We all know that a seven hour day doesn’t cut it in teaching, particularly in high-needs schooling situations– the pundits who push longer school days and higher amounts of working hours are speaking from a basis of fact there. And yet, teachers– not only literalists, but strong and responsible teachers– resist those extended hours being mandated via contract or administration. What do you think is going on there? Who’s right? (and yes, that’s intended to be a provocative formation of the question.)
The ideal teacher is one who loves the craft, who loves kids. If you love both, you will spend an extraordinary amount of time doing your job. The mere act of spending 60-80 hours a week in the classroom, however, does not make one a professional or even effective.
I know phenomenal musicians who’ll play a show, then when everyone else leaves, keep playing because they love it. If I tell a child he must practice guitar the same number of hours as those who get real good at it (because they love it), the child is not going to become a better player simply because of the mandated hours.
If you’re working a gazillion hours to look good, or to satisfy your admin, you’re wasting time. If you’re creating lessons and putting together ideas and all of a sudden you look up and are surprised 3 hours just passed, well, you’re a teacher. The good ones work a lot of hours, true, but not on a clock. Heck, I love reading about teaching, talking with others about teaching, and I love teaching itself. The moment someone says you must put X hours in a week, though, I rebel, partly because I’m cantankerous, but also partly because anyone who mandates a specific number of prep hours doesn’t get how effective teaching works.
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