Chameleons I. Assimilation
Color Codes-‐ Teacher vs. Learners “Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource” -‐ John F. Kennedy
Color Code 1 Understanding Assimilation 身為教師，很多的時候我們要呈現很多不同面，有的時候是幽默的一面，有 的時候是優雅的一面，有的時候更是嚴格、有規範的一面，所以我們是有很多的方 式及相貌來面對這些孩子。當一個學生出狀況的時候，我們也要記得用很多不同的 方法，來處理手上的情況。於是，「變色龍教育」這本書因應而生。。
Ever since I started teaching, I have been trained to “Let the Main Thing be
the Main Thing”. In the realm of education, the main thing is the children. If they are acquiring the skills that they need, both socially and academically, in order to be a contributing member of the society, then we have done our jobs. The main thing about whom we teach and what they need in order to learn depends on the quality of teachers. And teacher quality is the number one indicator for student
achievement (Izumi & Evers, 2002). For students in poor and minority schools, teacher quality is especially important and closely associated with student success.
Assimilation War
One of my favorite things to do before the first day of school is to stand near
the office entrance and listen to conversations taking place among families reading the class lists posted outside of the school office. I will always remember this one conversation between a former student of mine and her brother that helped me see how students crave discipline, appreciate authority, and embrace respect. When done in a caring yet firm fashion, students “get it”. Examining carefully, the then already graduated sister said, “Oh… You are in Dr. Huang’s class! You’re gonna get it! You better shape up now, or… Oh, you better watch it. She is SO strict!!” Standing hidden by the door, I was puzzled for a few seconds as I listened in on the dialogue, thinking, “I thought this girl enjoyed my class and loved my approach… She does not sound very positive now…”
But before I was able to complete my thought, she threw her arms around
her brother and squealed, “You are so lucky!!! You have Dr. Huang! You got Dr. Huang!!” I then realized that, as my pupil, she knew how hard I was on the students, but she also understood how that was necessary. She knew the authority figure in the classroom cared; and she was willing to work as hard as she could in order to meet that high level of expectation. Now that her brother was assigned to my class, she was overjoyed that he, too, would receive the same level of care.
Chameleon in Plain Sight
Growing up in Taiwan, I was every teacher’s nightmare. It was not that I
wanted to be a trouble, but I recalled wanting to see how far I could push a teacher until she/he would push back. But no one ever did. Born as daughter of a highly respected heart surgeon in Taipei, every teacher I ever had treated me as some kind of royalty. They overlooked my mischiefs, downplayed my altercation with other students, and praised me for anything that I did as long as I showed up. I did not want to try, school was “dumb”, I needed a strong teacher who could see through me and tell me, “Wen Wen, it’s time to get with the program.” It wasn’t until second year in middle school, I had a history teacher whom, I was sure, was at least 120 years old. He had long white beard that only Confucius would fashion, and a pair of thick spectacles resembling the silly glasses people would wear for Halloweens sitting right on the bridge of his nose. He required all of us to write daily journals and notes with a bamboo writing brush. Yes, seriously, a bamboo brush. Naturally, I thought of the request as most unreasonable, and I was not going to use such antiquated method when there was a ball pen sitting nicely in my desk. Then a thought came to me: This teacher is so old, there is no way that he will be able to see what we write in the journal entries or reports. Why waste time writing them? I tested my assumption by turning in the first assignment written with a full page of scribbles. He did not say anything. Then another assignment. I carefully observed him as he handed it back to me with his trembling hands. It worked! “He could not see,” I thought to myself. Armed with that new-‐ found realization, I decided to turn in the rest of the assignments and tests by scribbling across the pages.
Came midterm evaluation, our tasks was to write a ten-‐page essay about one
of the dynasties. I was the first to turn in my paper. I even handed it in with both hands (a sign of respect in Taiwan) as I smiled about my ingenious way of handling this class. Two days later, I was called into the teacher’s office. My history teacher, sitting upright in his rattan chair, slowly removed his eyeglasses as he leaned forward to take a closer look of me. Not to be intimidated by this old man, I pulled up a three-‐legged stool and sat right by his desk as a way to challenge his authority. He smiled, but all the while with his hawk-‐like eyes gleaming. He then told me something that was etched into my mind to this day, “Wen Wen ah, you look like a really smart young lady, almost too smart to make a mistake such as this one. You have been turning in assignment with scribbles. I did not say anything, with the hope that you would change. But it seemed that you were fooled by your pride and you were not going to change unless I brought it to your attention. Miss Huang, I CAN see what’s on the page, and I CAN read what students put on their assignments. You may think that you are fooling everyone, but the only person that you fooled was you. You went through half of the semester without learning anything at all. Are you thinking that you are coming to school for me? Will I be there when people laugh at you for not knowing the basics of the dynasties? Stop fooling yourself and take school seriously. I expect you to turn in a well-‐written paper by the end of the week. Otherwise, you are getting an F. AND, if you get an F, you are writing all of the assignments all over again, with a bamboo brush.”
He was a chameleon, hiding in plain sight. I never saw him coming and was
taken by surprise. That turned me around. For the first time, a teacher cared
enough to be hard on me. A teacher wanted me to exert effort so I could reap the benefit of my own learning. I was assimilated. I was sold on the idea of education. School was no longer a game. I was going to school for me. As much as I groaned and griped about it, I completed every single one of the assignments with a bamboo writing brush. At the end of the semester, my history teacher announced that this was his last year teaching, and he wanted me to read my essay in front of the entire class because, according to him, it was one of the best that he had ever read. To this day, I love history. I love the stories that interweave the threads of various cultures and societies. Perhaps I can be a chameleon, too.
What my history teacher did was part of an assimilation war. Each year, as
students enter school to start with a new teacher, the battles begin. It is either the teacher gives in to the students’ way, or the reverse. A strong teacher may scare students into taking her way, but the effect would only last for the duration of the school year. A conscientious teacher may work so hard to have all the logistics in place, but students are not motivated to internalize learning as their own. Only a teacher who sees into students’ heart and mind and learn the craft of assimilation can build a group of students who are engaged, motivated, well-‐behaved, respectful, and willing to meet the highest level of expectation set forth for them. That is the work of a chameleon. Sign me up.
“I Have Been Wanting to be in Your Class Since First Grade…”
One bright Monday morning I caught one of my boys coughing. I asked
Angelo why he came to school even when he was sick. He insisted, “Because I’m a
MAN.” He said it so matter-‐of-‐fact-‐ly. I loved it! He told me that he has always wanted to be in my class because his older sister was in my class a long time ago. He said that his sister has always told him that I changed her life. I told this child that, every one of the students is changing my life, too, on a daily basis. He went on to tell me another interaction between him and his mother. He said that, when he told mom that I did not have rules in the classroom, mom was shocked. She wanted to know how I kept the students in check. I asked Angelo, “What did you tell her?” He chuckled, “I said don’t know, but everybody just listens, and you are so strict. We just all listen to you!” That is assimilation. When students know exactly what is expected of them, exactly who they are and who I am, they feel comfortable enough to fall into the framework that has been set for them for assimilation. In a way, I also conform to their preferred way of communication. Each class is different. Each student is different. And that, is what makes teaching a rewarding career for this chameleon. Suggestions for Parents: Modern parents are busy. We often get the minutes during dinnertime to converse with our children. Take ten minutes today and ask your child, “Can you share with me the kind of teacher you have? What are some things that your teacher does really well?” The answer may surprise you, but will allow you to see into your child’s school life. Resist the temptation to make comments. Simply understand and take time to enjoy your child’s presence.
Action Points for Teachers: Ask yourself today, do I have a few favorite students and a few least favorite students in the classroom? I know I do, but my students will never know who they are because that color will never show in front of my class. Teacher’s attitude permeates through the classroom. If you have rules, make sure that you treat all students equally when these rules are challenged. That is when they start respecting you as an adult. They know you are fair. I once had a student wrote on her Wish List for the Year on the first day of school-‐ I wish everyone gets hugs from teachers, not just the few that always get hugs; I have never gotten hugs from teachers. That was a note that broke my heart. Students should never go home feeling badly about themselves, regardless their ability to learn. If You Happened to be a Student: You need to know that you, too, have the ability to affect those around you. You may not feel that way, but it is true. Your behavior determines the kind of day that you will have. Remember the way that I was when I was with that old history teacher? I was the one that made my days difficult. If you have decisions to make today, consider this: whether you take actions about something today, an action has been taken. The action to NOT do something is also an action. May your day be brightened by your choices. You have no idea how special you are.
Chameleon Dialogues (變色龍互動區) My fellow chameleons, if you are just like me that care deeply about our children and their education, please hold your students accountable. Let them know what is absolutely not acceptable by you and what is precisely and highly expected of them. Soon, you will start hearing them say, “I have been wanting to be in your class ever since first grade!”