The idea for this week's blogpost came from a humorous one minute clip a colleague sent to me about the different types of teachers we meet. By the end you can guess which one sent me the clip! 😆You can also try to determine which type of teachers you've encountered.
Now every workplace has a cast of characters and the teaching environment is no exception. Since I've been in this profession a while, I think I can speak (or in this case write) from the perspective of a seasoned explorer of the incredible habitat that is the staffroom. So let me be your guide and let me know if you recognize any of the archetypes.
First up we have the Overly Strict Teacher. Some of you may know this one as the Drill Sergeant or [insert word here]- buster. This character is no-nonsense, mess-around-and-find-out type of teacher. You'd notice this character by the stern glare and militant posture. She is the traditional authoritarian teacher. A feared disciplinarian who runs a tight ship and rules her classroom with a tight fist. Don't you dare breathe too hard in her presence. Chewing gum? You have the audacity? The booming voice that will follow you all the way to the bin you're commanded to throw the gum in or worse yet, stick on your forehead, will ensure you never dare do it again. This character instils fear and respect in equal measure.
The Negative Nancy or Nick (not to be confused with the Complainer. See below).Perpetually in a terrible mood no matter the time of day. This character drains the energy out of every room with their negative energy. Free cake and ice cream in the lunchroom? It must be a bribe. Thinking about starting a student of the month program? 'What's the point? They're all monsters anyway." There is an upside though, if you're ever in a bad mood yourself you can seek out the negative Nancy to keep you company. As the natural enemy of the Gung Ho. They tend not to enter each others habitat
Next up we have the Complainer , a close relative of the Negative Nancy (they come in male and female variety). You can sometimes hear this one before you see them. There is no let up from the daily woes that the Complainer bemoans. New textbooks (more work to plan for) and they're full of mistakes overcrowded classroom (legitimate tbh), interruptions during the school day (here comes the end of the world!). Encountering the Complainer on a daily basis means that you are constantly running through a cast of characters from Scrooge, Oscar the Grouch, Dr. House, Mr. Wilson (Dennis the Menace), Squidward. If you value your sanity, never ask them how their weekend was. No topic is safe from the complainer. Not even the weather!
The Gung Ho is on every committee, leads three different clubs. and is always brimming with new ideas The Gung Ho lives and breathes teaching. If you need to organize a sports day or Bazaar the Gung Ho has already got it covered. Need to implement the new curriculum? The Gung Ho already as a Power point presentation ready for that! The Gung Ho does have their uses. Need someone to speak up and represent the group at those professional development workshops? The Gung Ho is your person. On a serious note though, the Gung Ho, while exhausting is quite inspiring and we all secretly envy them.
The Burnt Out. Completely disenchanted and a shell of their former selves. They make the Gung Ho and New Passionate teacher shudder as if they've walked over a grave. It's like the Ghost of Teacher to Come. They serve as a warning to all that teaching has a dark side if they're not careful. The Burnt Out is an entity that many avoid. Dead in the eyes and constantly dreaming of retirement. They often morph into lethargic form that haunts the compound. Sleepwalking through their lessons and the day seemingly as if all days are rolled into one. They are just done.
The New Passionate Teacher ready to take the world by storm. They often gravitate towards the Gung Ho. They feed off each others energy. This character is usually newly minted from university or training college. They are brimming with hope, optimism, new ideas and a binder full of lesson plans. They've got classroom management strategies you've never heard of and sees every student interaction as a chance to inspire. Seasoned teachers pause every so often to watch them go by, drawing out nostalgic feelings of their early years.
The 'This is Just a Job' Teacher is another natural enemy of the Gung Ho teacher. They clock in and they clock out. They're a 9 to 5 (8 to 3) type of teacher who clocks out, mentally as well as physically as soon as soon as the last bell rings. There are minor differences in this species of character. They vacillate between being apathetic and winging their lessons and being effective and strictly by the book. What remains a constant is that for the 'This is Just a Just a Job' Teacher, teaching is a means to an end. They aren't on any committees and aim to maintain a work-life balance.
The Push Over. Their classrooms are often chaotic because children can sense a weak will. They fall for every sob story amongst their peers and students alike. You can often witness the look of pity on that one sympathetic students face when the others are walking all over this teacher.
The One About to Retire. They've seen it all, done it all, been through it all and heard all the stories and could do you lots better but tell you many more. Of course you know they're counting down the days to retirement. They are a font of wisdom and have nothing to prove. At this stage, they've mastered the art of doing just enough to get by and can tell you in a nanosecond how many sick days they have left.
Whatever category they fall into, they each bring their unique style to the workplace and make each school day an adventure. Take it all in stride and enjoy the experience of the staffroom.
Did I forget any? Let me know in the comments below.
Copyright © Lana. S. 2024
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