It has been a while since I have posted anything....largely due to the fact that I am finishing up my work to submit for the National Board. Let's hope the second time is a charm! Anyway, I've been missing my little blog as topics to write about have been piling up in my head and are now so jumbled that I find one thought leading to another without being sure how the connection was made. Here's an example.
Last night on my way home from grocery shopping, I set my iPod to shuffle and had one of the most amazing musical experiences ever, thanks to the randomness of this feature. Yes, all the songs that are on my iPod are there because I put them there, but it is the order and songs themselves that came up that was so unreal. My itunes library has over three thousand songs on it, so that made it even more impressive to me.
This made me think about how much I love music, whether people realize it or not. When I was a kid, I would throw tantrums in the store for first, vinyl albums, and eventually cassette tapes. Kids, ask your parents to explain what "albums" and "cassette tapes" are. Then it was Cd's...but by the time I actually got a CD player I was basically out of the tantrum stage. Notice I said basically, because I have been known to throw a few still to this day. Anyway many people don't know what a huge music lover I am because they see the person at school who hates singing cutesy songs and is horrible at playing an instrument.
I tried the chorus thing when I was in school and it didn't work for me. The same with playing trumpet. This always made me wonder, how someone who loves music as much as I do....could have no musical ability whatsoever?
This train of thought next led me to wearing a tie. It may seem like a stretch, but stick with me. As a male in my profession, there is a sort of stereotype that wearing a tie makes you a "good" teacher. I tried it. That also didn't work for me. Instead of being a "good" teacher, I was uncomfortable all day long, always tucking and afraid to move because I would have to start the process all over again. I also got a reputation of being completely unapproachable to parents, as unfortunately my appearance also seemed to give the impression that I thought I was better. Believe me when I say that this is not the message you want to send to families when you are just beginning your career. Once I loosened up and ditched the dress pants and ties, something really cool started to happen. My teaching improved; as what I was teaching took the spotlight, instead of what I was wearing. I also became more approachable as families weren't intimidated to talk to me and began to view me as their equal. Because after all, that is what we are. I have the same goals as the families of my students and at this stage of the game, I feel pretty confident in saying that the families of my students understand that. If wearing a tie makes you a "good" teacher, I like to think that not wearing one makes you "great."
Please don't think that I am judging anyone, especially men who wear ties. The point I'm trying to make is that for me it didn't work and when I looked in the mirror each day, I saw a phony. I don't see that anymore and I like to think that people who do wear ties don't judge me any more than I don't judge them.
On my way home last night, "Crazy" by Patsy Cline was the last song I heard. I remember as a kid when my mom would play Patsy in the car and I would sit in the back seat searching for anything I could find to stuff in my ears to drown her out. Now she is on my iPod and I love it when she come on. First because it always makes me think of my mom. Second because it shows me that I have grown up and learned how to appreciate a phenomenal voice and talent. This gives me hope that Jacob's constant complaining whenever I play Tori Amos means he will be a bigger fan than I am when he is older.
At this point you may be saying to yourself, how did we get from from the beginning of this post to here? Don't you tell your students to stay on topic and not to wander all over the place in their writing? Absolutely, and I do it all without wearing a tie.
Peace of mind,
Mr. Fletcher
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