“Why, oh, why do teachers compete against one another?” -- that’s
a question I find myself grappling with time and again.
You know what I am talking about, as you’ve probably seen
these behaviors before:
- people who chose teaching as a career keeping their knowledge to themselves when it comes to helping their colleagues;
- lifelong learners acting arrogantly as if they knew it all;
- language professionals offending colleagues as if that could be a valid argument in a debate;
- linguistics majors judging others based on a typo, a slip of the tongue or the dialect used.
To be honest, I don’t see much to compete for. Even for
those who see education as a business, it is hardly cut-throat: there is room
for everybody. And if it’s a special promotion or a different opportunity people
are going for, I don’t see how viciously attacking peers would get them what
they want.
“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”
The fellow teachers I have seen be promoted were good
teachers, of course, but they were also so passionate about work and sharing
that they inspired others. It’s only logical: who would you select to be a teacher
trainer or mentor in your institution? Who would you hire to publish material
and then speak on behalf of your publishing house to try and sell it to other
teachers?
With the exception of the reluctance to share, honestly I
don’t see how those behaviors could be compatible with an English language
teaching career. And even then the only reason I understand one’s keeping to
oneself is because some teacher lounges are so hostile that a sharer can be
seen as a nuisance. Also, sharing may require time, which is a resource many
(can I say most?) teachers lack. Still, most of the bullet points I listed could
even be grounds for dismissal. Why would a school want to be associated with a
professional who shows complete disregard for colleagues?
Of course everybody slips here and there, and I’m far from
saying I’m beyond that sort of petty behavior. We must keep a watchful eye on
ourselves to prevent such slips. However, when the exception becomes the rule
and the educator can’t communicate his or her opinions without offending
others, red flags should be raised. And waved. And maybe that red flag should
turn into a red penalty card.
