Best advice I was ever given

Best advice I was ever given

Tabitha Campbell 24 Jun 2013 07:10

I'd like to get others perspective on the follow quote. This was said by my professor in one of my education courses in 2005.

"Nod and smile, shut your door, and do what is best for your students. Do what you know is best."
"Don't ever let an administrator be the reason you quit teaching"

Re: Best advice I was ever given

Kimberly McCasland 24 Jun 2013 17:36

I agree that teachers need to do what is best for their students. This does not mean that they should completely ignore everything around them, but in the end, they need to be the advocate for their students' learning. Teachers should be able to share their perspective for their reasoning in conducting practice a certain way, not fear losing their job over it. If students are learning, that is what matters. I actually had a discussion with a friend (also a teacher) over the weekend regarding this issue. You can share your perspectives and listen to the perspectives of others, but in the end you have to do what you feel is best for your students as individuals.

Re: Best advice I was ever given

Lindsay Gould 25 Jun 2013 01:29

This is nice of you to share, it puts a positive spin on what we face as teachers. I think this was a very generous advice, and I think we can all relate to do what is best for students. I like the final line, don't let an administrator be the reason for leaving or quitting teaching. I have had those moments where I have had many conflicts and challenges with administrators. I would like to think that we would all like to do what is best for students, but we have all seen other wise in different situations we have dealt with in the different issues and conflicts we come across.

Re: Best advice I was ever given

crm354 25 Jun 2013 18:00

I agree that some of this advice is good. We all want to do what is best for our students, but I do not think the way you do this is by shutting your door. I feel that we need to work with our colleagues and learn from one another. In our department we like to think of the students as all our students so we must work together and collaborate with our colleagues. I feel that when we work together we are doing what is best for our students.

Re: Best advice I was ever given

Sandra Lowans 26 Jun 2013 17:32

This is all that matters & I myself was told something very similar. Great post!

Re: Best advice I was ever given

Marissa Glaviano 26 Jun 2013 21:15

That is such a great quote! Thanks for sharing.

Re: Best advice I was ever given

Tabitha Campbell 24 Jun 2013 07:12

I meant to have a question mark after the title… sorry

Re: Best advice I was ever given

Megan Licano 24 Jun 2013 18:44

I think this is good advice for the most part. I think it is best for us to do what is best for our students but that we still need to follow our administration. We can tweak lessons and activities to meet the needs of our students but we shouldn't ignore what our administration requires of us. I think our classrooms are special secret places because most of the time we act a little bit different with our students than we would if an adult was observing us. I am a little wacky and sing silly songs for my students but I probably wouldn't do it with the principal in my room observing me.

Re: Best advice I was ever given

alsmith610 25 Jun 2013 01:39

What a supportive and insightful administrator! We do need to do what is best for our students. We are the ones who know them the best, aside from their parents, because we spend the most time with them. I do think we can keep their needs in mind as we teach the standards and then enrich the material or modify it to help our learners have a more fulfilling learning experience.

Re: Best advice I was ever given

Kathryn Andrews 27 Jun 2013 18:10

I think that there is so much stress and accountability in our jobs that sometimes it's easy to focus on the negative. Whatever that negative may be, an administrator, student behavior, lack of time the list goes on. That's when we have to remember all of the great things that come with our job and the reason that we became educators. So I very much agree and like this quote.