Teaching on a cart brings a whirlwind of emotions and potential complications to any music teacher working to digest the situation. Jim Tinter brings to life some very real concerns that we have all experienced when being told we will be teaching on a cart. Beginning with the philosophical issues, he points out that teaching on a cart can certainly affect the quality of a music program. Advocacy for yourself and your program is critical when administration begins talks about teaching on a cart. If one is available, take full advantage of your union representation.
When first being told that you are losing your classroom, you will begin to process a multitude of emotions. Tinter points out that feeling demeaned and unappreciated were the two most intense emotions he felt on a regular basis. These negative emotions are completely normal, but also not something we should have to work through on our own. Counseling will help deal with these negative emotions, as your mental health should always come first.
On top of emotional issues, pushing a cart comes with physical issues as well. There is always a potential for injury when pushing around a large and very heavy cart. Small doorframes and fingers do not mix well! Keep all of this in mind and take care to move slowly.
Tinter provides more thoughts on the practical issues of teaching on a cart. A cart would never store all of your teaching materials, so a safe and protected home for your instruments is necessary. Choosing curriculum that doesn't require many instruments or large spaces could also be helpful when dealing the restrictions of a general education classroom. Overall, Tinter provides many thinking points that are useful in the planning process for cart teaching.