TEACHERS FIGHTING A “THREE BLOCK WAR”Joe D. Marlow

Several decades ago the Marine Corps leadership designed a strategic concept called the Three Block War. The thrust of this concept is that Marines in future conflicts will undoubtedly be involved in fighting, peacekeeping, and humanitarian aid simultaneously with a confined area of three contiguous city blocks. This concept was certainly prescient of future military actions in places such as Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan as a solder or a marine is more than simply a warrior even though that is his/her traditional role.

As a veteran educator having served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, school reform specialist, and administrator I immediately sensed a connection between the marines and teachers in what they are required to do to be successful. I want to emphasize at the beginning that warfare and education are related only in a general sense in that they are human activities and teaching is not combat in how we traditionally view combat. Nevertheless, to accomplish our tasks, we humans tend to use similar concepts and patterns across organizational and operational boundaries. The Three Block War is one such instance.

A teacher’s “area of operations” is usually a single classroom not three contiguous city blocks. However, an effective teacher uses the educational equivalents of fighting, peacekeeping, and humanitarian aid. In fact, if a teacher does not do all three that teacher cannot be effective even if he/she is highly skilled in one or two of the equivalents. So, how exactly does the Marine concept translate to the classroom?

First, a teacher’s fight is instruction. That is how we ordinarily view a teacher. Some folks would state that a teacher teaches- period. For the most part that is true. An effective teacher teaches students some subject matter and as a result, students become proficient in that subject matter by learning from the instructional strategies designed by the teacher. A teacher’s lesson plan is his/her operational plan for success. The state educational authorities reinforce the instructional emphasis by evaluating schools (and sometimes teachers) by annual testing results.

Yet, an effective teacher must be highly skilled beyond implementing instructional best practices. This is the peacekeeping part of the teacher’s task- classroom management. Consider for a moment the actual diversity many, if not most, teachers face each day in their classrooms. Diversity of race and income levels, diversity of readiness for new learning, and diversity of parental support are very real challenges. Diversity in general is desirable and needed for our culture in general and schools in particular to be healthy and creative. But extreme diversity can tear at the fabric of classroom effectiveness including teaching and learning. Like peacekeeping is essential for modern marines to keep order in chaotic environments, the wise use of classroom management skills are essential for modern teachers to keep order and safety in often chaotic or potentially chaotic classrooms.

Finally, an effective teacher is caring, which is the equivalent of an effective marine offering humanitarian aid to the local population. A teacher sees the needs of his/her students that impede the learning process and acts to reduce those needs to negligible obstacles. Sometimes students have physical needs and often they have emotional needs. Sometimes a new pair of glasses will work wonders and in other situations, some words of unexpected encouragement. Networking with fellow teachers, counselors, nurses, and administrators is vital. And a wise teacher makes the distinction between what a student truly needs and what a student routinely desires or expects.

Our teachers who effectively instruct, manage their classrooms, and care for their students do an amazing job. Their “war” is not with students and parents (they are allies and potential allies) but with illiteracy and ignorance. While their methods differ from those of our marines and soldiers. their “fight” is similar- to allow their fellow Americans the learning and liberty needed to take advantage of opportunities offered.