“I’ll just use my teacher voice.” I will wager that almost all of us have heard (or used) this statement more than once in our teaching careers. As teachers, we take pride in our ability to effectively communicate with others. Being able to fill a space so that others can absorb and internalize what we are saying is a skill that serves us well.
There are two situations that often cause us to use our trademark “teacher voice.” The first is when technology fails us, and we must provide our own amplification. I admit that I’m guilty of this one. With more than 30 years of teaching in a band room and in a gymnasium, I learned to make myself heard. The second one occurs when someone is not comfortable using a microphone (which never made any sense to me, but I’m a musician, so mics are just a part of my life).
The question I want to discuss is why does our comfort with our “teacher voice” seem to disappear when we need to advocate for ourselves? Many of us shrink away from speaking to others about conditions in our classrooms or in public education generally. Far too often, we allow others to advance views that we know are misleading at best and blatantly false at worst, without challenge. Why is that?
I believe that most teachers do not want to appear self-serving, so they shy away from advocating for the profession and for public education generally. We need to conquer this reticence because we, collectively, are the ones who can facilitate change. As Margaret Wheatley said, “We have to stop pretending we are individuals that can go it alone.” We can no longer close the door to our classrooms and just teach. Our voices are needed for public education to remain the best choice for Alberta students and parents.
How can this happen? How can this advocacy become comfortable for most Alberta teachers? Start small.
Join in the Red for Ed campaign by wearing red on Fridays and bargaining days. Teachers wearing red often gets noticed, and questions about the reason follow. Talk about how our issues are also issues for students. For many, advocating for others is less intimidating than advocating for oneself. Address the bigger picture. It’s not hard to address the data that says Alberta has the lowest per-student funding in the country as the system belongs to all Albertans, not just those of us who work on the inside.
Tell stories. A lesson I have learned both at the local and the provincial bargaining table is the power of the story. Government officials and trustees will place more credence on a story than numerical data and so will members of the public that you may be talking to. Challenges around class size or complexity lend themselves to storytelling quite nicely. Ask your school to host an ATA information meeting to feel better informed and more confident in telling your stories. This request can go to your local. Solidarity is also fundamental to success. We are stronger together and there is a degree of comfort when you know you’re not alone. Remember that school leaders are also teachers and allies and want the same things you do.
Do not forget the power of the vote. Use your voice and become part of a voting group that is too large to be ignored. Trustee elections will take place this fall, and Provincial Executive Council elections are under way now, with online voting taking place in March. Collective strength will always serve us well as we promote public education together.
So, you do not need to be the one with the microphone or the loudest voice to be heard. You do, however, need to find your own comfort zone in advocating for yourself, your colleagues and for public education. When more than 40,000 whispers are combined in a united message, the result will be deafening! I challenge you to use your “teacher voice”!
ATA Past President
