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I am a Black teacher that perpetrated anti- Blackness in my classroom through “tough love”. I believed that’s what my students needed. It showed up through failing students, being unnecessarily aggressive and harsh. It’s all I had in my toolbox.
Grateful to be in a better space
Grateful to be in a better space
So I can get on here and say I’m an excellent teacher... and I am. But Jesus, when I think about where I came from. Not only did I not have enough pedagogical tools in my toolbox but I didn’t have enough time think about the teacher I wanted to be while navigating this system.
I’m giving new teachers grace while also saying we need to do better. Teachers need time and new teachers need more time. They’re not just navigating the system but they’re crafting their identities as educators. We need time, guidance and lots of books.
I am better now because somebody got me together. I’m better now because I was in a professional organization. I’m better now because I read. I’m better now because I wrote. I reflected y’all. I’m better because of it.
I want to add, it's all I knew and it's what my school and system promoted! That's why it was hard to break in the moment.
And I want to add that my students and I (from those years) have a great relationship. I repaired the harm. I apologized. I improved and did better. We connected outside of school.
