There is a lot of judgment of one another at the school setting. We often judge a colleague according to our standards or we have been judged ourselves. We all know the teachers who we perceive to be the principal’s pet, who don’t do “this” or actually do “that”. We may have been on the receiving end of these judgments and unfair perceptions which can be quite hurtful and resulting in isolation. I know from working with students with learning differences and not teaching in a “regular class” that my work was minimized by others and these suggestions are a few things I have learned. The following are various suggestions on how to encounter our judging peers especially if we are working outside the realm of the regular classroom.

1. Separate fact from fiction. You are a highly trained teacher working hard to help kids learn.

2. Offer to educate. Realize that these people don’t really know what you do. They see you as having different schedules, less homework, by they may not understand about all the planning, meetings and ongoing parent contact.

3. Try not to judge or compare yourself to others. Schools are notorious for competition; Resist and fight it. Remember Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird: We must learn to walk in another’s shoes until we really understand them.

4. Offer to help. Ask them, “This is what worked for me. Would you like some suggestions?”

5. If offended by a peer, resist payback or gossip. Go directly to the person and calming explain your perception.

6. When your feelings are hurt by another, try to think of at least one good thing about that person. Since you have to work together throughout the entire year, it helps to see the positive aspects in a person.

7. Forgive.

By Sheri Noble