My practical teaching experience was for one single month, last September; I was a substitutor for a teacher who had her maternity leave. However, although it was a KG1 and their first month at school ever, and although I faced many difficulties training them to be disciplined, one single thing is stuck in my mind as a negative experience: the teachers' lunch!
In fact, it was a real calamity, gossiping and nagging all day long.
Just like all careers, you have your duties and responsibilities. These one is aware of before they launch into the domain. So, you are prepared to face all this, and you know how much is required of you, especially when you are a teacher. Why keep nagging then?!
One might say it’s because we don’t receive what we deserve. I agree, but even THIS you knew before you went in!!!
Another thing is that whenever a teacher does something new, something different, something refreshing and engaging for students, others won’t like it! Yes, it might be the case everywhere especially that our world is turning more and more towards individualism and sticking to it. Yet, schools should not be prone to such a disease (I call it so because I believe it IS!); they are the place where personalities, lives, and nations are founded!
And not to forget the ‘eternal’ side talks! One might say it’s impossible to avoid those, but we NEED to learn how to control our conduct!
Yes, we are humans, we get tired and many times exhausted, and we need to refresh and have some fun throughout a long day of work, but as teachers, these should reflect our morals and superior conduct.
So, for old teachers: try to make a difference. For new ones, be prepared for the lunchJ ! 
Hanaa your transfered the exact picture about what happens during the teachers ' break for lunch. They will never ever be only satisfied to gossip about their students and other teachers, they also talk about students' parents,and about their own personal and economical problems.It is the image that was inculcated in my mind during my few visits to a school for attending some classes for a research purpose!!!!!!!!! I was really Chocked !!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, Hiba, it IS a chock!!!
DeleteMost teachers, unfortunately, are not behaving as "teachers". The teachers' lunch is one place where we can see this violation manifested.
It is really so unethical to nag and babble in a lunch room when it is supposed to be a calm oasis where every teacher should go to in order to rest, correct and even prepare her school shores. But unfortunately as you have described, this room has turned into a place where all the teacher- student relationship is being exposed in public instead of staying sacred and secret.
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