On Wednesday the Elite Eight had the privilege of meeting with Marian Barksdale, who spoke about her role on the School Board here in Oxford. It was a delightful interview. Oddly, I think I was the most talkative of the Interns, mostly because I was mystified by the whole realm that seems so far above what I’ve seen.
But it’s really not so far above. Mrs. Barksdale is not disconnected from the world of the students, not floating off in some management position with only numerical data to consider. In the last half-decade she has taken it upon herself to tutor a young man going through the schools in her district. Her involvement in this young man’s life has kept her grounded in the realities of the school district, the problems that plague many of the students, and the difficulties of being a teacher.
I found most humorous her description of the politics of being on the Board. Everywhere she goes, someone has to tell her something about their kid or the school or the sports teams. She says she now budgets much more time if she ever goes to buy groceries; she will, without a doubt, run into someone with a problem, a question, or a suggestion. Many people know her and are comfortable approaching her as a member of the Board because her children are in the school district. So some parents know her through her children, and they have that route of access to her. But as much as she does have friends in this respect, she confessed the great difficulty she has in telling them that she cannot help them if they ask her to do or say something beyond her mandate. It’s difficult for her to look at another parent, a friend, and tell them to go elsewhere to get their request accomplished: “No, I can’t help you, but you can call the teacher, the coach, and the principal….”
I was especially interested because of my sneaking suspicion that I would enjoy some of the work of school administrators. But it would be a lot different from working directly with the students. I also don’t know if I would be able to handle the political stress of it. The “office politics” that come with teaching seem like they could be difficult enough. And I really like to get in and out of the grocery store in a timely manner.
Aside from my own curiosities, I have gained a good deal of respect for this level of administration. I had never realized how difficult it could be, and what kinds of powers they really had.
One thing that I took away is the imperative, if I would become a teacher, to be involved with the School Board—not necessarily to be on the Board, but to attend the meetings and take note of their needs and plans. It just seems like something a teacher ought to do….
But it’s really not so far above. Mrs. Barksdale is not disconnected from the world of the students, not floating off in some management position with only numerical data to consider. In the last half-decade she has taken it upon herself to tutor a young man going through the schools in her district. Her involvement in this young man’s life has kept her grounded in the realities of the school district, the problems that plague many of the students, and the difficulties of being a teacher.
I found most humorous her description of the politics of being on the Board. Everywhere she goes, someone has to tell her something about their kid or the school or the sports teams. She says she now budgets much more time if she ever goes to buy groceries; she will, without a doubt, run into someone with a problem, a question, or a suggestion. Many people know her and are comfortable approaching her as a member of the Board because her children are in the school district. So some parents know her through her children, and they have that route of access to her. But as much as she does have friends in this respect, she confessed the great difficulty she has in telling them that she cannot help them if they ask her to do or say something beyond her mandate. It’s difficult for her to look at another parent, a friend, and tell them to go elsewhere to get their request accomplished: “No, I can’t help you, but you can call the teacher, the coach, and the principal….”
I was especially interested because of my sneaking suspicion that I would enjoy some of the work of school administrators. But it would be a lot different from working directly with the students. I also don’t know if I would be able to handle the political stress of it. The “office politics” that come with teaching seem like they could be difficult enough. And I really like to get in and out of the grocery store in a timely manner.
Aside from my own curiosities, I have gained a good deal of respect for this level of administration. I had never realized how difficult it could be, and what kinds of powers they really had.
One thing that I took away is the imperative, if I would become a teacher, to be involved with the School Board—not necessarily to be on the Board, but to attend the meetings and take note of their needs and plans. It just seems like something a teacher ought to do….
1 comment:
Interesting. I have yet to attend a single board meeting. But! I am scheduled to attend one next Monday in my school district.
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