In any institution it is important to have a mission statement and to have goals. The British Columbia Ministry of Education is in the process of revising the entire curriculum from Kindergarten through Grade 12. In the past when this was done a team of experts would meet, print out what everyone's objectives would be, and expect all teachers to fall in line. The documents were good, but this was certainly a top down approach to administration, and the old curriculum clearly did not meet the needs of the 21st century learner.
Today the approach is completely different. A small group of administrators is working with groups of teachers to create a new curriculum. This is then sent to larger groups of teachers for review, feedback is given and revisions are made. This creates a living and evolving document. It also respects the fact that teachers today are highly trained professionals; more than a few of us have Master's degrees. We know what we are doing and we love what we do.
It is important to know that one is not simply a cog in the wheel, but a real stakeholder in something much bigger than oneself. The Ministry's approach certainly allows for this. Each school district, each school, each department in each school, and indeed every teacher can have their own mission statement which contributes to the mission of the whole. This then transmits from the teacher to each student, for in our rapidly changing world it is important for our young people to have goals and to be able to adapt to the ever evolving road ahead.
Regardless of the subject I am teaching, I seek to create happy memories, and to inspire each student to achieve their greatness. These are my goals and this is what I am thinking of with each lesson I plan, each and every day that I walk into the school, and each time students walk into my classroom. I know that some days will be better than others, but I trust that in the end these goals will be achieved.
In order to gauge my progress, at the end of every semester I give my students the opportunity to evaluate my course. I ask if they enjoyed the course and if I was fair. I ask if they plan to continue to study the subject further and if not, why. I also ask them how the course has changed them and what memories they take from their experience.
I was taken aback by a statement from a Grade 12 student in my social justice class, where we focus a great deal on genocide, the ultimate crime against humanity. She said, "I liked how you turned the sadness into a way that we as a class and a society can make a change....This class has given me many new ideas on how to better myself and also the people around me."
Know where you are going and be true to that aim. As a teacher working with sacred individuals and working to meet the goals of our educational system, I can say with confidence that the future is indeed very bright.
