When I did my teacher training I was taught to reflect on everything I did in the classroom. From the layout of the furniture, to the colours used in displays, to the questions I asked. While it undoubtedly helped me to become a better teacher, it also left me feeling that whatever I did wasn’t ever quite good enough.
I’m wondering about whether or not this is always useful and the harm that it might be doing everyone, especially in the current climate.
People working in education are working in ways which are totally alien at a time of international crisis. They’re caring for their communities, helping young people stay as well as they can, giving them a sense of purpose. All this in spite of the toxic rhetoric coming from certain corners of the media.
I wonder if now is the time for those working in education to realise their value, look in the mirror and tell themselves they’re amazing?
