Teacher Voice: How Not to Be a Bobble-Head Doll

"Vox pop". I often heard this term from my husband when he was still working as a field producer in news/ media/ broadcasting. He usually referred to it as random interviews on the street giving spontaneous opinions about important political or social issues. This morning, he was telling me how difficult it was to find balance of opinions when editing interview materials so I asked "how do you get the authentic voice of the people in an environment where they are hesitant to speak up...maybe because they are afraid or they haven't found their 'voice' yet?" 

Coincidentally, I saw this excellent article from a colleague in CTQ's Teacher Leaders Network...

Truly engaging with "teacher voice" means taking seriously the collective and individual expression of teachers' professional opinions, writes José Vilson in her recent article in Education Week, Teacher Voice: How not to Be a Bobble-Head Doll. 

She offered a few ways we can discover and refine our own "teacher voices."

Know why you're speaking up. Sandy, an 8th grade engineering and math teacher, says that Chip and Dan Heath's Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard helped him pinpoint his goals: "Potential teacher leaders can cultivate their identity by wrestling with three questions posed by the Heaths: 'Who am I? What kind of a situation am I in? What does someone like me do in this kind of situation?'"

Accentuate the positive. We should play to our strengths, argues Justin in Arkansas. "As teachers, we know how to be constructive, tapping into our students' strengths and interests and viewing deficits as opportunities for growth. We have a better chance of proposing system-shaking changes if we focus on the positive potential outcome rather than the negative current reality."

Own your expertise. Even when "teacher voice" is invited, we often let others be the experts in the room. But when we value and articulate our experiences in the classroom, our expertise can be as powerful as the perspectives of researchers, consultants, administrators, philanthropists, and other education types. The qualitative and quantitative data we have about our school communities qualifies us to speak up.

Find a balance between the emotional and rational. I've noticed that people really listen to teachers who know how to tell relevant, compelling stories with a clear demonstration of passion for the job. An effective story proves a point and includes vivid details.

And of course, we must make clear why we are telling our stories and sharing data: We must tell people what we hope they will do.

Keep students in mind. Critics often shame us for discussing matters like salaries and pensions. As professionals, we have no reason to feel ashamed of wanting to improve our economic standing. But some people don't "get it" yet. When talking with those individuals and groups, I've found that putting students at the center of the conversation can help.

For instance, most parents wouldn't want to send their children to a school where the teacher has a hard time getting materials for the classroom or works another job just to make ends meet. Critics who deride conversations about salaries as being "about the adults" have a harder time making their case when teachers frame the conversation around students' needs.

Accept that you will make mistakes and learn from them. Jane in California admires her colleagues who are "naturals" at public speaking, but she says, "For me, practice makes … better. My first interview with a reporter was a disaster! I said 'and' over and over again because I couldn't let there be any silence between questions. After a few more interviews, I have learned to use 'think time' to gather my thoughts and say what I need to say."

Seek opportunities to speak up—even small ones. Julie, a media specialist, notes: "I ask questions all the time, because I believe that if we can't explain why we are doing something, we shouldn't be doing it. ... I don't always get the answer I want to hear (ever heard 'because the district said so'?) ... but it's a start."

Music teacher Cathy finds inspiration in this quote from Kyle Chandler: "Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door." She adds, "If we as teachers are not asking the challenging questions, or speaking up when we feel strongly about something, then we have no right to complain about the mess we are in right now. Do something! Do anything! But do it with confidence, compassion, and intelligence."

Linda in California advises, "When identifying entry points, it's helpful to go for an early win that is easily done, where the most change can be produced for the least effort. And then build up and out from there as others begin to own the plans and outcome. Change is possible, but takes deliberate identification of what kind of change and how to step toward it."

Don't just nod. We need to communicate assertively (but, of course, respectfully) with groups that seek to engage our "teacher voices." If they genuinely want to benefit from our expertise, we should be invited early in the conversation—not just to nod at the end.

Choose to use your voice. In our conversation within TLN, many of my colleagues pointed out that speaking up is an individual choice. It requires an investment of time and can sometimes be risky.

Here's how Cheryl, who teaches kindergarten, puts it: "When teachers close their doors, cover their ears, and shut their eyes, I totally get it. And I respect their choice. It's a deeply personal choice for me to speak up. I know how to do so articulately, with research to support my position, and with the utmost respect for the other person’s perspective. I just wish others would join me."

Me, too.

I'm always glad when my colleagues get invited to speak at prestigious panels or join important consortia on legislation or implementation. But more of us must choose to use our voices at the local and national level if we are to have significant input on the policies that affect our students and our profession.
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What are we waiting for? Let's use our "teacher voice" loud and proud!!