Subversion com4/12/2023 (She) becomes a teacher who engages in actions that are subversive and liberating.” She comes into the profession, she follows the curriculum, she does everything as it’s supposed to be practiced, but you see her actively work against what she sees as restrictive policies and systems that overlay teaching. She very much identifies as a rules follower. Melinda Anderson, author of Becoming a Teacher Why Subversion is NecessaryĪnderson starts our conversation by pointing out that Hall’s story does not start out as one of subversion rather, she evolves in that direction out of need. Here are some highlights from our interview. Anderson has written prolifically about education and equity for years now, and I knew that experience would give her a unique perspective on the topic, so I was excited when she said she’d be willing to give her take on this question: Is subversion a necessary part of being a master teacher? But when we planned our conversation about her book, I asked the author, Melinda Anderson, if we could focus on the theme of subversion, because it surfaced so many times in the narrative. It’s a book about a devoted, creative, award-winning teacher who impacted the lives of so many students. These decisions are not made to avoid work or for the sake of being defiant they arise from a perfect storm of knowing what your students need, learning best practices from educational research, and being stuck in a system where change comes slowly, if at all.īecoming a Teacher is not a book about subversion. Hall knew her decision was risky it could get her into trouble with her superiors, and because she is a Black teacher, she was assuming a greater personal and professional risk than if she were white.Īnd this kind of thing happens in classrooms everywhere: smart, qualified, ethical teachers breaking rules, finding work-arounds, and flying under the radar to do things in a way that aligns with their expertise and experience, not the way they are told to do them. This small but significant act of subversion is the kind of thing I’m talking about. The move resulted in far more students being engaged in and excited about the task of analyzing literature. The first instance of this was when she allowed students to opt out of reading the text required by her school’s curriculum, and instead choose something from Hall’s library of racially and culturally diverse books. Readers watch Hall struggle to find her voice as a first-year teacher, hook up with mentors who would support her growth, and work through the trial-and-error cycle of developing lessons that would reach the kids in her classes.Īs her career progresses, Hall also occasionally chooses to buck the system for the sake of her students. In the book, Anderson illustrates the complexities and joys of teaching by following the career of LaQuisha Hall, an English teacher in the Baltimore public school system. I’ve always kind of known this, but the idea really crystalized for me while I was reading Melinda Anderson’s new book, Becoming a Teacher. I’m talking about subversion, and I’ve come to the conclusion that if someone wants to be a master teacher, acts of subversion are a necessary part of the job. I’m talking about breaking the rules to do what’s best for kids. I’m not talking about helping a child get over a difficult academic hurdle or inspiring a class to try hard on a test. Because some of the best teachers perform revolutionary acts every day. Maybe you can picture a teacher’s strike, but beyond that, do you ever think of teachers as revolutionaries? I’m guessing that whatever you’re seeing in your mind, it’s not a teacher. When you hear the word “revolutionary,” what kind of person do you picture? Are they marching in the streets, fist in the air? Speaking passionately to crowds? Leading boycotts, strikes, demonstrations? When you make a purchase through these links,Ĭult of Pedagogy gets a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Sponsored by Teaching Channel and Listenwise Listen to my interview with Melinda Anderson ( transcript):
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