As our nation prepares for a new administration, we thought we'd add a new member to our "blogging cabinet." Meet Partnership for Learning Guest Blogger Irene Smith: Irene teaches 6th, 7th and 8th grade Language Arts and Social Studies at the Discovery Lab School in the Yakima School District. She graduated from Utah State University in 1984 and earned her Early Adolescence/English Language Arts National Board Certification in 2004. Irene produces an annual Shakespeare play for her students with the assistance of parents and community volunteers. And she enjoys grant-writing for her classroom and case-study writing for the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession.

Irenic Idealism

Far away and long ago, in a beautiful valley nestled in the Utah mountains, an Education professor remarked on my student teaching evaluation, “I wonder how long it will take for reality to destroy Irene’s idealism about teaching.”

My understanding of idealism is that it is to have ideals and live under their influence. Using that definition, I truly hope that I never lose it. Because, you see, I love teaching. I love my students.

There it is.

When you love something, it can’t be half-hearted. It can’t be the minimum and be done. When you love something or someone, you want what is best for it or them. You fight for what is best for those you love.

So I guess the question my professor might ask now is, “Given the realities of everyday education, has Irene given up the fight?” After 23 years in the profession, have I given up the good fight?

I’ll admit that I am a tired warrior. I work so hard in and out of the classroom, that I don’t have the energy for the major battles. Where I used to provide my concerns and ideas to state legislative action, to District committees and at local school board meetings, my voice is now of more limited scope to best focus on the young charges I see each day. I might lend my two cents when asked, but I guess I’m in minor skirmish mode now.

Does that mean I’ve lost my idealism? Absolutely, resoundingly, NO.

I really believe there are better ways to teach and learn in our current system. I believe it is my solemn responsibility to give my students and their families all I can. I want my students to know and experience the world. I want them to be discriminating consumers of information and to feel and use the power of their words to influence others.

So, in my classroom, I provide opportunities to connect outside our classroom, I invite and challenge my students to learn and think and dispute and agree. I encourage and demand excellent writing and passionate public speaking. I seek training and read as much as I can to find the best strategies and techniques. I grieve when I don’t measure up to my aspirations, but then I resolve to do better.

Earning National Board Certification helped me examine my teaching practice systematically and gave me more venues for learning and sharing what I know. The Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession assisted me in improving my advocacy skills and taught me how to use my experiences for case study writing to help other teachers with similar challenges.

I may not be a lion in championing my belief in excellent schools, but I work extremely hard everyday to make sure that my own room, my own school, is as good as I have the energy to make it.

I AM an Idealist! So, Professor, the answer is, “NEVER!”