On Communism

This is really a posting on what I've learned as a new teacher and not so much the socioeconomic ideas of Marx. Jokingly, Noah and I would say that we are the socialists of our respective families. "Let's all work together and share the wealth!" But we work the best we can in the society that we've been born into and I think that I'm a pretty decent capitalist kid. When one of my students called me a communist on Friday, it made me think differently.

This sudden anger arose from my terribly "high-pressured" attendance policy, one that I've recently enforced. "15 minutes late to class and you're marked absent." This was an attempt to stop the strolling into class thirty minutes late and expecting to be counted present. As we all know, that kind of tardiness is distracting for me and the rest of the students. I had to put a end to the madness and set some boundaries.

This new rule rubbed students the wrong way. Their interpretation of it was me being unyielding. "Are you saying that because I'm one minute late, you're marking me absent?!"

What they really meant to say was: Are you saying that because I'm sixteen minutes late, you're marking me absent, you dirty commie?!"

I've gotten a lot of angry students protesting it; I've gotten a lot of confused Thai teachers who think it might be too strict. And now I've got one student who thinks I'm enforcing Mother Russia's Stalinist rule upon her.

It's through my experience with the students and talking with fellow teachers, that I've learned t it wasn't a good idea to come into teaching wanting to be the student's friend. I imagine every teacher that starts off, has huge ideas. One idea being that their youth and creativity will make the children see and obey. And I imagine all students know this and take advantage of it.

Is it terribly regrettable? No not really, I don't regret the valuable lessons that I've learn from all the mistakes I've made. The time and energy lost however, is a hard pill to swallow. If I had started the semester with my attendance rule, I would have save myself some headache and I would have trained the students. As it is, most of the students take the "15 minute law" pretty seriously. I've got them running through the halls and checking their watches.

Firm is the way to start out. According to my friend and veteran teacher, Cindy, there's a saying that goes amongst teachers: "Don't let them see you smile until after Thanksgiving." It makes sense to me. I've done things in the reverse, which confused the kids, and left some feeling a little like they may have lost their pal.

I'm okay with that I suppose. I came here to do a job, not to be anyone's buddy. And with one full week of teaching left, I'm stickin' to my guns. I would suggest that the new teacher, Nick, do the same. Although he'll certainly have his own unique experience with teaching, he'll most likely have the same start. The same inner conflict of picking what kind of relationship he will want with his students.

I would invoke the words of imperialistic President Teddy Roosevelt. "Walk softly and carry a big stick."

Then he should start rationing out their meat supplies.