Edubabble

Silly sloganeering, too many bosses, and the foibles of teacher life.

It’s All About….

Education is so littered with lingo and jargon and so filled with non-sensical acronyms, it is a wonder anyone can cut through the obfuscation. The relentless drive for higher piles of edubabble is such a fascinating trend that it made for an appropriate title for this glossary containing 400 quick-read entries.

Why are so-called “experts” forever telling teachers what to do and how to do it? This group includes politicians, bureaucrats, professors, parents, and self-proclaimed visionaries. The one trait they share is that they have rarely, if ever, taught in a classroom. And a school is as unique a workplace as one can find, from supervision duty at recess to the tyranny of the bell, and from lesson preparation to grading student work. Of course, the most obvious distinction is that schools are populated by students; and what children and teenagers say and do make for some entertaining descriptions.

The overwhelming majority of teachers are dedicated, almost altruistic. The high-spirited levels of intrinsic motivation contrasts with the frequent sporting of forgettable, almost dull, fashion and favouring practical, almost frugal behaviour over flamboyant excess. Though clearly a generalization, there is enough fodder in these idiosyncratic character traits to be the focus for several entries.

A Great Gift:
Any educator, current or retired, needs a smile, a chuckle, or perhaps even a guffaw or two. A teaching career is a wonderful yet challenging expedition that is full of adventure. Hopefully a little Edubabble humour can help navigate the challenging terrain and make the journey that is teaching all the more enjoyable.