SCHOOL ETIQUETTE

There are certain things that you need to be aware of before you start tutoring in your assigned school. First of all, you are going to be in a unique situation in that you are not a student, as you may have been the last time you were in an elementary school. You are not a teacher yet. You are not a member of

the school's staff. You are not a volunteer who is tutoring without pay. You are not an aide. You ARE one of a group of Federal Work Study eligible college students who are employed to tutor children in the public schools in their reading skills.

As an America Reads Challenge tutor, you are a valuable member of the school's team. Because you are not in the school all day everyday, as most of the other individuals at a school are, you may get the impression in some schools that you are not held in high regard. This is not the case. The school administration is not only pleased, but eager, to have America Reads Challenge tutors in the schools. There are certain things that you can do which will help you carve out your place in the school where you work and be accepted. The general rule you should follow is to pay attention to principal and teachers and take your lead from them. Certain specific related items that should be brought to your attention follow.

DRESS

Some schools have a written dress code for teachers. Others do not. Whether your school has one or not, there is almost always an unwritten dress code. This does not mean that you have to purchase a new wardrobe. If your clothing selection is limited, it is certainly acceptable for you to wear the same clothes often. In general, you probably should not wear shorts to your school. Cut-offs, raggedy shorts, skimpy tops, and very short skirts are definitely out. Leave your facial jewelry at home.

Many schools are especially concerned about footwear, for safety reasons. Open shoes can pose problems for children. Some schools believe that there should not be a double standard for the teachers and the students. Therefore, if children are asked not to wear open shoes, teachers should not wear them either. Observe what kind of shoes the teachers in your school wear and do the same.

Wear clothing that looks professional. It will tend to make you more accepted by teachers and more respected by students. What you wear is an important matter and something you should not take lightly.

FORMS OF ADDRESS

In public schools, adults are usually addressed by titles and their surnames. You should follow that custom unless you are advised otherwise. Even if a teacher for whom you work says it is okay for you to use her/his first name, you should never use it in front of the students.

In your role as an America Reads Challenge tutor, you fall into the adult category and you too will be addressed by students by a title (Miss, Mrs., Ms., Mr.) and your surname. Do not have students call you by your first name. It can appear to be an attempt to be one of them and you must maintain some distance in order to have respect. This may be difficult for you but appropriate use of titles is important. Some of you may have transferred from a community college where students often call instructors by their first names. This is not generally the practice at SIUC and certainly is not in the public schools.

SCHEDULES

Every minute of every day is scheduled in a public school. The schedule is not always followed to the minute but you are not in a position to alter it. You should pay close attention to the schedule. That means if you are scheduled to see a child at 8:20, you need to be in place, organized, and ready to see that child at 8:20. If you do not arrive on time or are not ready for the child at the designated time, the teacher may make alternate plans for that child for that time. By the time you arrive, the child may be involved in another activity and your tardiness causes a state of confusion.

Be respectful of your child. If you are scheduled to see a child and do not arrive on time, that child may be very disappointed. Your absence may even be interpreted by the child as rejection. You can ruin a child's day by not being responsible. And, when you ruin one child's day, that can have a ripple effect on classmates and teachers. Children with learning problems are more susceptible to disappointment because their self-esteem and confidence may already be low. Be where you are supposed to be, when you are supposed to be there, unless it is absolutely unavoidable. And then you should try to get word to the school personnel that there has been an emergency.

Rigid schedules that are typical in schools make for another situation of which you should be aware. The teacher in your assigned classroom may not have many extra minutes in a day. Teachers have to grab a minute here or there to do Xeroxing, make phone calls, use the rest room, use the laminator or discuss a student problem with another teacher. Because of this lack of time, teachers tend to become impatient with the "extra" people in a school who might not have to be so concerned about time. Be sensitive to the time constraints that teachers have and acquiesce or defer to them. For example, do not continue copying a big project on the copy machine if a teacher or other individual appears who needs to make a quick ten copies. Simply terminate your work and let the other individual in or, at least, ask if she has a small job or would like to interrupt your work.

Be respectful of others who work in your school by considering their needs and schedules, especially when you may be in the position of interfering with others accomplishing their work.

Schedules in schools apply not only to time but also to space. If another individual is scheduled to be in your room or spot in the hallway at a particular time, you need to vacate willingly and cheerfully on time. Schools in which all of you will work are overcrowded. Space is very precious. Chances are you will have to shift to different locations during your time in your school. Be considerate of others in your use of space and always be flexible.

SCHOOL RULES

Most schools have rules and handbooks. If your school has a handbook, your principal will give you one on an early visit of yours to the school. Read the handbook and obey all of the rules in it.

If the school has outlawed gum chewing, you should not chew gum. If the school says no running in the halls, do not run in the halls. If you are supposed to stay off the grass in certain areas of the school yard, do so. Nothing will end your honeymoon period at the school faster than disobeying rules or considering yourself above the rules.

Usually the rules have been developed over time in response to problems or issues that have arisen. That means that there are good reasons for most of the rules. Not all of the rules may seem logical or fair but you are not in a position to question or change them. You are in a position to obey them as well as enforce them when a child is in your charge. That means, if your assigned student's teacher does not allow gum chewing, neither do you.

It is important that children respect you. It is therefore important to try and NOT be a "buddy" to the children. You should be looked upon as an adult. Build rapport with them, like them, but remain an authority figure.

LOUNGES

Teachers' lounges in the schools are usually extremely small. There is not enough space, not enough seating, and not enough privacy. For these reasons, even if you are invited to the lounge, you should keep your visits to them brief and infrequent. Often times teachers need to discuss a child but hesitate to do so in front of non-teachers because of their concern for the confidentiality to which the student is entitled.

ABSENCES

There will undoubtedly be times that you will have to miss your America Reads Challenge time in your school. You may be sick or have a family emergency. Of course your absences should be limited as much as possible. However, if you do need to miss tutoring, you should know who to call and call that person as much in advance to being absent as possible. Often times, alternate plans have to be made and that can get complicated for school personnel.

ATTITUDE

One of the most important things you can do as you work as an America Reads Challenge tutor is to have a good attitude. You will be given direction and tasks from teachers. Be prepared to jump in and get to work. Be willing to do what is asked of you. Your words should be appropriate as well as your body language. Eye rolling and sighs, for example, say volumes about how a person feels.

Some of the things you will be asked to do may not coincide with your philosophy or perceptions of what you are to do. If you are consistently asked to do things that you feel are inappropriate, you should discuss the issue with one of the SIUC personnel involved with America Reads Challenge program. You are in the schools to provide tutoring in reading. If requests are made of you that do not fit the intent of the program, you need to keep a log of these items and report them to SIUC personnel.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Perhaps the best advice you can be given regarding school etiquette is, when in Rome do as the Romans do. Work very hard to get along, be helpful, and to stay out of the way of the normal operations in the school. This does not mean that you are a slave and subservient to the full time staff. That is not the case. Your tutoring situation should be one that is mutually beneficial. You will gain valuable training and experience and the school is benefiting as well!

Clothes don't make a man, but clothes

have got many a man a good job.

--Herbert Harold Vreeland