Just stop the madness!

Teachers. we are in a profession that everyone thinks they know what teaching and education are all about. Teachers must deal with politicians and the public making monetary, schedule, and even graduation requirements based on stupid minded opinions. Teachers have to endure parents and the public bashing “Schools today”. So why do so many teachers constantly complain? I am fed up with complainers that take up meeting time, whine in the workroom, and are just plain cynical (about everything!) So here are a few tips to “Stop the Madness!”

Start with yourself!

1. Take the time in your daily life to take care of you, your physical health, and your mental health.
2. Do something nice for a teacher, staff member, or administrator that has helped you.
3. Read “Fish”
4. If money is tight write a grant, talk to a company representative, talk to local businesses, do something! I have never known doomsayers that fixed a money problem.
5. Be active in your knowledge of what is going on in education. Read Education Week or Edweek.org for information and ideas.
6. Communicate your ideas and thoughts to local and national politicians on important issues. Be an Advocate for your profession!
7. Smile more and spread a little good feeling around your school.
8. Thank a member of the custodial staff by name and get to know them.
9. Refuse to take part in others that talk negative all the time. Don’t give them an ear! Just smile and politely say “We are not having this conversation!”
10. Do not take negative student or parent interactions to heart. More often than not, it isn’t personal!  Be logical and not emotional.

Become a force for good!

1. Hold a potluck lunch at school or just bring in something for the teachers you work with each day. You would be amazed what some ice cream and cookies will do to pick up a bad day.
2. Help a teacher you feel needs help. I don’t mean tell them what to do, unless they ask for help, I mean just being helpful when you can.
3. Pass on ideas and materials that you feel will help teachers teach or feel better. Folks. that is part of the reason I started this website!
4. Put flowers or candy on the desk of any or all support staff members when it is not national secretaries’ week.
5. Try to help your school fix or solve problems that cause trouble.
6. Interact with the community with pride and be sure they know the good side of you and your school!
7. Hold events in or outside of school that involve parents and the community.
8. When a teacher is out for a long time, offer to help the substitute. This could even include a few planning periods of sitting in the room. Sometimes just the presence of a teacher helps.
9. Don’t go to administration with a complaint unless you are willing to offer or be part of the solution.
10. Do Not take up staff, professional development, and department meetings with trivial complaints,  personal matters that would be better served one on one, or with saying, in essence, “that way won’t work!” before you ever try it.