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Wanted to report a small success in the teacher’s council. I have a leader who normally stands up and talks the full 50 minutes in priesthood. Very boring.
Last Sunday he actually did an interactive lecture. He laid out the board with a structure that guided the full 60 minutes, Everyone participated — 6 out of 8 people actually spoke multiple times (people in the class). The ratio of his own comments to class comments was a bit high for my liking, but overall, it was a step WAY up from what the guy has been doing in the past.
To reinforce his behavior, I took a picture of the board afterwards. told him I wanted to keep it as a good example of using the board to engage and focus the class. Asked if he would present his approach and how it guided interactive discussion at our next Teacher’s council meeting. Thanked him for a good interactive lesson, with 6 of 8 people participating, and how much I enjoyed it.
Getting my mojo back.
Yay! I am happy that you are seeing positive fruits of your endeavors.
:clap: :clap: :clap: I, too, am glad you are seeing your labors pay off especially since you have been very open about your frustrations. I am now left to wonder if the teacher council idea was always meant to be a forerunner of this new adult curriculum. My observations locally were much like the things you have described – wishy washy local leader support, many who should be there were not, etc. And, I was doubtful this new curriculum would be embraced and also believed the transition would be anything but smooth. Frankly, I expected to see much of the same old same old “Would someone like to read the first paragraph of President Nelson’s talk” followed by “Anyone want to volunteer to read the second?” I obviously can’t speak for the church as a whole, but such has not been the case in my own ward where I have been somewhat impressed by how well it has gone. That’s not to say there haven’t been bumps, and yes, even some resistance – but overall it’s much better than I expected.
My ward is very much like yours SD where the teacher council leader is not a member of the SS presidency but is a good teacher. I’m sure he had frustrations similar to yours, but he plugged away. I think it’s because of people like you and him that are at least partly responsible for the early successes of the new curriculum.
I can’t wait for the new adult SS curriculum finally promised next year – it’s been way too long. I hope it’s at least as successful, and maybe starting with PH/RS first was a good plan.
SilentDawning wrote:
To reinforce his behavior, I took a picture of the board afterwards. told him I wanted to keep it as a good example of using the board to engage and focus the class. Asked if he would present his approach and how it guided interactive discussion at our next Teacher’s council meeting. Thanked him for a good interactive lesson, with 6 of 8 people participating, and how much I enjoyed it.
I love the positive reinforcement and the progress.
Roy wrote:
SilentDawning wrote:
To reinforce his behavior, I took a picture of the board afterwards. told him I wanted to keep it as a good example of using the board to engage and focus the class. Asked if he would present his approach and how it guided interactive discussion at our next Teacher’s council meeting. Thanked him for a good interactive lesson, with 6 of 8 people participating, and how much I enjoyed it.
I love the positive reinforcement and the progress.
Ditto! Before I could even read this paragraph I was thinking, “Praise the hell out him for his progress” – which is what SD did.DarkJedi wrote:
My ward is very much like yours SD where the teacher council leader is not a member of the SS presidency but is a good teacher. I’m sure he had frustrations similar to yours, but he plugged away. I think it’s because of people like you and him that are at least partly responsible for the early successes of the new curriculum.I guess I just need to vent now and then. I can’t believe that for 20 odd years I didn’t get the fact that mediocrity from many people is the norm in the church. I think that might have been part of the reason I got into conflicts with certain people way back then. When you accept that the church is not a place to expect excellence from other people, it makes it easier.
I appreciate that I can complain here about the experience now and then. It helps rather than bringing it up to local leaders who don’t give a hoot.
It’s a weird juxtaposition. We have a church claiming all truth, a divine head, requiring massive financial and time commitment sacrifices, and strong norms of behavior, but then you don’t see accompanying excellence in the average Ward. What a paradox.
I am so glad I have my non-profit work to play with — it is there that I find excellence. I have so many stories of well organized people with excellence behind them, sacrifice, and of course, I have the whole world from which to recruit — while Bishops only have their own Ward. The grass has been greener on the other side of the fence in this case.
Nonetheless, I am thankful for this Teacher’s Council calling — it keeps me involved in a way that doesn’t make me confront things that I find hard to deal with. It is lightweight and leaves me with a lot of time to do other things. So, when I see comments about my past frustrations (all true), I feel a bit sheepish.
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