Passion

Why do educators stay in the game? They are dedicated, but more so, they are passionate about what they do. The pay for teaching is not the best in most places, and the disrespect that educators take is unacceptable, but those of us who love children and teaching stay.

Most adults who have never taught think teaching has to be easy. The memories of going through school are what most people know about teaching. Go to school, teach for seven hours with multiple breaks and lunch, and then go home. AND you get the summers, weekends, and extra vacations during the year off. Not! (Some people still do not understand that teachers do not get paid in the summer. Their salary is divided equally over the year into equal payments, so they do not starve during the summer!) The thing is, teaching is much more than that, especially these days. It is loaded to the max. Lesson plans, testing, professional development, growth plans, data analysis, evaluations, parent calls, conferences, documentation at every whipstitch, duties, copying, reports, grade cards, grading, discipline, etc. These are all things that must be done when the students are not at school or in the classroom.

One time, someone emailed me with an interest in being a teacher. He gave his credentials as a professional in another area. He said he wanted to teach, wondered what to do to be a teacher, and thought I could guide him. The person said he could have Googled i but thought he'd ask me first. He said he wanted to be a teacher at our school because he went to school there. He had me ready to respond until I read the following sentence. "I don't really like kids much, but I can explain concepts in a way that even a simpleton could understand." Wow. You have to LOVE kids first to do this job. They are the most important. I could not see this person meeting the student's social and emotional needs. What did I do with the email? Click. X out.

Later...