I’ve been facilitating partnerships between business people and educators for at least twenty years, maybe more. One thing that I notice over and over is that the culture of “business” seems to think itself different from the culture of “teaching.”
What makes this difference? I have some ideas, but after all this time, I really don’t understand this. What do you think?
I’d like to hear your ideas.
1. Business people are Republicans; Teachers are Democrats :-) Just joking, but I think you’ll find that statement more true than not.
2. Business people work for money; Teachers for altruistic ideals—the opportunity to positively affect society, to change one life.
The entire mind-set is different. Profit drives business people. Another individual’s personal and intellectual growth drives teachers. Business people wouldn’t think of teaching without having “made it” first. As in “Jerry McGuire,” “Show me the Money!”
The business person says, “I need to get mine.” The teacher says, “I’ll help you get yours.”
Giving and taking, conflicting ideals, different cultures.
Well, I’m not sure my experience mirrors yours, Ron. I’ve known a LOT of Republican teachers … and a lot of Democratic business people (including myself). I have seen the patterns you’re talking about and I agree there are two “cultures” at work, two sets of values… but I’m not sure that they’re connected to politics.
And, every teacher I know complains about money all the time… so if they’re working for “ideals,” how come they have the ideal that somehow they are more “noble” starving… or taking less than they’re worth? What’s ideal about teaching kids that people who nurture them are going to get less nurturing than they deserve?
Seems to me that kids (and other learners) learn by example, not by “words.”
And I hope BOTH of us don’t “kill the thread,” but if we do, that will be an interesting piece of information about who’s participating here, won’t it?
The thread is for discussing and learning. I never had any problem separating friendships and work, or friendships and discussions.
Perhaps it’s my age. This is the beginning of my 6th year teaching, and I’m 54. I stopped chasing money; it gave me a big, tight, black ball in the pit of my stomach. I teach because it makes me feel good, and being around the kiddos keeps my mind fresh. Being a salesman for so many years made me cynical.
Of course, I agree that your choice of careers isn’t connected to politics. I’ve observed, however, that most people who teach have a liberal slant to their views. I may be mistaking, but I think that is a complaint about our institutions of higher learning. (And you were a teacher first—ha!)
Yes, I do hear teachers complain about money. One of the experienced teachers I know makes approx. $63K/yr. Her husband is also a teacher in another district; his income approx. $50K.+. I don’t know; I can’t figure it out.
As a new teacher, I don’t earn as much as the teacher previously mentioned, but with only 6 years experience, I don’t expect it. I think teaching has a huge learning curve. It took me 5 years to understand and effectively manage my classroom. Perhaps I’m a little slow on the up-take.
Should we earn more for what we do, and the required and continuing education that is not subsidized by most districts as it is in most businesses? Yes, we should earn more. Funny how the education “business” wants teachers with advanced degrees., but won’t kick back any $$ for you to go to school. 71% of the teachers in the my district have advanced degrees.. I was amazed when I learned that.
As I see it, citizens don’t want to pay more for education, be it higher salaries for teachers, or enough books so every student has his/her own text, pencils, paper, etc. We can’t build better schools, but we can build better prisons. Pay now to educate ‘em, or pay later to confine them. I really don’t understand how people cannot understand that simple equation. Now or later, but you’re going to pay.
I believe that I am a good model for my students. It’s cliche, but if you teach for the money, public education is not your ticket. The kids have to be first. Any “bad” feelings about pay, policy, etc. are not shared in my classroom, but I typically don’t have those bad feelings; I control that with a positive, can-do attitude.
Sometimes I get long-winded. I bet some ESL folks have a hard time with my carefree use of the English language.
In this response, I think you may have several directions to go for new lessons..
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