PConvos

Some of the best conversations I have are around the photocopier. It's one of the places we all congregate. So to pay homage to the machine that can make or break our day, to share via technology the impromptu conversations that happen there, I give you "PConvos."

PC..as in PhotoCopy, or perhaps Professional Conversation? Or maybe slightly wickedly, as in "Politically Correct" is intended to be a thought, or observation, or question to spark conversations in the mail room, during shared duties, at the water fountain, and of course, the photocopier! 

One of the things that my old job allowed was time for professional conversations. Colleagues had time to meet formally (or not) and to discuss what we were reading, to talk over challenging situations in the classroom or the college, or to ask each other questions. 

Anyone who spends one day as a high school teacher knows that kind of time does not exist in a public school setting. 

Sometimes I think we deprive ourselves of any rare opportunity for meaningful professional conversations by moving too quickly from problem to solution. Sometimes, I observe that we become our own worst students, and act in ways that do more to demonstrate our frustrations and perceived lack of autonomy than to be open-minded, thoughtful, professionals. Other times, the timing is poor, like the afternoon before a vacation, or we're all strung-out from grading, prepping, and teaching. 

So...I'm puttin' some stuff out there, trying to give life to conversations around education issues...if I've pricked your professional pride, or offended you in some way, and you need to unload...do so in the comments section of the blog. Or by school email. Or private email to me. I don't intend to offend, but would like, once in a while, to engage in conversations with colleagues. I always learn something new. Perhaps this could be BAHS' version of the editorial page of the newspaper. 

"PConvos" will be part of the title and also the tag...coming soon!