Editor’s note: This article was written by a metro-area teacher who asked to remain anonymous.
My mixed K-1 students have just settled down for a lesson, it’s going well. The phone rings. I cross the room to take the call because the phone can only be in one location because of wiring.
It’s the secretary.
“I sent you a message.” she says with authority bestowed on her from administration.
“I don’t receive messages, some kind of glitch.” I reply.
“Why not?” she questions.
(The young learners squirm. I’m frustrated by the interruption.)
“What message?” I ask.
“Well I don’t know. I sent it to you.” she responds.
“I am teaching. Can we figure this out later.” I plead.
She hangs up.
I start teaching again, I get the students listening – a miracle. I start the lesson again. The phone rings again. It is the secretary.
“I got the number of the message. It is (she begins the phone number.)”
“I need something to write on. Just a minute.” I can’t find anything to write on so I use a sharpie and my hand.
“Are you ready? Why aren’t you ready? Here it is. 720 — 3045.
“720 what?”
“Can’t you hear me? 720 4–…..”
The conversations drones on with numbers to the mystery message and my growing frustration and students losing all focus.
The kids are squirming. Getting them back again for a lesson is more than I can handle right now. I think on my feet for something they can do and land with line tracing.
Another call, again from the office. The cycle continues. The custodian wants me to carry a new desk to my room, he’s too busy to bring it.
I wish I could defend the needs of teaching and learning. But I can’t.
In the upside down world of schools, classroom teachers rank the lowest while those closest to administrators rank the highest. Upset the secretary and admin is upset too – WITH YOU.
So we are silenced. And in this silence, their interruptions disrupt learning, corrupt communication and disrespect the very reason we are there — teaching and learning.
But there isn’t time for that. I have to walk across the school on my lunch to get a desk for the new student and carry it back to my room.
