I loved doing personality quizzes in magazines as a teenager. My sister and I circled the multiple choices carefully and then checked the key to find out about our fashion personalities or what kind of friends we were. I know I’m not alone – I see lots of funky quizzes posted on Facebook.
It’s not just in our personal lives. There are also many work related personality tests: Myers-Briggs, True Colours, 4Di. People have mixed feelings about these. I’ve seen discomfort (sometimes manifesting in eye rolling), but also anticipation to see what might be revealed.
When I saw a recent article at The Guardian shared by Doug Peterson titled “What Type of Teacher are You?” I had to read it. It talks about four types of teachers: idealists, practitioners, rationalists and moderates. Although I see elements of myself in all four, I am definitely a practitioner. I want to contribute to the development of people around me, and I want to keep learning.
Do we really need these kinds of articles? Are they useful?
I think yes. They’re all designed to lead to greater personal understanding. They promote honest reflection if you let them. If I’m a practitioner, it gives me insight into myself but also into others who are not oriented in the same way. It reminds me that everyone comes at things from their unique perspective informed by their own experiences.
When it really comes down to it, I just want to be the kind of educator who is honest, who cares, and who adds value to others’ experiences. If I can hold to that, I would consider myself the best kind. What about you?
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