Two Worlds: As We Might See Ourselves

Abstract

Over the years, as a secondary school teacher and school counsellor, I have heard students talk about teachers, and teachers talk about students. Often the central theme revolves around discipline. What I've begun to notice is that I'm not hearing, anything new anymore. Most of what teachers are saying in the staff room and at meetings is simply a repeat of what other teachers are saying in other staff rooms and at other meetings. Likewise whith what I hear from the students. In fact my observation of teacher and student behaviour have proved one thing to me: exactly the same drama is being played out by different characters in different places. In one of my more cynical moments, I decided to put these observations down on paper, fully intending never to show them to anyone because to many they would appear somewhat cynical. It was, after all intended as a stress-reducing exercise for me. However, in a moment of weakness, I showed them to a colleague who asked if he could use the material with the next teacher induction program. You see, he told me that the document made him think. He could see himself in it. In fact, he added, 'to varying degrees, this really has relevance for all of us working in schools'. I wonder if you agree.