Saved By the Bell isn't perfect. Wow...you don't know how hard it was to write that for me. But its true. One of my few complaints about the show is how every athletic competition that Bayside High was involved with...they won! Slater always won his wrestling matches, the football team always came out on top (even with maroon-covered faces!), "Running Zack" won his track meet races, and even Screech was chess champion. Obviously it makes for better television to portray winning rather than losing, but its completely unrealistic! Sometimes even our favorite teams/characters lose...and that's okay!
This comes to mind for me, because a new football season is about to begin. I am an extremely passionate fan of the Philadelphia Eagles. I keep track of their record, the results of their last game, and their upcoming game on my whiteboard for my students to see. I play the Eagles fight song on Mondays after big victories as students walk in my classroom (I have also learned not to grade student work during or after games in case the Eagles lose and I consider taking out my frustration). Like every fan for any pro sports team, when the season begins, I have an incredible sense of optimism that this is the year...this is the year the Eagles win it all...this is the year that won't end in disappointment...this is the year I'll get to run around my school campus the day after the Super Bowl to remind everyone who are the champions. A new season brings new hope and renewed devotion for the team I love.
Isn't this the same feeling that all teachers have at the beginning of a new school year? We have the optimism that every student has great potential, we have the energy to spend extra time to prepare for the year, we are reminded of the fervor that drove us into teaching in the first place, and a fire is rekindled in our hearts. Sure there may be sadness that our summer break is over and we return to a daily work routine, but for the most part, there is excitement and anticipation in the voices of teachers as they talk about the start of a new year.
But how come that fire doesn't last? Why do teachers feel burnt out by Christmas (or worse, Veteran's Day)? In football, my optimism can start to fade when the Eagles lose games they "should" win or injuries strike some key players. I get discouraged and start to give up on the season, even if there are several games left to play. Similarly, we teachers can lose hope if we are met with challenges early on. If our students don't meet our expectations and struggle, we could fall into the trap of giving up on the "season." We might assume that things cannot be turned around and a feeling of despair, bitterness, and/or cynicism might set in. What kind of fan would I be if I gave up on the Eagles after a loss? What kind of teacher would I be if I quit on my students after a single test, essay, or project?
We owe it to every one of our students to do whatever it takes to maintain throughout the school year the same drive and optimism that we have at the start of the year. Unlike Saved By the Bell, there will be losses. Obstacles will come up unexpectedly and we will have to weather the storm to get past the negative and stay positive. Our students know when we throw in the towel. It shows in our attitude when we teach. When they see us quit, they will consider quitting too. As a new school year begins alongside football season, my goal is to be a passionate and dedicated fan of both my Eagles and my 7th, 8th, and 11th grade students.
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