignity in your program.
ReplyDeleteAnnie Green
Glacier Peak High School
Snohomish, Washington
Create a template on your school's website with a pricing schedule for videos. Capitalize upon your program. Tell them that you can make a video, but it will cost them a fee.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCreate a template on your school's website with a pricing schedule for videos. Capitalize upon your program. Tell them that you can make a video, but it will cost them a fee.
ReplyDeleteEsther Bateson
Basha High School
Chandler, AZ