Learning when to Conform

Learning to Conform as a Teacher

There are many reasons why individuals would conform to the job that they hold.  During a recession, job security is a highly valued aspect of the work place.  Being able to conform shows that you are willing to be a team player and adapt to the rules and regulations of a company.

Umpqua Bank vs. Sterling Bank

6.3. Food/Drink in Work Area

Food and drink for associates in the retail customer areas are not allowed. Drinks are permitted in non-customer contact areas as long as they are in coffee type mugs where the contents cannot be seen. Soft drink cups with straws are not allowed. Food should be kept (and eaten) in an area reserved for associate breaks or where there is no customer contact. No gum chewing is allowed. Absolutely no drinks or food around computer equipment, printers, CRT's, etc.

6.4. Personal Phone Calls 

Personal phone calls during working hours distract associates from their job responsibilities and may be disruptive to co-workers. Associates should therefore limit the placing or receiving of personal calls during working hours to those required only in urgent situations.

This policy applies to the use of bank phone equipment as well as cell phones. Associates are allowed to bring cell phones to work with them. During working hours, however, associates are not permitted to use their cell phones for personal use except in an emergency or during a rest or meal period. Associates who use personal or Bank-provided cell phones to communicate with another Bank associate for any reason may not violate the Bank’s policies against harassment. Associates who use a cell phone to send a text or instant message to another associate (or to a customer or vendor) that is harassing or otherwise violates the Bank’s anti-harassment policies will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Associates are expected to inform friends and family members of this policy and will be held accountable for their actions under the bank’s disciplinary procedure.

To protect customer confidentiality, cameras of any type, including cell phones with built-in cameras and video photography devices,

Walk slowly and cautiously up and down stairs. Use hand rail whenever possible.

• The gummed strips on envelopes should be moistened with devises made for that purpose, not with the tongue. Similarly, use letter opener for unsealing envelopes.

Sit squarely on office chairs, not on the edge of them. Do not sit in straight chairs that are tilted back toward or against a wall.

What happens to employees that are merged into another company with a totally different atmosphere?

Teaching Tenure

Teacher tenure is a policy that restricts the ability to fire teachers, requiring a "just cause" rationale for firing. The individual states each have established their own tenure systems. Tenure provides teachers with protections by making it difficult to fire teachers who earn tenure. Many states are focusing on tenure reform. Revisions would be made so that the tenure system no longer functions the same way as the existing tenure system functions.

Pro tenure reform

Many states are looking into reforming and even eliminating their teacher tenure system. Some of the states leading the movement include Florida, New Jersey, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania. Many argue that by granting teachers tenure, the education system is flooded with teachers who are no longer effective. Some argue that tenure grants teachers permanent positions regardless of whether or not they deserve a job. Many say because our education system is flooded with these ineffective teachers, students are suffering. Those who are pro reforming/eliminating tenure say having bad teachers in the education system is shortchanging too many children in American schools. Supporters of reforming/eliminating tenure feel that tenure does nothing but protect "bad" teachers and hurt students. They believe that tenure is given out too readily in America. Teachers should receive tenure based on their effectiveness rather than how long they have been teaching. Many feel that the process to fire a teacher takes too much time and money. This side of the debate feels it should be easier to fire tenured teachers. Many would also like to see teachers being evaluated based on their performance and their students' academic achievement. In eight states in America, tenure is given to teachers after just two years of teaching during the probation period. In two states, tenure is awarded after only one year of teaching during the probation period. Washington DC, our nation's capital, requires no set time for awarding tenure. Supporters of this motion feel that one or two years is too short a time to tell if a teacher is having a positive effect on their students. Before these teachers are granted lifetime job protection, they would like to see them perform on probation for a longer period of time. Reforms have been created in all forms. Some reforms call for longer probation periods while others call for stricter teacher evaluations. Other reforms wish to rid the tenure system completely and replace this system with renewable contracts.

Deadlines Without Dates

Roughly four years into the game, I’m still bad at making rigid goals. And why shouldn’t I be? I’m a laid back, flexible person. I dislike putting anything into concrete categories, so why should my work method be any different? Which is why, instead, I look to goal ideals. And then I find a way to make them work. I want to love my job, I want to grow as a writer, and of course, I want to make more money. Every day I work to make it happen. Through calendars, schedules, projects, or whatever other way, I continue to grow professionally. But the growth isn’t linear, like the grade school charts, they’re impractical, misshapen, and jut out in all types of directions.

Do my goals make sense to anyone else? No probably not. But at the end of the day (or at the end of the month or year), I’m professionally in a better place. No matter how often I check my “goals”. And while it may be unconventional, it’s also working.

Find the method that best captures your ethics and workflow to tap into this hidden potential.

Observations

In my observations being able to conform is an ability that one needs to have in order to succeed in the job market.  Everyone must be a follower before they can become a leader. Conforming is not the same for everyone.  Life is referred to as a “game” sometimes and as jovial as it may sound, it has truth to it.  If we play the “game” correctly, it opens up time for our own extra-curricular activities.  I believe that job security plays a huge role in people’s ability to conform. 

Conforming also has to do with the salary involved.  It may be beneficial to conform to a high paying job simply because t is high paying.  We may have to ask ourselves if it is worth the pay to conform otherwise.

How does this affect teachers?

Job conformity is essential in a teacher’s first 3 probationary years of teaching.  During those 3 years, teachers have to display that they can be a team player yet bring something to the table that keeps them aboard for a 4^th year.  Knowing when to conform and when to be an individual is a mix that everyone will have to find on his own.  After receiving tenure, teachers can become more and more of the individual that they want to be with less fear of being terminated.  A few years of conformity leads to many years of independence.

How does this affect students?

This is even more important to students that it is to teachers in my opinion.  Students are in a setting that requires them to conform to educational and societal standards until they graduate.  This experience provides them with a safe place to learn how to conform and how not to conform without serious detriment when they fail.  Once students graduate, many will be going into the workforce and must have and understand the necessity of the ability to conform. 

Citations

Merrow, John (2011-02-23). "It's Time to Debate Teacher Tenure". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2011-05-05.

Rotherham, Andrew J. (2011-01-27). "Teacher Tenure Debate: How to Modify Due-Process Rules". Time. Retrieved 2011-05-05.

Stewart E Brekke (2001). "Why Teachers Need Tenure". Teachers.Net. Retrieved 2011-05-05. http://www.job.com/career-advice/career-development/professional-goals-%E2%80%93-why-you-dont-need-to-conform.html