The Power of Part-time
Watching with interest the increase in teachers going part-time. Recent article in TES (reference to follow). My dear Mum always drummed into me the importance of finding part-time work, as a mother, as a human being. There is a lot to be said for it, certainly when it comes to raising children.
Everyone’s looking for the life/work balance. And rightly so. So many people under-employed, so many people over-employed. Can’t we share it around?
Teacher’s stress levels seem a good enough reason to look for an increase in a part-time workforce. When we have time away to refresh and reflect, we come back richer for it.
One thing I am noticing at The Dharma School is the number of part-time teachers. It gives them the chance to co-teach, to share their experiences of the classroom. There are also a wonderful group of assistants and specialists moving through the small (75 child) school, enabling a healthy range of relationships.
Today, the biggest issue seems to be the co-teaching one. When we think about learning in community, we think about dialogue and shared reflection.
This was really strong in the school’s in Reggio Emilia I’ve been researching. Every class involved two teachers working together seen as equals, albeit at different stages of development. Then of course there was the local and regional involvement of the Pedagogista who would automatically be able to offer a conduit for the transfer of good practice and a meta perspective.
I want to keep looking at this, personally and in terms of further research.
Wonder what others think?