Forum: Only A Teacher

Responses:

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Subject: Why teachers choose this profession
From: Leslie Thomson
Date: 03 Mar 2001 10:12 AM

I started "playing teacher" at the age of ten in my friend's garage during the summers. We asked the moms on the street if we could take the three and four year olds on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for our "summer camp". The mothers all said "yes" and we painted, sang, colored, wrote and danced for one hour, two days a week! I found myself teaching swimming lessons to four and five year olds when I just started college, and I just knew I was meant to be a teacher one day! Ironically, I got a different degree and did not become a teacher until a mid-life crisis realization that I had not yet fulfilled my dream. I went back to school and the age of 39 and started teaching at 42! It is certainly not easy and it doesn't pay much, but I just love it! Leslie Thomson-Florida

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Subject: why the profession
From: Dale Russell
Date: 08 Aug 2001 4:14 PM

I to have decided to come back to school to become a teacher. I initially graduated with degrees in English and Political Science. After a frantic phonecall from my mother I substituted for her class in a private school. I began to answer the question "can I be a teacher?" I found that elementry was not really suitable for me, as I usually collapsed in bed and cried after these days drained of energy.I think some if this came from the age range, my lack of experience dealing with little kids etc... I focused on the secondary grades and found a nitch. This fall I will begin what my college calls "the pre-professional year" with student teaching occuring this spring(2002). feel free to contact me to see how I am doing throughought the year- in many ways I have found teaching to actually be "a jack of all trades" position. from dealing with the parents, administrators, students- and all the problems that come along with them to school (abuse both sexual and physical, drugs and alcohol, divorce,the pressure for success etc)and on top of that try to teach the student something- it takes a lot out of you, but it also gives back a lot.Dale Russell

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Subject: Why Teach?
From: Adam Wood
Date: 10 Oct 2001 9:29 PM

First let me introduce myself- I'm a second-year theatre student, just starting on a second major in Music Education at Florida State Univ.- I plan to teach high school theatre.I've wanted to teach for as long as I can remember.- Well, at least since fifth grade (I dressed up as my Spelling teacher Mr. Culbreth on career dress-up day [Mr. C- drop me a line if you run across this!]). I always wanted to teach whatever grade I was in at the time, until i finally settled on high school theatre. My desire to teach frequently stemmed from my (egotistical but not unfounded) belief that I could explain the material to the other students much better than the teacher. When I got to high school I was appalled at the lack of trained theatre educators, as well as the general apathy towards educational arts programs. For me, teaching is a way to fill the void I noticed while I was in school.Unfortunately, I don't believe very many other students develop this same idea. Therefore:Teachers should INSPIRE their students so that the sudents want more than anything else to become teachers. Teachers should express to the students frequently that they love teaching, and that it is a vocation with infinite benefits.In my twelve years of public education I was blessed with a number of excellent teachers, men and women who continue to inspire me. I also was (I have to say) blessed with a number of second-rate teachers who had no business setting foot in a class room. They taught me what not to do, and what signs to look for in the students to know whether I'm effective or not. HOWEVER: Not once- NOT ONE SINGLE TIME did a teacher suggest to me, or to anyone else, that teaching was a noble profession that we should consider. The "gifted" students were told they would grow up to be engineers, the hard working students were told they would grow up to be corporate executives, the average students were told they would grow up to be technicians, and the below average students were regailed with the rewards of a career in Air Conditioning repair. I would say this is a sad, sad commentary on the state of teaching, at least in my area. MY POINT?....Teachers MUST encourage students to become teachers themselves. Teachers must encourage with example, showing that they love their jobs. They must also encourage directly, suggesting that everyone at least consider teaching as a profession. Students who appear to be natural leaders or teachers should be counseled to put their gifts to work in the classrom, rather than the board room. Teachers should allow students the opportunity to teach, show, present, and explain the material to the other students. Older students should be encouraged to come to younger student's study hall after school and help tutor for a subject they passed the year before. The fact that these things are not already occuring in every middle and high school in the country is mildly appaling. The fact that most of the teachers I had in school would not suggest teaching as a career choice is extremely appaling.No wonder this society doesn't view teaching as a worthwhile profession. As with everything else in this country, the change must start in the classroom.

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Subject: RE: Why I wanted to become a teacher
From: Angela
Date: 03 Mar 2002 12:22 PM

I competely agree with you. Throughout my scholastic career I went to urban public schools in Houston and I have had more than my share of "bad" teachers. What is sad is that I can remember all the bad teachers I've had and why they were so horrible but I vaguely can remember the good ones. I knew I wanted to be a teacher ever since I was nine years old. My mom didn't think it was safe for me to be at home by myself and so I got stuck going to the daycare with my sister. Think about it, I was nine years old in a classroom with four year olds, singing Old Macdonald had a farm. Talk about embarassment! But anyway, the daycare director thought it would be good for me to help out the teachers with the kids. So I started "volunteering" my services. I started by helping the students learn their colors, shapes, and we started learning finger plays, and doing story time, and as the days,weeks, and months, passed. I realized that I was a natural and teaching. I had so much fun writing out lesson plans, and making roll sheets, setting up bulletin boards, and so on. As I got older, I continues every summer to go back to tha same daycare and teach the students finger plays, and silly songs, everything. Now I'm a senior in college majoring in elementary education. And every summer I go back to that same daycare and teach summer camp. It is the most rewarding feeling to have children look up to you. I have always been a kid at heart and hanging out with second and third graders and listening to their views on life is just as rewarding for me as it is for them. We both get a kick out of just learning something new from each other. I advised everyone, don't go into a career just for the money, or fame, because after you succeed in getting those "material" things, what else would you have to live to for? Do whatever makes you truly happy. Of course teachers don't get paid crap. I hear that all the time. But knowing that you changed someone's life, that a child is a better person because of something they learned from you, well that's priceless. And another, if you would like to be a teacher and think that teachers are just brainiacs, think again. I am a C student, have always been and proabably always will be. Making an A for me is like winning the lottery but there is something I have that most teachers now and furture lack, and that is passion and creativity. Most teachers lack passion of learning and others lack the creativity to make learnign fun. Being a teacher is all its cracked up to be and more.Hope you give it a shot.Angela23 SHSU