The classroom
A concept I never heard of: the classroom may be the first ‘third place,’ for students, the place beyond the first, which is ‘home,’ and beyond the second, ‘work.’ It becomes a meeting place for students scheduled from the first day of school when they meet their awaiting teachers. It was a crapshoot for both of us. In this ‘third place,’ students are assigned to be with peers and me. They might not know each other or me but will over our 180 days together. Life plays itself out for them (and me), whether having a different teacher for each period or having one teacher for the whole day. I have been both.
I looked forward to opening day when unsuspecting students entered my room. I liked the mystery, anticipating who might have been amenable and who might contest my every word (knowing they’re only first impressions). In the classroom, I was myself who served, myself who intrigued, myself who cared. Each class, each day, each year. Not doing another’s bidding but my own. Every day, face to face. No us and them. Just us.
Engagement, listening, conversation. No devices present. Teachers are teachers, doctors are doctors, shop owners are shop owners, each of us residing in ourselves, each of us unlike anyone else. I sought to be myself, enfolding who I was into my teaching. Our uniqueness makes us special. It was true for me as a teacher. And it is true for all of us in our lives.
