So, ... I'm out of touch?
My recent post, 'struggling with technology' prompted an interesting comment from someone closer to the chalk-face than me, and I must admit it caused me to reflect. The essence of the comment is contained in the following excerpt.
"That's all very "rose tinted" but I live and work in the real world
where staff refuse to pay for the internet at home "because they only
need it for school" or treat the equipment they're given as a
throw-away resources tipping coffee into them or smashing the screen
because of carelessness and then expecting an immediate replacement.
These aren't unusual exceptions, these are day-to-day occurances."
The preceding argument had been around whether teachers should expect to have their work-provided computers 'locked down', this seemed slightly away from the point, but of considerably more interest. The comment begs obvious questions:
- Is this a common experience in schools?
- Are staff this cavalier with technology?
- Do teachers refuse to have broadband because its only for work?
I constantly meet with teachers, and most seem to treat their equipment fairly and almost all have broadband at home (although there are tales of six year old laptops being dropped as the only way to get them replaced). Am I this out of touch?
I think the following related questions almost beg themselves:
- If a teacher pays for an Internet connected computer at home, can an employer expect them to use it for work related activities.
- If a teacher does not have an Internet connected computer at home, are they seen as less productive?
- If an Internet connected computer is an expectation for modern teaching, should it be provided by the employer or the employee.
Most professionals I meet through work, solicitors, accountants, consultants etc. have their own equipment or its provided by their employer; but, they DO have the equipment and they are expected to use it outside of work hours as part of being a professional. Is this the expectation on teachers? This cuts to the heart of the work-life balance debate. Is teaching a vocation or a job?