In schools we preach unity, but in WS, there seems to be a distinct divide.
Teachers on different floors do not associate with each other on a daily basis. Many do not think about this because of their busy schedules, but wouldn’t the school be more unified if more teachers interacted?
Now unfortunately, according to teachers, there is no rivalry between the two floors…but we can dream. The upper floor is supposedly better because of the facilities that it has compared to the lower floor, so lower floor teachers could have some jealousy.
“The upper floor is better,” said upper floor history teacher Leigh Shipman. “At least we get some sunlight!”
Meanwhile, lower floor chemistry teacher Dennis Shows points at numerous flaws in his science room, including growing mold in the corners, duct tape repaired areas, and faulty heaters.
“The upstairs are better because of the facilities,” said Shows.
So, we know which level is better facilities-wise, but that does not answer the question of why the teachers do not interact. According to Shipman, it is quite simple.
“We don’t travel in the same circles” said Shipman. “We just don’t have a lot of time to go outside our routines.”
Another reason could simply be that there is no need to interact. The floors are organized by subject with Math and Science on the bottom and English and History on the top. These subjects relate to each other so science teachers may meet with math teachers to discuss similarities in what they are teaching students, and English teachers may assign books that relate to the history curriculum. There is hardly a need for an English teacher to meet up with a Science teacher, which is why there is limited interaction between floors.
There is also the issue of unfamiliar territory. Some teachers have not ventured to the intricate halls of the other level, which could cause some hesitance. Shipman told a story of when she made the journey, taking 30 minutes to navigate the hallways and deliver a package.
“I can’t find my way around down there,” said Shipman. “I could get lost and die of starvation.”
While that might be an exaggeration, it could very well be another reason why our teachers are divided. Communicating more could benefit everyone in our school’s culture, and achieve the unity that high school strives to teach.
“We could communicate more,” said Shows. “I think that more communication could be important for teachers that share the same student.”