Teachers seem to have a shorter shelf life these days. Like our glory days of innovation are numbered and one can only have so many new ideas, and only when in their prime years. Yet, I see teacher much older than me generate ideas that I could never even fathom. Come up with lessons that students talk about years later. And yet the credit goes to the young, the fresh, the energetic but only if they look it.
Can an idea still be fresh if thought of by an older mind? Will the general consensus continue to be that new must come from the young, the innovative, the ones that are most tapped in? Can we change the stigma of the aging teacher and how their ideas lose merit with the years of use? Or is this simply a product of my aging imagination that wonders whether I will be old and my ideas will lose their luster? Are teachers judged more on their ideas than their age? Can innovation be embraced when it comes from someone older than you or must it always be packaged as coming from the next generation?
Pernille Ripp 
An amazing intellectual surge hits in your 50's. I can't believe how much smarter, more open minded and capable I am in my 50's than before. I think all that multi-tasking during the baby/early working years created some nice learning paths in my brain. I've mentioned this to others and they've noted that the research supports this. Hence, those who are quick to judge by age should think twice. Thanks for bringing this issue to light.
I must also add though that I absolutely love working with teachers of all ages–our varied experiences and perspectives create awesome collaboration! Can you tell you hit a nerve 🙂
Pardon my French, but innovation is a b.s. word. I don't think you can really "be" innovative so much as people can tell you you are innovative. Additionally, innovative implies a high success rate, and there are plenty of people out there who are truly forward thinking and daring and try new things all the time yet often fail or have missteps and don't get a lot of recognition because they aren't showered with accolades for being "innovative."Now, as for the "old teachers" question you posed? You definitely can. I've learned so much from teachers older than me and I've seen so many older teachers reinvent themselves as if they were Cher or Madonna. Isn't youth, after all, more of a state of mind? I mean, there's a difference between old and useless and there are plenty of young teachers out there who are useless.(for the record, I am not innovative :P)
I agree with loving the work with muliple ages of teachers. I learn much from all of them. And I love how you framed it Maureen with the paths in your brain. I know from my own experience that I am better teacher now that when I started and I cannot wait to see what else will happen to my knowledge as I get older. And yet, I worry. Because certainly as Tom says "Youth is a state of mind" it is also a criteria on which we are judged. There comes a certain time in our teaching careers where switching districts or jobs becomes harder because of our age. Let's not kid ourselves. It seems though that society in general is shortening the window of what youth is and also where fresh ideas can come from. giving me more to ponder that is for sure….
Some of my most creative teachers are the ones who have been around the longest. The true educator never loses that fire to keep trying/learning new things! If they think you are old where you are, I think I can find a place for you! I really enjoy your blog, thank you!
Definitely understand this– developed first bag under ONE eye! I think that older teachers can bring a lot to the classroom, and it's sad that many are being forced out before they are really ready. At some point, if a student has had only younger teachers, "old-fashioned" ways become innovative to them!
As long as they are willing to learn new things, why not? As teachers we're always looking for new ways to reach our students, so any teacher who is open to innovation can be an innovator.
What an interesting post! You certainly struck a nerve in this 50+ teacher. I've been teaching for 23 years, so I imagine I probably qualify as part of the older teacher pool. Yet one thing I have learned is that innovation does not limit itself to the young. I work with young teachers who are already do the same thing they have done for the past 3-4 years. They are as firmly in the rut as some older teachers. I think innovation is a state of mind. You either are the kind of person who likes to try new things and change it up to breathe new life into your lessons or you're not. Age has nothing to do with it.
A fresh idea is a fresh idea. Some of my best ideas have been from my youngest students, and from my oldest mentors. Age never seems to make a difference.
I am a preservice teacher and when I complete my degree I will be in my early 50s. So, I certainly hope that I will be seen as fresh, enthusiastic and willing to take the risks to enable children to love learning. I do hope that future employers will look beyond the wrinkles and lines on my face and see the passion I have for teaching children. Each of those wrinkles and lines has a story to tell of the rich experiences I have had prior to becoming a teacher. I intend to draw on all of these experiences in my vocation as a teacher. Thank you for your blog posts. I thoroughly enjoy reading them.
its really an amazing one really isnt it!