December 2012 – Page 2 – Pernille Ripp

Parents Are Not Our Enemies

December 11, 2012 Pernille Ripp

Something I am often asked is how my parents react to all of the “weird” things I do in my classroom, such as limited homework, no grades, no punishment/no rewards. I am often found without an answer to this question because most parents don’t have a reaction, or at least not an adverse one. While this may stem from all of the upfront communication I do at the beginning fo the year, it may also be that parents actually like the changes I have incorporated. (And sure, some don’t, I am not perfect, but 99% will start a conversation then).

Often parents seem to be cast as our enemies or adversaries Those poeple who think they know but really don’t. Those people who may think they have the best interest of their child in mind but really are terribly outdated in their notion of school. I ave found that my reality couldn’t be further from the truth. The parents I work with are educated on their child and their needs, they are the ones that know them best. They also know that school has changed since they went themselves, and many welcome the changes that they see. Many are glad that their child is not subjected to the same drill and kill as they were in their youths. Many have questions, rightfully so, and start real dialogue with me about why I do the things I do. Often I walk away with great ideas from these conversations.

It is too easy to cast parents as the bad guys when we are afraid of changing our classrooms. It is too easy to think that they will be opposed. We truly wont know until we try, and we truly wont be able to try until we get parents aboard. It is not as hard as it can look to be, but it does take courage and placing faith in your parents. Are you willing to do that?

Be the change

Neil Gaiman’s Advice to Young Artists

December 7, 2012 Pernille Ripp

I try to instill this in my students every day; there is only one you with your only voice, but Neil Gaiman says it so much better. When asked by a student in Connecticut what she should say to people that tell her there are enough artists in the world so she should not become one, he answers…

reflection

Should Principals Have Term Limits?

December 3, 2012 Pernille Ripp

Note: This post is me starting a conversation coming from a teacher’s perspective, hoping teachers and administrators will share their thoughts. This is not a solid opinion of mine but a question. This is also not in relation to my own principal, I hope that clarifies.

I was asked once where I thought this whole blogging thing was going, what was my destination? I had no answer so the questioner asked me whether I would ever become a principal. I quickly answered no and when pressed to explain I told them I was worried about losing my relevance after a few years, that I would not be able to stay current and soon my ideas would be as outdated as my outfits. See teaching every day keeps me in the know, in the moment with these kids, so every day I have to adapt, every day I have to figure out new situations. And even now just 5 years into my teaching career some of my original ideas are already outdated and have definitely lost their relevance to anyone but myself.

I bring this up because I cannot help but wonder whether principalships should have term limits of sort?

Should principals only be allowed to be one for 4 or 5 years before they are automatically kicked back to the classroom for a year? Then when the year has passed they can reapply for another principalship. And yes, this idea is completely cumbersome and a little bit crazy and I am not even saying it is the right idea, but how do we make sure principals stay relevant in their knowledge when sought out by teachers? After all, there are only so many conferences, articles, discussions you can experience and even those will never add up to more classroom experience. And perhaps it is not needed, perhaps principals stay current through their teachers but don’t they also need to rely on their own teaching experiences to help them guide kids and teachers alike? I don’t have the answer.

Since I am not a principal and I am genuinely curious, I would love your comments on this:

Can principals give relevant advice after they have been out of the classroom for many years?
Does it matter how many years they taught? Or does it only matter how they are as a leader?
How do we feel as teachers when our principal has not been in the classroom for more than 10 years and still uses their own old experiences as their measuring stock for every question? Does it work?

I don’t have the answer, only this huge question that I cannot answer. I would love to hear your opinions on this.