Dear Accountable Teacher,
Teachers love the word “accountable.” We toss out the phrase, “Hold kids accountable,” like it’s grape Kool-Aid. We all want kids to be accountable, yet when it comes to us...not so much. That's because we have come to associate teacher accountability with being micromanaged, as in, get ready to give a full report about how much time you spent in the bathroom. As a side note, kid you not, I went “potty” (another favorite teacher term) today and a colleague asked me if everything came out okay. Nobody needs that level of scrutiny.
One of my favorite authors, Zora Neale Hurtson, wrote, “There ain’t a law on earth that will make a man be decent, if it ain’t in him.” I think the same is true of teachers. No amount of accountability will make a teacher do right who wants to do wrong. And conversely, a teacher who wants to do right won’t do wrong even when a watchful eye has left the room. I’m guessing if you are taking the time to read this, you are of the latter camp.
However, the kind of accountability I am referencing has nothing to do with holding kids feet to the fire, or admin sifting through your gradebook with a fine tooth comb, or even a play by play of the time you spent in the restroom.
The accountability I am talking about is the kind that will help you cross the finish line of this difficult school year without regret. It’s a gift that typically comes from a most trusted friend.
You know the kind of accountability I am talking about, don’t you?
If not, here are some characteristics of an accountability partner.
An educational accountability partner:
-talks you off the ledge before you fire off the email telling admin where they can shove it
-reminds you not to polarize situations that will seem much smaller tomorrow
-sees the best in you when your vision is cloudy
-confesses her own temptations, so you know you're not alone
-listens when you need a minute to vent without interjecting solutions
-makes you laugh when you are mad, maybe even snort, which is the best
-picks up your slack when it’s simply been a day
-asks you about the situation nobody else even knows about
-defends your honor even though you never asked for it
-encourages you to stay in the fight and not lose hope
-worries about you when she knows you’re upset
-decides it’s time for a dinner date and doesn’t take no for an answer
-waits her turn to be heard even though she’s dying to speak
-shares her lunch with you when you forgot yours
-tells you the truth when you went too far
- cries with you when your heart is breaking
- establishes a pact with you that says, “If I have to come back tomorrow, you do too.”
We need more authentic accountability in education and life.
If you read this list and a face immediately came to mind, I have two challenges for you.
First, consider sending “your person” a handwritten card, an email, or a simple share from this post.
Secondly, look around and see if somebody doesn’t have a partner. This year is too hard to do it alone. We all need somebody.
Otherwise, how will we ever survive?