Reflections

Reflection: As I mentioned in my blog and discussion postings, I was dreading the “research” of this course. I was sure that this would be a time intensive and difficult course. I was not looking forward to trying to keep my head above water while preparing for the upcoming school year. Thankfully, it was not nearly as difficult as I had imagined. Action research has a need in today’s schools. I see that as teacher and administrators, it can provide the support we need to make changes at our school while providing the all too important documentation that everyone is always clamoring for. As an administrator, I hope that I am able to dedicate the time that I need to, to continually use this technique. The readings in the Dana text indicated something that I had always associated with principals. “In the harried, everyday firefighting experience of the principal, a definite and very real impediment to engaging in inquiry is time!” (Dana p.15)This quote hit a nerve with me. I have been under the impression that the principal could be associated with a king or judge. He/she kind of sits atop the mountain and directs the ones below to complete the labors. However, I am coming to realize that this is not a fair or valid depiction. As a teacher I have been guilty of resentment toward principals who assigned tasks that I felt were a waste of my time. However, as I have worked through this course as well as the others in this program, I have learned that a principal could be in the least enviable position within a school. Many times the tasks that are assigned by the principal are not necessarily their own creations. They are directed by the central office to make these things happen. Also, as an aspiring principal, I have heard the way some teachers pay lip service to the principal and then the story changes depending upon the audience. I also see that I don’t have nearly enough experience for all the different projects that a principal has to direct and complete on a daily basis. Maybe that is what the quote brought forward for me.
Also, as an aspiring administrator, I see through this course that it takes a special calling to lead a group of type A personality people to help some of the most difficult beneficiaries. Realistically, most students don’t see the real need for school. They view it as a chore where teachers see it as a golden opportunity. I truly enjoy teaching. I just hope that I can lead a school with the same enthusiasm that I currently hold for teaching. This course has been a reality check for me. I am starting to see that there is so much more to being an administrator that I had not previously considered. The good news is that I am still very enthusiastic about completing this program and earning my degree. The bad news is that I now am starting to realize the scope of this undertaking and it is daunting.
As a final reflection, I must mention the assignments. I am undecided on the validity of some of the assignments. I just have to mention this because there have been times during this course where I was unsure of the reasoning behind the assignment. It may be due to the proximity of the beginning of the next school year and the stress that is associated with that. However, there are times when I question whether the assignment is “busy work” just to make the students feel as though the money is well spent. I know that this is probably an unfair evaluation of the assignments. But, this is also something that I have struggled with during the completion of this course.