As a male that some would describe as 'outgoing, charismatic, fun-loving,
enthusiastic', I have to say that I don't find the conversation or definition
sexist in any way. I do think that term 'bubbly' would be more likely used to
describe a woman, and that the term itself COULD be sexist because of that, but
that I personally would have no problem being described as bubbly. Frankly, I'd
much rather work with people who are "outgoing, charismatic, fun-loving,
enthusiastic" than those who are more reserved. Nothing personal, it's just the
type of personality I enjoy. It's definitely a problem that in today's TV culture
we (myself included) are drawn to people with those qualities for our educators,
and possibly at the expense of those more reserved, but short of re-tooling our
culture (which I am not against...please, get rid of x-box, playstations, text
messaging, etc) I don't see a solution.
I agree strongly with Shonda's example of seeing herself as performing in her
job. I taught HS English for 2 years, and believe me, the classroom is more of a
stage than the library. I also describe myself as liking quiet time Shonda, and I
have also learned that others (especially those I work with) have a hard time
believing that.
I wonder what this conversation / discussion says about the culture of education
in large though. If we are moving toward a stage-based education paradigm, we limit
the pool of teachers. We definitely can't afford to do that. One of the things I've
noticed though is that teachers who are comfortable addressing anything that occurs
in the classroom are more likely to have students' respect. Are these teachers more
likely to be 'outgoing, charismatic, fun-loving, enthusiastic'? I'm not sure...but
if they are too reserved, they may not be comfortable addressing issues
head-on...and I (personally)believe in openness as much as possible. Especially in
these times of (seeming) increasing distance between people, it's good to establish
a personal, honest rapport with as many people as possible.
My .02
-Brent
Shonda Brisco <sbrisco@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
I think many women AND men would also classify men...but in other terms.
"Bubbly" would become "outgoing, charismatic, fun-loving, enthusiastic," or
some other neutrally energetic term.
We recently interviewed candidates (all men) for a position and regardless
of who talked with the individual, the comments that we all came back with
were ..... "dull, uninteresting, out-of-touch, or personality-challenged."
These comments were from both men and women and it described a rather
"non-bubbly" person.
When we met another candidate--- "a bubbly person" --- we wanted to hire
immediately--- the comments from our staff were "energetic, fun-loving,
enthusiastic!" Everyone wanted to work with this person because he made the
educational position LOOK fun--- if we could have hired him immediately,
some of us would have had contracts ready that day! Unfortunately, we ran
through the committee process with several candidates and lost our "bubbly
person" to another school that also thought he was "bubbly"....our loss.
My observations were that even our headmaster (male) made comments about the
personalities of the applicants....and the interesting thing was that he
wanted not just someone with knowledge of the position (which they all had)
but were also "fun-loving, charismatic, and enthusiastic" in their approach
to AND with others. (Interesting enough I would consider our headmaster as
"bubbly" and "enthusiastic"....so maybe there's something to be said about
who makes those final decisions.)
I don't think it's just a female thing....
My opinion and observations, again.
~Shonda
On 8/2/06, Juliann T. Moskowtiz wrote:
>
> I happen to be one of those librarians that is more reserved. I am not one
> of those people that is always smiley, so I try to make an effort to smile
> more because that is what is expected. However,what bothers me most about
> peoples' criticism of one's personality is, do they ever say these things
> to
> men? Are men supposed to be bubbly? Are men supposed to smile all the
> time.
> I really feel on some level these comments are sexist.
> ************************
> Juliann T. Moskowitz
> Library Media Specialist
> Norwalk High School
> Norwalk, CT 06851
> juliann14@charter.net
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gail K Dickinson"
> To:
> Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 1:00 PM
> Subject: Re: vent
>
>
> >I have given a lot to the posting below and it asks a really good
> question.
> > I don't know what the definition of "bubbly" is either, so I'm afraid I
> > can't help with that. It does raise a question about the relationship
> > between personality characteristics and personal professional strengths
> > (or
> > dispositions). Do you have to be a out-there, out-going, over-the-top
> > person in order to be a good school librarian? I don't know, and
> > although my first reaction is to say "no, of course not", I have to come
> > back with a big BUT......
> >
> > I have watched videotapes of my school librarians=to=be telling stories
> > and
> > teaching information-skills, and I have also watched lots of booktalks
> > live
> > and on-tape to students and adults. And, yes, I have counseled some
> > reserved and quiet librarians that they needed to adopt another personae
> > when performing...that no matter how well prepared they are, if they
> sound
> > like a teacher doing a booktalk it won't go over nearly as well as if
> they
> > sound like a friend who has just fallen in love with the bestest book.
> I
> > have a student who told her first story....something about porcupining
> for
> > a wife, and she broke into bad country music every time the porcupine
> sang
> > his sad song. It would not have been as good if she had slowly read it
> > with expression, no matter how great her expression is.
> >
> > It bothers me somehow to say that you don't have to be bubbly, but you
> > have
> > to act bubbly. (of course, not knowing what bubbly is). I don't
> > know...but this one I am going to have to think more about.
> >
> > gkd
> >
> > Gail K. Dickinson, PhD
> > 249-6 Dept of Educational Curriculum and Instruction
> > Darden College of Education
> > Old Dominion University
> > Norfolk, VA 23529
> > gdickins@odu.edu
> > 757-683-6683
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > LM_NET automatic
> > digest system
> >
> To
> > V.SYR.EDU> LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> > Sent by:
> School cc
> > Library Media &
> > Network
> Subject
> > Communications LM_NET Digest - 28 Jul 2006 to 29
> > > > SYR.EDU>
> >
> >
> > 07/29/2006 03:00
> > AM
> >
> >
> > Please respond to
> > School Library
> > Media & Network
> > Communications
> > > > SYR.EDU>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2006 19:08:46 -0400
> > From: Molly Clark
> > Subject: Vent
> >
> > Hi everyone,
> >
> > I just need to vent a little. Feel free to hit the delete key. =20
> >
> > I've been told for the second time this summer that I am not getting a
> job
> > =
> > because I am not "bubbly" enough.
> >
> > I'm told that my qualifications and experience are great - the only
> thing
> > =
> > that kept me from the job was that I was too low key. Not bubbly. Yes,
> =
> > the word bubbly was used. "We're sure you must have that passion and =
> > zeal based on your accomplishments, it just didn't come through in the =
> > interview" "You are very low key, not positive or bubbly."
> >
> > I call it professional. I did smile and make them laugh. But no, no
> one
> > =
> > would call me bubbly. I am the only librarian in the county to join
> Batle
> > =
> > of the Books, my license plate says READ2M, but that apparently does not
> =
> > indicate enthusiasm.
> >
> > To be honest, I am "Not completly out of the running" for the second
> job,
> > =
> > but they have decided to look at some more candidates for the reasons =
> > stated above. I am so sad right now. I am a great librarian, even in a
> =
> > less than ideal situation. My teachers and kids love me. Parents love
> =
> > me. I feel guilty about wanting to leave them, but I want to be closer
> to
> > =
> > home. And of course, now I am questioning everything I thought I had =
> > accomplished. Maybe I'm not as good as I think I am?
> >
> > How many of you would call yourselves "Bubbly?" (or at least not be =
> > surprised if someone else did?) Just curious.
> >
> > Thanks for letting me vent. No need to respond, I just needed a large =
> > shoulder to cry on for a minute. I feel better now.
> >
> > I'll just have to make sure my Battle of the Books team kicks butt this
> =
> > year .... if any bubbly school dares challenge us. :-)
> >
> > ~Molly=20
> >
> > Molly Clark
> > Intermediate Librarian
> > Michael Maroun Elementary School
> > Phoenix, NY
> > mclark2@phoenix.k12.ny.us
> >
> > "What a school thinks about its library, is a measure of what it
> thinks=20
> > about education." Harold Howe, former U.S. Commissioner of Education
> >
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--
Shonda Brisco, MLIS
Technology Librarian
Fort Worth Country Day School
Fort Worth, TX
http://www.fwcds.org
sbrisco@gmail.com
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