I think the biggest thing that I can do for the common good as an educator is to be an advocate. Be willing to speak up, speak out, and use my resources/skills to hopefully help with different issues in the education career.
I think another big thing that I can do for the common good as an educator is to be an active listener. Whether that is listening to what the parents have to say, the students or the staff/administration that I work with. Being able to listen effectively to what each individual has to say can really be beneficial for not only me as a teacher, but for education in general. I may not have anything to say, or a solution to their problems that one might be telling me, but being there just to listen can be a really good start.
Another way that I can contribute to the common good as an educator is to try to create relationships with everyone. Again if that is my students, their parents, staff, etc. I think having a good relationship with them can really help benefit the common good. I don’t mean having a strong relationship with every single parent or every staff member in my school district (I think that is not realistic), but being kind, friendly to everyone can show that you accept everyone and are there for them.
Lastly, I think another way I can contribute to the common good as an educator is to accept everyone even if I do not agree with what they are saying. Again, it is not realistic that I am going to agree with what every single person is talking about when it comes to education. Everyone has their own opinions/beliefs. But I am willing to be open-minded, see where they are coming from, and be respectful to them. By doing that, I am showing that I am there to support whoever it may be, whether I agree with them or not.
