In a world of ever increasing pressures put on teachers to be what no person can be, perfect, Why do it? Well the answer is both simple and complicated all at the same time. Of course I care about my content areas my love of reading, the power of the narrative, the personal empowerment that comes from writing feeds directly into my personal love of history and the importance that comes from our understanding of human history. What history says about who we are, how it has shaped us and who we have the potential to be. Of course, I like young people because of the personal journey they are just starting and the part I can play in the lives of other people. Relationships with others are important to me; I put more stock in people than I ever did in a product. In all my time as a leader, employee, or soldier I never had 15-30 people light up and run over offering hugs when I walked in the room, but as a teacher it’s a common occurrence. In short the ability to make a difference. That is the simple part, the cornerstone of a teacher.
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Why Teach? So there are less teachers like this, the kind that give up! When I started back to school I was pretty sure I wanted to teach, but how can you know? You might have an idea but until you get up in front of a classroom you can’t really know. But one thing I’m sure of is after every class I teach I know I made the right decision. I tell people the worst day at school is better than the best day at work. Teaching isn’t a job, it’s a gift.
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Why Teach? How about to be like the teacher Mali's poem talks about! The complex part is that I without realizing it have been a teacher since I got out of high school, if not earlier. I have always enjoyed the sharing of knowledge, the joy, and community that comes from it. When I came back from Fort Benning Georgia, one of the first things I did was sign up to work with new recruits in a program that prepared them for the rigor of military training. I took pride in passing on knowledge to my younger brothers, and my own children. While working in manufacturing the job that I always volunteered for and was often asked to do was training new employees. I often found training people the most fulfilling part of the work I did. I often taught impromptu lessons on things I knew about. I remember after the movie 300 came out I was bombarded with questions about the Greeks, Sparta, and how the fiction differed from the reality, I must have “taught” on the subject while we worked for 4 hours. Luckily, I have only gotten better, my teaching skills are more focused, and I know a lot more about the Spartans.
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Why Teach? So more people believe in words and ideas like these! |