Description
Book SynopsisThe Conscience of a Teacher encourages readers to think deeply about what actions are right for teachers to take in their work with students. Babbage asks teachers to concentrate on doing what is right and on being conscientious. Conscience, ethics, virtue, integrity, and honor are emphasized as well. This book is composed of many short essays which can be read separately; however, read together these commentaries form a compelling exploration of how and why teachers should obey laws, regulations, policies, and contractual obligations, yet should do much more. Why? The reasons include because it is right, because it is honorable, because it is virtuous, and because the conscience of a teacher demands a higher standard.
Trade ReviewWe ALL have a conscience, we ALL could recite the Golden Rule, so why aren't we ALL conscience-driven educators? In his latest, easy-to-read publication, Dr. Keen Babbage, takes conscience driven ideas and clearly shows, that when implemented, they will "cause learning!" Read this one, and I'm sure you'll have many "Ah-ha" moments. -- Jim Thomas, retired principal, Bryan Station Middle School, Lexington, Kentucky
Over the past several years of working alongside Dr. Keen Babbage, I have seen a ‘Conscience-Driven’ teacher in action. Keen’s artistry with the written word helps remind us as a teaching profession what is important – the unlimited potential of education when steered by conscience-driven teachers. I applaud Keen for this book’s purpose to refocus education on the real impact of conscience-driven teachers. -- Scott G. Brown, social studies department, Henry Clay High School, Lexington, KY
Reading The Conscience of a Teacher: More Than Fulfilling a Contract is a professionally affirming, let-out-the-breath-you-didn't-know-you-were-holding experience. I found myself nodding in agreement as I read, making comments as though I were engaged in a conversation, and cheering on Dr. Babbage as he succinctly and eloquently laid out the joys and frustrations inherent to teaching in today's classrooms. In The Conscience of a Teacher, educators have a thoughtful, compelling advocate who encapsulates the best of what teaching can be in the hands of caring, conscientious educator; the bureaucracy that creates instructional inertia and data sets at the expense of students' learning; and the shifting academic and cultural expectations as teachers and schools are asked to play ever-expanding roles in students' lives. Babbage recognizes that until our society embraces teaching as the consummate balancing act of translating knowledge to learning, shifting passion to engagement, and moderating respect and responsibility with compassion, we will continue to believe that "the perfect [education] reform... is one executive, legislative, or bureaucratic action away." Today's teachers of conscience teach far beyond the limitations of American education policy. -- Jessica Andrews, Henry Clay High School, Lexington, Kentucky
Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Chapter 1 – Purpose as Guidance Chapter 2 – Stop the Nonsense Chapter 3 – Why Teach? Chapter 4 – Protect Instruction Chapter 5 – Build Responsibility Chapter 6 – Challenge Education Reform Chapter 7 – Communicate with Teachers Chapter 8 – Communicate with Administrators Chapter 9 – Keeping Promises Chapter 10 – Self Honesty Chapter 11 – Pure Law Chapter 12 – Great Examples Chapter 13 – Real People Chapter 14 – Know When Chapter 15 – Mandatory Teaching Chapter 16 – Seek Wise Counsel Chapter 17 – Getting More Chapter 18 – Good News Chapter 19 – Self Preservation Chapter 20 – The Dictatorship of Data Chapter 21 – Teacher or Administrator? Chapter 22 – Keep Learning Chapter 23 – It is Personal Chapter 24 – Credit or Discredit? Chapter 25 – Beyond a Job Chapter 26 – Keeping Promises Chapter 27 – Diligent Excellence Chapter 28 – Increasing Complexity Chapter 29 – Not Alone Chapter 30 – Enough? Epilogue – Your Conscience Speaks To You About the Author
