Teacher to teacher interaction

As much as teaching may be about how you interact with your students and teach them, there also comes a time when you must interact with other teachers or your co-workers. In physical education there is often more than one teacher within the class, usually because the greater number of students. In my observation class, there are approximately forty students for two teachers. I am often surprised by the interaction between the two adults. They work well together, however they talk loosely about co-workers and students when class is in session. From what I have observed, I feel that this loose talk may be hurting the chemistry of the class. Also, sometimes they are so involved in their own conversation they miss what is going on in the gym. A few times they have missed something important such as one student bullying another. To me, this shows unprofessionalism and lack of caring. The teacher I am observing is great at teaching and a good role model. This type of negative interaction however, is one thing I will not be doing as a teacher.

As promised...

I previously mentioned the students in my school are not taught any form of sexual education. After I got over the initial shock, I was able to ask my cooperating teacher about why this is. I was informed this is a very conservative district. The superintendent is touchy on the topic of sexual education. Therefore, it is not taught… ever. Not even in high school. The teachers are told to not teach any type of prevention or conception, or even abstinence. The health teacher had to send home a permission slip to be signed by the parents just so he could inform the students about HIV and AIDS. Surprisingly, out of 90 students, 4 of the kids’ parents didn’t want them to be informed of the transmission of these diseases.