Steward of the Profession:
It isn’t often that I describe exactly what I do as a teacher. People always just ask, “Do you like it?” This is a complicated question to answer. I usually either say, “Oh, I love it,” or “It is really hard,” depending on the day I have had. I think the biggest misconception is that it is EASY. People think of all teachers as having a great time, coloring with kids and reading to them, even in the ninth grade, even in biology. I think others imagine their own high school experience, and everyone assumes we dissect frogs. I try to not go on and on about discipline when I talk about teaching, although people always want to hear about the crazy stories or want me to validate their negative thoughts about Terry High School. “Oh, they always have fights, don’t they?” is the question I usually get. My day isn’t an amazing day full of creative learning and wonderful moments between students and it isn’t a day in the wild west where kids are running around like criminals and being awful, but I would say it is somewhere exactly in the middle of those two extremes. When people ask me why I became a teacher, I tell them how rewarding it really is. Kids can be awful but kids can also be so sweet. Kids can tell you “WOW, your belly is getting bigger,” or “Mrs. Quinn, yo’ Halloween costume ugly.” But kids can also bring you chocolate for Halloween. Kids can tell you they pray every night for your unborn baby. Kids can tell you they went home and googled more information about blood types because your lesson about it was “so interesting.” Kids that hated you last year will come by with a crumpled up state test score report that says proficient and say, “See, Mrs. Quinn? It was all worth it. You did a good job.” The kid you turn in every day for skipping will eventually realize you’re not just doing it because you don’t like him, you’re doing it because you love him and you’re worried if he doesn’t go to class he won’t graduate high school. Usually when I get on a roll people don’t understand or wish they hadn’t asked. My answers aren’t always like this. Some days I’m exhausted, I hate school, I just wish I had a “normal job.” Why can’t I go to lunch like a “normal” person? Why can’t I be around adults who never have outbursts and never throw candy on my floor like a “normal” person? I think people understand this description of my day better, and for that, I feel sorry for them. |
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