Uncategorized | Mar 5, 2009
The top 10 (harmlessly?) unprofessional behaviors
By Angela Watson
Founder and Writer
The top 10 (harmlessly?) unprofessional behaviors
By Angela Watson
There are seriously unprofessional behaviors, like coming in late everyday or not having your lesson plans prepared. And then there are…those things. The ones that don’t REALLY impact the kids or instruction in any substantial way. Those behaviors that are, ahem, frowned upon?
There’s been a ongoing discussion on our campus about whether it’s okay for teachers to wear those velour sweatsuits that were popular a few years back. Some of us are passionate: They’re sweats! Absolutely not! Others of us say: Hey, what’s the difference between that and the jeans we’re allowed to wear on Fridays?
My opinion on each of these photos, for our school in Florida:
- No (logos are tacky);
- No (sloppy, and more importantly, ugly);
- No (although it’d be easier to get dads in for a conference);
- Yes (occasionally on a Friday).
The whole thing got me thinking about the subtle and trivially unprofessional behaviors that we as teachers sometimes engage in:
- Giving an assignment mainly because you want to write about it on your blog. Heh.
- Positioning yourself towards the sun during recess to darken your tan.
- Talking on a cell phone while walking the class to lunch.
- Eating in front of students.
- Setting up a book buddies routine (or other combined class activity) so you and your colleague can chat while the kids work.
- Always scheduling book fair visits, guest speakers, and other classroom diversions into the time slot of the subject or class you least enjoy teaching.
- Turning off the classroom lights after dismissal so no one will knock on the door while you’re grading papers.
- Wearing house shoes or slippers in the classroom [this was huge in D.C.].
- Having a student fetch your sweater, phone, or keys from across the room.
- Setting up a classroom behavior system that involves pizza party rewards because you love Papa Johns.
In the interest of full disclosure, my personal weakness is #2. At least it was last year, when the assigned third grade recess slot was 1:45 p.m. This year, our time was suspiciously changed by administration to 8:15 a.m. Coincidence or conspiracy? I think the evidence speaks for itself.
Are any of these things a pet peeve of yours? What wouldn’t fly at your school? And, what’s YOUR (harmlessly) unprofessional behavior?
Angela Watson
Founder and Writer
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Saii: You’re quite welcome. We’ve all been there.
Mister Teacher: Please control yourself. 🙂
John Spencer: There seems to be a good deal of guilt out there about #1. However, if the assignment is an authentic one and aligned with curricular outcomes, it’s worthwhile. Um. Right?
Becky: I think it’s very unprofessional to talk on cell phones in front of kids, too. Especially in public (in the hall, on the playground). If you’re gonna do it, do you have to show it off? That should be an emergency-only thing, IMO.
Sarah: How do you survive the day with no recess? I look forward to that time more than the kids do.
TeacherJay: I like to leave the lights off any chance I get. It’s just more comfortable to me. I used to leave the overhead lights off all day long and used about 15 lamps in the room. It was sooo cozy, and the kids loved it! Then came the new fire marshal codes. Sigh.
Vanntx: I don’t think there’s anything wrong with per se. I just feel guilty doing it, because it seems like I’m avoiding co-workers, or that I’ve left early. I’ve had several people tell me they came by my room but the lights were off, so they assumed I’d left. Uh…try knocking? I might answer. 😉
Teacherninja: I would not count busywork as a harmlessly unprofessional behavior. That’s a harmful one. Not to say that teachers should NEVER do it, but its certainly worse for the kids than eating a snack in front of them. I think it’s great you level with your kids. I, too, have found they work better on crap assignments when I just say, look, I gotta do this paperwork. You do your thing for a little while, I’ll do mine, and then we’ll get back to our regular routine.
Ms. Teacher: I agree with you about dressing for the way you want to be treated. It’s not so much the actual items a person wears, it’s how they’re put together. I know teachers who wear dark, pressed jeans with heels and blouses and look far better than those who wear proper trousers but with running shoes and ill-fitting sweaters.
SmWonder00: You were posting your comment at the same time I was posting mine! As I replied to Vanntx, I don’t think there’s anything WRONG with turning the lights out. But like you, I feel that it’s an anti-social thing and probably not that nice.
I’m guilty of #4! So very guilty. Sometimes, when I’m standing post and I didn’t get to eat lunch I snack on chips or candy! Also, I often have kids in my room during lunch AND I am not ashamed to eat!
I plead guilty to #7. Works every time!
Great post!
I’m diabetic. If I lose my prep, I have to eat. Luckily, last time they stole my prep for testing, they had someone give me a 15-minute pee/eat break. But if they didn’t, I would HAVE to eat. I’ve never used my cell phone in class, though. Worst is scheduling a video because I know I’m losing my voice…but I don’t show that many videos, so the kids think it’s a treat :-).