This is where Scottish teachers go to let off some steam. Join the debate in the Scotland Opinion Group and chat about the key issues affecting education in Scotland.
Why do you ask?
Open, mostly. If my class are making a noise (i.e. doing speaking activities, games etc) then I'll shut the door out of courtesy to my colleagues.
My classroom has no door and opens onto a corridor and a much used area. It drives me absolutely nuts - I often have to change lessons because of the noise coming from outside.
I would love a door and I would close it!
Imsdaland we attached bells!
;-)
It also shows I've nothing to hide/fear in my teaching.
When I manage (summer schools) I prefer my teachers' doors to be open so I can drop in without interrupting (not to snoop on the teachers: usually to help a student re-focus on what they're meant to be doing).
I can understand needing to keep a door closed if there are disruptive numpties standing outside and distracting my pupils' attentions, though.
aclockworkorangeThe reason I asked was because it's important to me to teach with the door open - whilst I realise that others don't feel comfortable with this. Following a discipline issue recently, we were "ordered" to close our doors, permanently - it didn't feel right...
What was the rationale given for that?
Sounds very odd...usually the directives are about more collaboration in teaching. I used to cover the bottom of the glass panel to stop most pupils making faces in the door as they went past, but was given a rap on the knuckles for it - I had to remove it.
I teach with my door wide open. I'm lucky though, I have a small sound proofed and heavily reinforced box where I house miscreants.
gnulinuxAnd where were the SMT while this was going on?? Nowhere to be seen at a guess??
For the sake of argument, which should appeal to you, are you really so passively conditioned that you have no desire to claim some authority for yourself? Would you consider that your apparent unwillingness, or inability, to exert your authority over 'some unruly girls' (for example) may be contributing to your school's apparent anarchic ethos?
SMT are to blame for much... they may think they're gods but they're not omnipresent. Do you really want - or expect them to be - hovering at every classroom door in case any 'bad kids' happen to pass by?
If our default setting is to abrogate all responsibility to 'our masters' is it any wonder morale is so low?
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