Aim For The Moon...
I was talking to teachers at the end of term barbeque, and it was great to be talking to Real Teachers - those who do it for the pure love of the profession. I distinguish Real Teachers from ordinary teachers because so many teachers put on a display of "this job is such a chore" in order to elicit sympathy and respect from people, when no one deserves respect for a title. Only actions deserve respect.
To a Real Teacher, it is possible to discuss the teaching profession properly. These people understand: when I tell them that I cried when I watched the school play, or when I said goodbye to them, their response is likely to be one of total understanding, rather than disgust as to how you could dream of being so emotional.
It is with these people that I am reassured that I'm not the only one who thinks it is worth slaving to help mould many hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals. They tell me that it's OK to care, that it doesn't really matter if you're not as well paid as your peers who also went to University, because you're Making a Difference. We all want to make a difference in some way... it's something I am endlessly obsessed about, and have written about a lot... and there are very few other ways of influencing and shaping individuals than through teaching. It just seems like a logical step to me.
So why, when I tell anyone I'd like to be a teacher, particularly my peers, am I seen as some rogue, a freak to be ignored? It will be a tough job, but children these days simply are not as everyone likes to portray them - as aggressive, uncontrollable brutes. They are probably more spoilt these days, but that's something a school can work to foster a more selfless culture. I honestly look forward to taking on challenges like that... they will be difficult, but potentially very rewarding.
Then one of the Real Teachers asked me if I want to teach primary or secondary, and they distilled it down to an intriguing statement: are you more interested in the child or the subject? This was such a wonderful shorthand for the decision I want to take. I've always wondered exactly how primary teachers justify working with such young children, because, to be honest, I've never been able to find the words why I would want to do such a thing. Yet, that teacher finally gave me some answer, and some clue about where I'm going. It's a bit simplistic, but broadly secondary schools teachers teach the subject, and then, by proxy, are interested in children. Whereas, primary school teachers are broadly much more concerned with the overall welfare, progress and social development of a child. There is no proxy mechanism in it, through the medium of a subject as in secondary. It is simply direct.
It's useful shorthand for me. Real Teachers are genuinely inspiring. Their enthusiasm is infectious. Those teachers that we remember as being "the best" tend to be the ones that would fall into the definition of Real. Such a small amount of them fall into this category though. You have to be an outstanding talent.
That is my goal.
I suppose it's about time I set myself a big target. Now I'm a Proper Adult, like.
To a Real Teacher, it is possible to discuss the teaching profession properly. These people understand: when I tell them that I cried when I watched the school play, or when I said goodbye to them, their response is likely to be one of total understanding, rather than disgust as to how you could dream of being so emotional.
It is with these people that I am reassured that I'm not the only one who thinks it is worth slaving to help mould many hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals. They tell me that it's OK to care, that it doesn't really matter if you're not as well paid as your peers who also went to University, because you're Making a Difference. We all want to make a difference in some way... it's something I am endlessly obsessed about, and have written about a lot... and there are very few other ways of influencing and shaping individuals than through teaching. It just seems like a logical step to me.
So why, when I tell anyone I'd like to be a teacher, particularly my peers, am I seen as some rogue, a freak to be ignored? It will be a tough job, but children these days simply are not as everyone likes to portray them - as aggressive, uncontrollable brutes. They are probably more spoilt these days, but that's something a school can work to foster a more selfless culture. I honestly look forward to taking on challenges like that... they will be difficult, but potentially very rewarding.
Then one of the Real Teachers asked me if I want to teach primary or secondary, and they distilled it down to an intriguing statement: are you more interested in the child or the subject? This was such a wonderful shorthand for the decision I want to take. I've always wondered exactly how primary teachers justify working with such young children, because, to be honest, I've never been able to find the words why I would want to do such a thing. Yet, that teacher finally gave me some answer, and some clue about where I'm going. It's a bit simplistic, but broadly secondary schools teachers teach the subject, and then, by proxy, are interested in children. Whereas, primary school teachers are broadly much more concerned with the overall welfare, progress and social development of a child. There is no proxy mechanism in it, through the medium of a subject as in secondary. It is simply direct.
It's useful shorthand for me. Real Teachers are genuinely inspiring. Their enthusiasm is infectious. Those teachers that we remember as being "the best" tend to be the ones that would fall into the definition of Real. Such a small amount of them fall into this category though. You have to be an outstanding talent.
That is my goal.
I suppose it's about time I set myself a big target. Now I'm a Proper Adult, like.
posted by Matt at
10:55 pm
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