By Anonymous
A good teacher is conscientious. After experiencing a wide array of good and bad teachers alike, I can now say with certainty that a good teacher considers their students’ lives outside the classroom while in the class, and adjusts their own schedule accordingly.
Our community has been struck with a seemingly endless string of tragedy. It got to a point where news of suicide, death, or mass killings began to seem hauntingly familiar, like a twisted feeling of déjà vu. Teachers and students alike took the news differently and in varying degrees of intensity, but only one of my teachers has consistently prioritized a vital, class-wide discussion over their own personal agenda.
This teacher has always been fully and completely ready to throw out their lesson plan for the day if appropriate. They understand that while whatever they had planned is important for the year, it is more important for the classroom and community as a whole to discuss and process these tragedies. They have a complete and unwavering sense of community, and an understanding of the bigger picture.
Being a good teacher isn’t just about building a community, nor is it just about how well your students do on the AP. Good teachers strive to create communities, and interpret the word “teacher” beyond “authority figure.” In order for a classroom to be a successful environment that is conducive to learning, teachers need to construct an appropriate environment in which to learn.
Good teachers understand their students.
