Confused...

I don't know what it is about my profession, but my expectations are higher for my colleagues than the rest of society. I guess I feel that because teaching is such a noble profession, people who enter it must be "enlightened." I find that I am sometimes wrong.

I'm not wrong often, mind you. I can think of maybe five people with whom I've worked that were in the profession for the wrong reason. One of those five presented herself within the past week. We'll call her Angela.

In a calculated manner, Angela attacked a colleague in front of our principal....
because of an incident that occurred over three months ago...
which my colleague had already apologized for and tried to rectify.

Now I have to admit that I love this colleague like a sister. I understand this could influence my opinion on the matter. Regardless, I imagine myself in the same situation she was and know with every fiber of my being that I would feel the same way she does...violated, abused, spanked.

I know I am feeling this situation at a deeper level than just love for my friend and colleague. Why? Because I think it speaks to everything that I am having difficulty with in the teaching profession....

Lack of trust.
Lack of respect.
Lack of support.

Here we are in an environment where we should be supporting one another, and what does one of us do?
Attacks.
Criticizes.
Assaults.

How can we expect the public to trust, respect, and support us when we can't even do it for each other?
How can we expect our students to trust, respect, and support each other when we can't even do it for ourselves?

Teachers talk about accepting kids where they are at, yet we are unable to extend that courtesy to one another.

How sad that these few teachers who really don't get it have poisoned our system.

No wonder kids are confused.