Mrs. Ris at Mentor Matters asks what to do about teachers who grumble, complain, etc. instead of participating in school meetings. I suggest she has three options.
One is to talk with abstainers privately, one on one, colleague to colleague as time permits. Ask each individual what they think will help get (name a different third person each time) more involved, etc. You know how to follow this logic out.
A second option is to ask in a public meeting what a third person suggests. It’s ok to ask questions in meetings. If your principal tries to shut it down, ask the principal the Q, courteously, of course.
Here’s a third option I learned from Floyd Dennis when he was on the research staff at Kennedy Center, Nashville. He used it to manage an Air Force Flight Group. I used it with mental hygiene staff in NY, etc. It follows the maxim that people respond to what you inspect, not necessarily to what you expect. It’s a form of tough love for adults. It works like “aaaa” counters affect public speakers in Toastmasters.
Pick a thing to measure. Don’t tell anyone what you’re counting or give any explanations. Count how people (other teachers?) perform. Post those measures on a chart. Post the chart in a public place. Point a big blue arrow to the top/best performer. Measure the same thing daily and point the arrow to the best daily performer.
Soon, it’s uncanny how this works, someone will tell you how the blue arrow person “cheats” to get that recognition. Ask the teller how to change what you measure; he or she will. So, without any announcements, change what you measure, etc. In a week or so, add a small blue arrow to point to the second best performer, … It works!
For whatever reason, some people like vinegar while others swarm to honey. It’s hard converting one to the other.
Mrs. Ris offers an interesting, positive blog about schooling. I find it refreshing.
While I’m not sure that griping and complaining is the best answer, I think many teachers get tired of pointless meetings and worthless, top-down, “professional development.” In my district I refer to most of these sessions as Professional Dissapointment meetings, suitable only for developing calluses on the heinie.
Thanks for your comment. You may be right. Some meetings I attended and those I conducted seemed to interest people other than me, and I probably didn’t do enough to add interest for others. I understand better now how to find something of value for me in whatever I do. I guess it’s a growing up thing that my mom chided me to do until she died. I try to honor her sentiment. I hope you find ways to gain something from your time at meetings also. “heinie” is derived in part from the German words for courage and rooster. I’m glad you have courage, rooster.