Two out of Three Ain't Bad?

Have I mentioned before how much I am annoyed by "mentors" who don't listen to what I say?

It happened again today: I was sitting at a meeting and I'm supposed to be sharing my thoughts and ideas with my mentor in a collegial setting to help improve my practice. I can't get three words out of my mouth about the project I had them design that I need to hang... Oh, NO! Make THEM do it. And then he goes on about whatever else. I wasn't listening because I was so hurt that what I said just got stomped on. I'm sorry, but the point is not that I need to hang it up, or they need to use the push-pin, or my TA needs to use the push-pin, but that I had them work in groups to develop a cover for the chapters which they then presented to the class who voted on the best posters. Not that he ever stopped to listen to the actual pedagogy, but just jumped all over who was doing the hanging. (The real problem is they didn't put their names on them, so I can't assign grades -- not that he ever heard that.)

He did the same thing when I said I don't usually hang their writing on the walls because they often write private things. OH NO! Writing is meant to be read! Yes, and I read it, but I ask them to write about what they know. And these kids know pain. Later on, when I explained to the whole group (while they listened) about my favorite genre, the narrative, and how I get a lot of disclosure from them about their problems, he started to listen. I think. I was so angry and frustrated by then, I really didn't care.

I know I'm not a veteran teacher, but I do have 2+ years experience and an M.Ed. I think I have something valuable to add to a conversation and maybe even something to teach my mentor.

Last week, my first mentor emailed me that I had ruined him for interns. Skip over the flutter of pride and excitement I felt at his compliment, and consider this: one of the first things he said to me (It was on our first or second day together) was that he loved having interns because they always taught him something and improved his practice. My other two mentors have never said any such thing to me; they try to teach me without stopping to learn.

I have certainly been ruined for mentors, because two out of three are bad.