HOW DO WE BRING HONOR TO OUR PROFESSION?

HOW DO WE BRING HONOR TO OUR PROFESSION?

A cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those that do.

The United States Military Academy

The Citadel

Norwich University

Riverside Military Academy

The United States Air Force Academy

To anyone who understands the role of serving as a secondary school principal, it should be obvious that the principal will be called upon frequently to speak to student clubs and organizations. During my tenure as Principal of a tremendously vibrant high school in Texas, many of those sessions with students grew to be annual events. There were talks with athletes in locker rooms before the start of most seasons; chats with PAL’s to set the tone for a productive, high profile year. l took the dance and drill officers and cheerleaders dinner to thank them in advance for their year-long commitment. The list of organizations is long. The talks were tailored for each group, but almost always included a discussion of their responsibility to honor their respective uniform, or their group’s t-shirt or sweatshirt they proudly wore. In fact, the spirit members and I, in anticipation of our dinner date, would joke about what was coming. Their yearly question was, “Are you going to tell us the fish bowl story?” They were not being critical or disrespectful; they realized the need for every student to be reminded of their responsibilities and some thoroughly enjoyed the “story.” No matter what group I spoke to, I always tried to emphasize a few major points.

• Most of the organizations required a very difficult, very competitive tryout, audition or interview to gain membership. They knew that not every person would “make the cut.” Knowing this should make any student very proud and honored to have earned the uniform.

• The students asked to be placed in an extremely high profile organization when they tried out or auditioned. They needed to know their behavior, reputation, and dedication would be scrutinized 24 hours-a-day by teachers, parents, their classmates, and especially those who had not qualified to serve in the organization or be a member of the athletic team, thus the “fish bowl.”

• There would be those who would find delight in seeing them fail by doing something that would cause their removal from the organization.

• They would be idolized by much younger children they didn’t even know but whose desire was to someday be doing exactly what their idols were doing.

• Although quite unfair, when they would falter in a classroom, it was most likely their parent would not be notified. Their coach would be the person expected to fix the problem, to right the wrong.

Those students selected earned the publicity, the praise, and the glory from their fans, but all of it would be costly and come at a price not in terms of money, but because of the intense scrutiny that would come from the uniform they had chosen to wear.

A logical question that follows is, “What do student talks have to do with my profession or my role as a professional.” My response to teachers and administrators then and now is they must, “Honor the Profession,” and the uniform they wear. “But we don’t wear a uniform.” However, they do. The educator’s uniform is the suit and tie he wears, the class ring, the jeans worn on Fridays or spirit days, but it is also what he wears when he is away from school, when he goes to the beach, or when he goes out for an evening at a club. Like it or not, our uniform is what we wear, how we wear it, or how we behave 24 hours-a-day. Just like the students, we are judged by what we drink or by what we choose not to drink; what we smoke or choose not to smoke, who we hang out with or who we choose not to hang out with, and where we go or where we choose not to go.

I pledge that the work I submit is my own work. I

have neither given nor received any unauthorized

or unfair advantage.”

Princeton High School Academic Honor Code

Princeton, New Jersey

As educators how do we “Honor our Profession?” In short, we do this by accepting and enjoying all of the benefits we receive from our profession, but by also taking care of the sometimes-negative aspects of the job, just like our students. That responsibility will not always seem fair, but it is something we accepted when we decided to put on the “uniform.” For students the benefits are obvious.

• They receive accolades by merely running out on a field or court.

• They proudly call themselves PAL’s, honor society members, champions, cadets.

• Whether they desire it or not they are designated role models and leaders. Good or bad they are still leaders because of the uniform they have chosen to wear and by the talents they display that allow them to participate.

As educators, we reap similar benefits because of our positions:

• Our pay and benefits are improving.

• It must be earned but we receive respect and admiration in our communities.

• We enjoy well-deserved vacations.

• For many of us, we get to work in a profession that was a lifelong dream.

• Children look up to us and hope to be just like us some day.

• We are leaders; good leaders or bad leaders, like it or not, we are leaders.

However, just like our students, these benefits can be lost very easily. Just like our students, educators deal with a host of challenges. How we deal with those pressures, challenges, and responsibilities is how we honor our profession.

• Do we return calls promptly?

• Do we return those calls knowing the conversation will sometimes be difficult?

• We call ourselves professionals; do we honor that title even when parents or colleagues do not?

• Do we love students who make it difficult to love them; do we label them or categorize them based on one, two, or three bad decisions or behaviors? I hope not because not very many of us would be where we are today.

• Do we accept that our students’ success is primarily our responsibility?

• Do we return student work promptly?

• Do we spend the hours needed to assess students accurately?

• Do we share knowledge with our colleagues?

• Do we continue to learn and develop our craft?

This list can go on-and-on. I understand there are those who might argue several of the items listed above as benefits and the challenges and responsibilities that confront us as educators. I respect that. However, this is my profession too and although I sometimes fall terribly short in meeting my responsibilities, I do my best to “Honor the Profession” while living in the fish bowl. We are a nation built on honor; we are a nation rich with codes of honor and oaths that guide our lives.

On my honor I will do my best do my duty

To God and my country

And to obey the scout law;

To help other people at all times;

To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake

And morally strong.

The Boy Scout Oath

Now, if you will, repeat after me:

I am an American educator, and I will honor my profession.

KW