The Friz Doesn't "Play School"
“Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!” The immortal words of one of my favorite teachers, Ms. Frizzle. Every time I pick up a Magic School Bus book I secretly wish I could be like the Friz. I love her passion! As you probably know, Valerie Frizzle is the creation of author (and former teacher) Joanna Cole. Ms. Frizzle is the eclectic and energetic teacher that colors outside the lines at Walkerville Elementary School. Her greatest claim to fame is her magic school bus that transforms into whatever she needs to help her students engage in whatever hands-on scientific exploration she has planned. Ms. Frizzle has a talent for setting the stage, embracing the teachable moments, and knowing when to get out of the way so her students can experience genuine real-life learning.
I think the Friz inspires me because she is a compilation of all the passionate real-life educators that I know and admire. Her love for learning, her desire to do whatever she can to meet the diverse needs of her students, her knowledge tempered with humility, and her creativity in using the teachable moments – these are things that make a great teacher. Passionate teachers know how to work through the dilemmas of assessments, schedules, curriculum expectations, and timelines. They are fueled by the opportunities to spark a real love for learning.
In The Passionate Teacher: A Practical Guide, Robert Fried writes that most of the hurdles in education today can be conquered by passionate teachers. Fried says, “to be a passionate teacher is to be someone in love with a field of knowledge, deeply stirred by issues and ideas that challenge our world, drawn to the dilemmas and potentials of the young people who come into class each day.” Passionate teachers don’t just show up and “play the game of school.” They are game changers. They can generate excitement about curriculum and world issues and focus on the diverse needs of their students. Passionate teachers can make others aware that the highest educational priority we have is student learning.
Never – not once – did Ms. Frizzle just show up or simply go through the motions of playing school. She was that passionate teacher that walked into the classroom ready to make learning the focus. I don’t have her flaming red hair, I wouldn’t leave the house wearing any of her fashion choices, and I drive a Toyota – but we do have something in common. We share a passion for learning.
Who inspires you? What makes you a passionate teacher? Write and let us know.
