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Why Do You Teach?: What Sustains Us in Our Work
September 4, 2008 | Elena AguilarIn my previous post, I discussed how important it is for me to connect with my students, and how one way I do so is by eliciting their stories.
I also need to make connections with other teachers. So I ask, why do you teach? Most teachers get a dreamy look on their faces when I ask them this question. Most haven't thought about it in a while.
Recalling the reasons why we teach -- keeping them fresh and foremost in our minds -- is, I believe, the key to sustaining ourselves during the long and challenging school year.
I teach because, for me, it's the most effective and most enjoyable way to change the world. That's the bottom line: We need to change this world, and this is the way I'm choosing to do it. Teaching allows me to work on hearts and minds, to guide people in becoming empowered, literate, engaged, creative, liberated human beings who want to join in this effort to change the world.
I've seen it happen. I always believed that my students could transform and find themselves, in addition to becoming literate people and graduating from high school, but now I'm witnessing it. I'm seeing students I taught in elementary school and middle school graduate from high school, discover their skills and passions, and go to college. I always knew they could do it, and now they're doing it. That's why I teach.
I also teach because some didn't make it. Some of the sweet, brilliant, gentle sixth graders I taught many years ago are now on the streets, in gangs, in jail, in trouble. Their names and faces come to mind fast. I vividly remember their inquisitive faces, probing questions, musical compositions, and acting skills when they were twelve years old. I knew them as little boys. They don't look like that anymore. My heart aches. I keep teaching because we're losing too many kids in Oakland.
I work in middle schools because that's where the battle gets most intense but also where we can still reverse problems. I love middle school kids. I love where they are intellectually and emotionally. I love being able to engage them in the kind of rigorous discussions they aren't ready for until around sixth grade, and then I love getting hugs once in a while (in contrast to elementary school kids, who want hugs eight times a day, every day). You can still turn their lives around in middle school. I know; I've seen it.
I remind myself of these reasons, and all the others, quite often. Teaching kids, and adults, is hard -- really, really hard. I need to regularly remind myself why I do this. I have dozens of visual cues on my walls: quotes, photos of old students, and student artwork and writing. I list the names of those who made it, and those who didn't. I have photos of my family, because I also do this work for my son, because of my mother and grandmother, and with the endless support of my husband. I need to have all my intellectual and emotional receptors regularly tuned in to the reasons I've chosen this profession, because it's really hard, and exhausting, and never ending, and overwhelming.
So, why do you teach? Why do you teach reading, or science, or art? Why do you teach kindergarten, or ninth grade, or college? Share your stories. Share them here, share them with colleagues as the year starts, and share them with your students.
And, most of all, remind yourself why you teach.
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Comments (143)
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Kristin
Real teachers are born to be. They can't help it. They just are.
There's something within us that can't wait to show, guide, lead another to a better place, be it in reading, writing, algebra, or learning to tie one's shoe. We keep doing it because it's a part of the make up of our being. Sure we get tired, and depressed and frustrated at the the politics of it all. But it's the in the teaching, that keeps us coming back for more, year after year.
Those who are, teach, those who aren't, don't.
Why I teach ?
A teacher can change destiny.Such is the aphorism the motivated me to opt for honorable job of holding the torch of light,of change,of pemanent impact:teaching.when i teach,i know that i 'm addressing heats and minds as well as deaf earrs,i have to admit.But i know for sure that in one school year ,i always manage to impact up to eight students in a class of 36.so after 19 years of teaching,i can assume that i have proudly impacted 456 citizen,knowing that every school year i 'm assigned up to 4 classes.see the result?
Why do I teach?
I absolutely love, love, love my job teaching fourth grade students with learning disabilities. My job provides me with the opportunity to change children's lives by teaching them how to read, write, spell, and comprehend material. Even though the work is at times utterly exhausting, the benefits are incredibly rewarding.
I find it necessary to keep reminders of why I teach close to me at work. Similarly to Elena Aguilar, I keep photos of my family as well as my students' drawings near my teaching area. I currently have a large poster that says, "I love school!" hanging in my classroom. I take pride in that poster because many students with learning disabilities have had such negative experiences in school due to their disorders that they come to my classroom hating school. The little girl that created the "I love school" poster not onlky has learning disabilities but has Tourette Syndrome too, yet with a lot of effort both on her part and mine, she made tremendous progress throughout the year and made friends and didn't want the school year to end. It is experiences like this that inspire me to continue to be a better teacher so I can inspire my students to do enjoy learning.
A Wonderful Visit
A former student walked into my room today. As a 4th grader he was quiet and struggled with the work. His home life was difficult, to say the least, and any support he had came from the staff at school. We worked together as he and his siblings moved from grade to grade. As he left elementary school, we didn't know what would become of him. Today he handed me an invitation to his high school graduation. He is a composed and well spoken young man. He is moving on to study mathematics. I can't stop smiling! This is why I teach.
Edutopia
Why we teach?
Interesting that I've just been asking myself this vital question. Previous comments along with your post have said it all so eloquently I can see why you teach. I've asked myself this question many times. I've confonted a range of crisis' that provoke doubts but persevere because of my desire to connect withpeople. The service of teaching had increasingly become less respected and more confrontational. The virtues of public education are unfortunately obvious to a culture that focuses on material wealth. My political and social convictions help drive my service but it saddens me that I've been witness to the increased demands and reduced resources but mostly the loss if professional respect. Our culture doesn't know how important and difficult teaching children is. They espouse the dream of some mythical private school like they worship their new German built car. Sadly they miss the point that the amazing skilled workers who built it were largely educated publicly by devoted modestly paid educators.
I don't teach. I work with schools developing professional development plans for teacher development and student achievement.
I'm writing because my daughter is completing her Elem Ed degree and is about to begin her final student teaching.She hopes to be placed with her Elementary School Principal. I have known her Principal as a parent and professionally for nearly 20 years.She is a consummate professional who has been successful increasing student learning gains for all students wherever she has worked.Her teachers respect her and and she helps them continue to improve by maintaining high expectations, and being supportive and constructive.She has had a lasting impact on my daughter (regardless of whether she is placed there)... and she probably doesn't know it.
Great teachers multiply their own value and worth.
100 reasons why we teach...
Elena, I'm not sure if you're reading the comments, but our in house teacher blogger wrote a top list of why she teachers (8th grade).
Heres the post:
http://blog.onlinecollegeguru.com/education/100-reasons-to-be-a-teacher/
Could you plug the post on your blog post?
Why I Teach
When I saw your blog I just had to answer. I teach because I love the look on the students faces when (the light comes on)they actually get the concept that I am teaching, and they say ..OHHHH. To me there is not a more rewarding feeling.
I have also been reading about the differences between a novice and expert teacher. I think that I am beyond the novice part, but I don't know if I will ever achieve expert.If I ever get to the point where I think I know it all, I will quit teaching, because I really think that there is always something to learn.
Mediocrity rules!
I know exactly why I teach and I think about it every day. I teach for the time off and the benefits. That's about it. Those are the only two things keeping me here.
I got into education from college because I answered myself the question, "What's the easiest way out of college...which degree?" with the answer, "Education!" and so here I am.
Every year I tell myself the BS is just too much and that I'm going to leave but I can't picture myself in corporate world and I'm too lazy to do the whole job-hunting thing all over again.
Mind you, I am not miserable. I enjoy my colleagues and my administration. The students are fine when you work with them one-on-one and in the classroom, but with their friends and outside of any classroom they are obnoxious and at times unbearable.
I am just simply not PASSIONATE about teaching. It's a disservice, I know, to my students that I am here doing the bare minimum wishing I was elsewhere. But where else will I get nine weeks off in the summer and two off for the winter?
Using me as just one of the many examples out there, you can see why not all teachers meet peoples' expectations. We don't get paid enough to care !!!!