Entrance slip , Sep 17

 Even though this article was written decades ago, it speaks profoundly to my experience as a teacher candidate entering the profession now. What touched me the most are the three core attitudes of a reflective teacher, especially open-mindedness. Reflecting on my own school years and those around me, I have known many knowledgeable, well-intentioned teachers whose rigid mindsets made them unwilling to make even minor changes to their teaching methods. When problems arose, they typically blamed the students' lack of attention or flawed policies—which, in my view, prevented students from reaching their true potential.

This article also helped me shape my ideas about teacher inquiry and critical thinking, making me realize that being reflective is not just an optional trait, but an absolute necessity for achieving real educational goals. I strongly agree that true inquiry goes beyond quick classroom fixes and requires looking at the "hidden curriculum" and our own biases. However, I disagree with the authors' heavy reliance on individual willpower to resist bureaucratic pressures. Starting teachers face massive systemic challenges, and framing burnout or conformity purely as a failure of personal reflection or wholeheartedness ignores the reality of modern school structures; inquiry needs to be a collective, supported community effort rather than just an individual burden

Comments

  1. Susan Gerofsky17 September 2026 at 08:53

    Great points! Yes, we do need to work as a collective community — individuals taking on ‘the system’ might sound heroic, but it’s far too heavy a burden to put on a person. I agree fully with you about open-mindedness!

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