“It is literally neurobiologically impossible to think deeply about things that you don’t care about"
Dr Immordino-Yang
Dr Immordino-Yang
When I tell people that I hope to work as a librarian one day, their responses are interesting and somewhat amusing. People who know me well have said "you'll be in your element" or "I can picture you doing that!" Other comments have included "you're a bit noisy to work in a library" (perhaps because I'm a music teacher ?) and "most librarians seem so serious..." Being a teacher, I'm actually no stranger to occupation based stereotypes! According to: https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/insight-therapy/201809/stereotype-accuracy-displeasing-truth (accessed 13 October, 2019) "Everyone does it. The powerful use stereotypes to enshrine and perpetuate their power, and the powerless use stereotypes just as much when seeking to defend or rebel against the powerful." Fortunately, for me and for many of the teachers I know and work with, our passion for teaching and commitment to our students, outweighs the negative press we constantly hear in the popular media. I'm not saying it doesn't affect us but realistically, would anyone be a teacher if they listened to the popular press? Which leads me to my next point, how do the general public see librarians? To be continued... References in order of appearance: https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/insight-therapy/201809/stereotype-accuracy-displeasing-truth (accessed 13 October, 2019)
1 Comment
Julie Peasey
25/10/2019 01:58:56 pm
Oooh! What a teaser! This is certainly an interesting thought. I know that my own adult sons ‘tease’ me about my role of being a teacher-librarian. I was a classroom teacher for 20 years before moving into my current role 10 years ago. While my sons were at school, themselves, they were always proud to tell others that their mum was a teacher. It is very different now. I do not get offended by their taunts or even take them seriously, but it certainly does prove that there is a certain stereotype. My sons often visit me at school and enjoy mingling with the students during break time, who are hanging out in the library. A lot of the toys and games that the students play with at break times, are actually old toys that my sons used to own. They actually take pride in this. I was recently talking about looking forward to attending the Library Conference and my sons teased that I must be getting old. I see more and more ‘younger’ teacher-librarians, and those who bring their own spunk and vitality to their role. The old stereotyping is becoming replaced with a new-age of teacher-librarians who are often admired and respected by students and staff. I love my new role and know that I go to school every day and enjoy my role and am happy to be at work. I am not sure whether I could give that sort of enthusiasm to a classroom teaching role any more.
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