Originally posted October 2019
I remember growing up in the church. If, for any reason, I had to leave the worship service, my parents taught me to enter or exit the room between songs or prayers, and never during. I have always tried to be respectful of the service and the worshippers therein.
I do wish we could instill such a respect in the classroom. Other writers have written about the interruptions of a class period - door knockers, intercoms, and people entering and exiting freely as if nothing of value was happening inside. The last two weeks were especially bad:
It seemed like the intercom was calling us every five minutes or so, every time interrupting our flow of thought and causing me to have to refocus the class every time.
Can we possibly schedule things better and respect the lessons that are being taught? The time that it takes to readjust attention spans and maintain continuity is just not worth the interruption. People on the outside do not see what an interruption - even the simplest interruption - can do to a lesson. When my students are rolling with me, enthralled in the most suspenseful or intriguing portion of an experiment or a story, I need for them to stay with me. I don't need them taking little breaks from the lesson.
I do wish we could instill such a respect in the classroom. Other writers have written about the interruptions of a class period - door knockers, intercoms, and people entering and exiting freely as if nothing of value was happening inside. The last two weeks were especially bad:
- A local clinic pulled certain kids from class to provide free dental services.
- Parents checked their children out of school early for appointments.
- Parents brought lunches in the middle of our morning for their children.
- Kids had to pick up their birthday cupcakes from the office.
- The assistant principal checked in to see if there were any t-shirt orders.
- The class was called at a TBD-time to get pictures taken.
- The principal needed to check a technology issue.
- The counselor needed to see a child.
- Surprise announcements were made on the intercom about some minor matter or other.
It seemed like the intercom was calling us every five minutes or so, every time interrupting our flow of thought and causing me to have to refocus the class every time.
Can we possibly schedule things better and respect the lessons that are being taught? The time that it takes to readjust attention spans and maintain continuity is just not worth the interruption. People on the outside do not see what an interruption - even the simplest interruption - can do to a lesson. When my students are rolling with me, enthralled in the most suspenseful or intriguing portion of an experiment or a story, I need for them to stay with me. I don't need them taking little breaks from the lesson.
