Cynicism is easy.
Especially as a teacher.
There I said it.
As teachers, we can tend towards a cynicism that seems unrivalled compared to other professions. Being negative about parents, exam boards, exam grades, the press, textbooks, our colleagues, senior management, and pupils themselves are common conversations in staff rooms.
I like to think teachers don’t start this way. Nobody becomes a teacher to end up embittered and frustrated.
We did it because we want to contribute. We still teach because we want to contribute.
But being the social creatures we are, it’s very easy to get drawn into the prevailing conversation around us.
“Can you believe that parents expect this?”
“Why does SMT want us to do that? It makes no sense.”
“No – they’re just rude. There’s no excuse for a pupil to behave like that”
“The exam board said that wouldn’t be on the paper – but they just seem incompetent”
Random school staff rooms
I think there are times to vent – as long as there’s a commitment behind the venting to let it go.
If I’m complaining about something and it’s a regular conversation…then I probably enjoy complaining!
I’m being complaint-oriented.
But what about being solution-oriented?
It’s harder because it means I have to take ownership of my venting and be willing to do something about it.
Otherwise all that venting is hot air.
Is your staff room complaint- or solution-oriented?
One simple question I use to move the conversation towards a solution-orientation is:
- “So what can we do about it?”
Drop it in when there’s a lull in the discussion, then observe what happens – both for yourself and others around you.
Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
James D'Souza 