Awards vs. Rewards and Why I Prefer RE-wards

I'll always prefer RE-wards to A-wards and here's why:

You've met one or seen one. There are just some people who don't feel validated if they're not receiving accolades (not only in education, either). I am in NO WAY saying that they aren't good teachers. There's a reason teachers receive awards. They typically ARE amazing and doing a fabulous job that deserves recognition. I'm also not saying that everyone who receives an award is hungry for attention or awards. However, I receive many things that I'll call a RE-ward.

I'm not writing this for someone to think I'm just wonderful because I make mistakes all the time. That's part of being an adult and an educator. There's no way a person can be in education and not make mistakes. I work with and have worked with some seriously amazing people. The examples I'm using here I'm sure many of them and other educators out there can relate to. I'm using these examples because they are my examples and the ones I know best. Based on my examples, I'll explain why I just love getting what I call a RE-ward.

I know what you're thinking. "Wow! I'm so surprised! No award? You're such a good teacher. You build such cool relationships with kids. They seem to like you and your classes so much!" True, true. ;) And that, is what I call a RE-ward.

When I started this school year, like I do every year, I asked kids why they are taking the classes that I teach. For a number of them, it's because they need one more science credit. For another number of them, it's because they had room in their schedule and it sounded interesting. This year, there were a number of them whose only reason was, "because you teach it." Here's the thing. Most of those kids who said that don't need another science credit. They don't need any additional credit. They know that my door is always open and they are welcome to sit in my room on an open period. But, they chose to sit in my classroom, learn something and do work simply because that's where I am. I call that a RE-ward.

I added a new twist to my classes this year. It's actually a reward system for students. They helped decide on the behaviors that would received rewards and consequences. They also decided on the prizes available at the two checkpoints during the year. Wondering what my point to all of that is, yet? We started discussing this on Thursday. By Saturday, I'd had SEVERAL people mention to me that they'd heard about it. I've even heard kids correcting each other OUTSIDE of my classroom based on what the appropriate behavior is INSIDE my classroom. I call that a RE-ward.

Kids know who they can trust. They know who they can turn to. They know who will genuinely care about them. They also know who will call them out when they need it. I've heard kids say things like, "Don't lie to Mrs. Lumley. She always knows." I've also had kids tell me that someone else told them I was a good person to talk to. I truly love it when a student asks me for advice, to be a reference for a job, or even for a letter of recommendation. That means that this person thinks highly enough of me to ask me for something very important and personal. I call that a RE-ward.

Here's the thing. Students come and go. Curriculum comes and goes. Mandates, programs, standards, and acronyms are forever coming and going. Awards come and go. School years come and go. Summers come and go. Jobs even come and go. Sometimes, even those relationships built will come and go because life is funny that way. The one thing that won't come and go is that feeling of accomplishment when a student "gets it". That little bit of humbling when someone takes a class because it's your class also won't go. The feeling of PRIDE watching students master things that they find scary will never, ever go. That, in a nutshell is what I call a RE-ward.

According to Dictionary.com:

Award: a prize or other mark of recognition given in honor of an achievement.
Reward: something given or offered in return for a service or accomplishment.

Based on these definitions, I feel a RE-ward will always be greater than an A-ward. Here's why. An award is recognition. A reward is given or offered. An award doesn't give a teacher a feeling of pride or accomplishment like a RE-ward does. An accomplishment is what comes when something has been successfully achieved. Watching my students be successful in their achievements both inside and outside my classroom will always be my RE-ward.

 ***A little addendum. I WAS honored several years ago by a student who received a prestigious award as her teacher of recognition. That was amazing. Again, I see that as a RE-ward.  

Why Do We Cry?

Can I just tell you that I am extraordinarily proud of my sons? If you know me well, you likely already know this. Here's a little you may not know. When they were contemplating their school, the coach and band director got into a bidding war over their scholarships and there were three offers on the table from the one school. Their high school band directors and coaches had spoken well of them and they both wanted the boys involved. Due to NAIA rules, they couldn't accept both scholarships, but, did take the biggest one, the sports one. However, they are at school early this week for Music Camp in preparation for their music degrees. So, why do I cry?

I cry because I'm proud. Those little six pound babies are six foot (almost) men. They've grown (almost) into their bodies. They've matured (almost) into strong leaders. They've learned (almost) as much as I can teach them. And, so, I cry.

I cry because I will miss them. They each have their own funny quirks that I will miss. They each have their own funny sayings that I will miss. They each have their own funny way of showing love that I will miss. They each have their own funny way of getting under my skin that I will miss. They each have their own funny way being a part of the bigger thing we call a family that I will miss. And, so, I cry.

I cry because it's an end. What?! They're not dead, ya know... Yes. I know. But, all those quirks, sayings, loves, irritations, and being part of the family is the beginning of a sort of "slow death" or an end. I'm not being morbid here but, it's an end. I'm being realistic because it's an end. Sometimes, big changes can feel like a death in that the way of life you've been used to for 18 years is now at an end. In the same way that life goes on after the death of a loved one, it goes on after a kid or two goes to college because every beginning has an end. You still have to go to work, cook, clean, eat, and raise the other kids so they can go off to college when it's their turn because it will be their end. And, so, I cry.

I cry because it's a beginning. It's the beginning of a new era. It's the beginning of a new way of life. It's the beginning of a new life for them. It's the beginning of their new normal. It's the beginning of our new normal. It's the beginning of their new lives. It's the beginning of independence. It's the beginning of new freedoms. It's the beginning of them having a life outside of me. And, so, I cry.

I cry because I won't be there to see the changes. They'll be making friends whose parents I won't know and I won't be there. They'll be getting themselves out of bed and I won't be there. They'll be going to classes and doing assignments and I won't be there. They'll be eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner and I won't be there. They'll be doing their laundry and I won't be there. And, so, I cry.

I cry because I'm happy. I've given them enough room that they were comfortable enough to leave and that makes me happy. I've given them enough structure that they got themselves out of bed on time on their first day away and that makes me happy. I've given them enough personality that they're already out there and establishing themselves and that makes me happy. I've given them enough discipline that they've excelled in multiple areas and that makes me happy. And, so, I cry.

I cry because I'm their mom. And, so, I cry.

An Open Letter to Betsy DeVos

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Dear Betsy,

May I call you Betsy? I feel I have earned the right to this bit of familiarity. Why do I feel I have earned this right? Here’s why. The thousands of dollars I have in student loans that were acquired at a University splattered with the DeVos name is why I feel I have earned that bit of familiarity.

Betsy, I am a teacher and a (twice) graduate of Lee University. I was SO excited when I saw that you had been nominated for Secretary of Education. I asked my husband (also a Lee graduate), “Is that Betsy DeVos as in THE DeVos family?!” All I ever knew was the wonderful altruism and support of education that came from the DeVos name. It was one of the first names I heard as a scared freshman many years ago. So long ago, in fact, that Lee wasn’t even a university, yet. Just Lee College.

Betsy, I am heartbroken. I had high hopes until these hearings. I really thought that the support of education I had seen all those years ago would filter into this nomination and (at the time, hopefully) your appointment. I have kept quiet and adopted a “wait and see” approach when others were so negative about this. I seriously thought you were going to be the ace in the hole for public education. I mean, a family that was SO devoted to higher education had to believe in education, in general, right?

Betsy, it’s starting to look like I was wrong and I write this with tears in my eyes. Why have you not educated yourself on education? Public education, in particular. Why have you not taken the time to talk to educators? You seem to think public schools are still “reading, writing, and arithmetic”. We are SO much more. We are STEM, we are arts, we are language, we are relational, we are sports, we are clubs, we are hygiene, we are food, we are shelter, and we are LOVE.

Betsy, what we are not is a moneymaking machine. Public schools are not about the dollar signs you seem to be seeing. Public schools are not about the companies that try to profit from selling their multitude of products to us, constantly. We are bombarded with “new and better” all the time. Everyone has the “latest and greatest” thing in education. Guess what, half the time, their newest thing doesn’t last beyond a semester or a year, if we’re lucky. How many of those companies do you have investments with?

Betsy, do you have any idea how many hours per year teachers in public schools spend trying to better themselves? Do you have any clue how many of the things you are trying to say are a better idea are actually happening on a daily basis within our public schools? Schools have not been “one size fits all” since before I was in high school. And, Betsy, no offense intended, but, you’re not much younger than my own mother. Maybe that’s why your notion of public schools is so antiquated.

Betsy, I URGE you to spend some time in public schools and with public school teachers. I BEG you to try to understand why people are so upset. I IMPLORE you to put yourself into the shoes of the people who go in day after day and try to make a difference. I BESEECH you spend 9 hours a day in a public school and see exactly what is happening there. Our day starts at 8:00. Between 7:30 and 8:00 this morning, I dealt with students dealing with a pregnancy scare, a relationship breakup, and a poor home life. I also had to make copies and get ready for my first class of the day during that time.

Betsy, I am extending to you a personal invitation to come visit me for the day. I’d love to show you what it’s really like in a public school. I’d love to show you the differentiation that’s happening. I’d love to show you the programs we have in place for students who struggle, who don’t struggle, and who do well. I’d like for you to see how we care for students who are hungry, who are cold, who need a home other than a shelter. It would be great for you to watch us include students in sports, academics, and arts. I’d love for you to see how ONE teacher and ONE classroom can encompass all of that and still have successful, well adjusted, engaged students who come to school and want to learn, feel safe, and feel valued.

Betsy, come on down to the trenches and see how the soldiers work. See how the soldiers march. See how the soldiers soldier on in light of all the things thrown at them from so many generals who’ve never stepped foot into a classroom (except on paper) to tell them how to be a good soldier.