How do you maintain the illusion of dedication?
Monday, April 15, 2013 at 05:20AM 
The over-flowing briefcase, milk carton, or conference bag lugged home each night full of papers to grade, lessons to prepare, journals to be read, and books to be studied has been the hallmark of the dedicated educator. Our work as professionals always extends beyond the regular school day and most of us prefer to work at our kitchen table rather than at our classroom desk. The image of the educator straining under tons of paperwork being humped home is so nearly archetypal that both peers and the public viewas a slacker anyone who does not bring work home.
I spend as much or more time doing school "work" at home yet I no longer even carry a computer bag, simply grabbing my iPad to take to meetings. 99% of my work is online - digital, not paper work - with the exception of a few print journals that detour by my house before hitting the recycling bin.
Still, going home more or less empty-handed makes me feel guilty.
How does one visibly demonstrate that one works outside the regular day without the bulging bags of paper as evidence?
Source
Reader Comments (8)
I just try to maintain the "haggard professional" look. Shirt and tie, but just enough bloodshot in the eyes and cramp in the shoulders that you can tell I've been laboring over a screen for hours and no amount of coffee will make it go away. =)
I haven't had an office this year due to renovations and my backpack has become unbearable...it's not paper though, mostly remotes, extra batteries, chap-stick, breath-mints (for the coffee breath), and all of the adapters that I never seem to have enough of that can save a teacher's day. Wait until we're all wearing tech goggles...we'll have to perfect a "weight-of-the-world" look so people know how important we are, we won't even have the tablet to carry around!
I see your post for what it is, really I do. But I am gonna put out a shout-out for changing the mindset that we SHOULD be overworked or SHOULD be working past regular school hours. I'm a mom of two small kids, a dedicated educator and professional, and (I'll state it here though I'm humble at work) a KICKASS school librarian. Guess what - I take and do no work at home except for the thoughts in my head.
The key to my life is efficiency. And while many teachers go home with the papers out of necessity, many others (and I WAS an English teacher in an urban public school with a student load of 170 (170!) before this so I speak from experience) could be more efficient.
Let's celebrate the workers in our lives who are efficient as well as reward those with the aching shoulders and the bloodshot eyes. I prove my efficiency every day and don't need to demonstrate my competence with proof. I just am living proof.
Booya!!
Dan,
Sounds like you've given this some serious thought. Appreciate the tips!
Can't wait for the glasses!
Doug
Hi Sarah,
I didn't say we SHOULD be overworked. But we should all certainly APPEAR to be overworked. Job security.
I genuinely appreciate efficiency - and delegation.
Doug
I find responding to emails and meeting invites after 10:00 PM or before 6:30 AM convincing evidence of my dedication. [Just kidding to those colleagues of mine who may read this. I really am that dedicated. zzzzz]
Wear flip flops - too busy to tie shoe laces...
Hi Bill,
There must be an email add-on that lets you set when emails are sent. I'd hate to have to wake up in the middle of the night to do this!
Doug
Hi Kenn,
And here it was always because I thought flip-flop wearers were to lazy to tie shoes. Now I understand.
Doug
It's not just the stuff. It's the device. If I sit at a meeting with my laptop, that seems to be okay, even if I'm just checking email/my feeds. But if I do the exact same thing on my phone I might get the stinkeye. I know many people text/tweet/play angry birds or whatever on their phones but some of us also check our PLN, our email, take notes, etc.
Hey, Ninja, you don't have to convince me. I know you for the dedicated professional you are. So where on the "suspicion" scale does tablet use fall? Are you more likely to be viewed as a slacker with an iPad Mini than with a regular size?
Enjoyed the observation - you're right.
Doug