Aricka Ladebu - Secret of Professionalism

The Secret of Professionalism

Part I speaks to the subject of dressing professionally.  There certainly has been no lack of addressing this topic within our education department at EUP.  I have been working in professional situations for years, so this area was a no-brainer for me.  I completely agree with the author that in order for people to respect you, including your students, you must dress in a professional manner.  I have noticed that people look at me differently when I’m simply out at the store if I am dressed in professional clothing versus jeans and a t-shirt.  My teacher-hero, Ron Clark, from the Ron Clark Academy in Georgia, has said that his students would always act differently (rowdier) on days when he had a reason to dress down (field trip, etc.).  By the same token, he would notice improvement in their behavior when he would dress his best.  I recall a proverb I learned while taking Latin in high school, “vestis facit virum,” “the clothes make the man.” 

Another point that spoke to me in this section is the one about “fitting in without falling in.”  No matter what age we are, we all desire to fit in and be accepted into the group.  Throughout the past couple of years, when visiting other schools for observations, I have been very surprised to hear teachers making negative comments about other staff members – to me, a stranger.  It doesn’t make that person –the speaker- look good at all.  I’ve also had opportunities to join in on negative commentary at my student teaching location.  I’ve chosen to only smile and attempt to change the subject.  Most of what’s been said I have agreed with, but I didn’t let that person know it.  I wouldn’t want to be the one who’s being talked about, so I choose to not talk about others in a negative way. 

So many quotes from this book remind me of excellent parenting practices.  “Because everything I do and say influences who they will be” has been one of my mottos in parenting (pg. 88).  I must control the way I act and what I say because the kids are watching.  Everything I do and say makes an indelible impression upon their minds and contributes to their formation as individual contributors to society.  I have always exercised self-control as a parent because I love my kids enough to want them to turn out well.  I exercise control of myself as a teacher, because I want my students to turn out well.