A cute op ed from a New York Times education reporter on the many strange and amazing skills teachers have that nobody really thinks about. Like giving great instructions:

One of my all-time favorite moments covering the New York City public school system occurred just before Christmas in 2003, at Public School 28 in Harlem. About 50 or 60 second graders, onstage in the school auditorium, serenaded Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein with a perfect rendition of "Feliz Navidad."

When the singing stopped, Mr. Bloomberg applauded. "Children, that was beautiful," he said. "Now, what I want you to do is say 'Merry Christmas' and 'Happy New Year,' first in Spanish, then in English."

The problem was not a language barrier - nearly all of the children at P.S. 28 are bilingual - but rather the mayor's notion that he could give four simultaneous commands to a group of 7-year-olds, as if they were his aides in the bullpen at City Hall or executives at his company, Bloomberg L.P.

Still, the students who had just finished singing so sweetly in unison dutifully tried to grant Mr. Bloomberg's request.

"Meyeow, weow, eowah, eiwash, iwah," they mumbled. Or something like that.

Working with children looks easy. It is not.

Teachers, much like doctors or other highly trained professionals need to be methodical, careful, and thoughtful. It's not magic.

This reminds me of a favorite family anecdote. Some of you know my father, Syd Lieberman, who is a Golden Apple Fellow and storyteller. Well, he was in the hospital many years ago, because he'd had a heart arrhythmia. The medication hadn't worked to reset his heart rhythm, so the doctor said they were going to have to shock him.

Syd: Oh cool! It's going to be like ER, with everyone running around and yelling "CLEAR!"
Doctor: Mr. Lieberman, you're a teacher right?
Syd: Right.
Doctor: Have you seen Dead Poet's Society?
Syd: Of course.
Doctor: Well, is teaching like that?

Labels: conversations