Quote:
Originally Posted by DataDoxy
Teaching is a critically important profession. IMO it is vital that we attract the right people into the field. People who understand learning and know how to design and implement authentic learning experiences that challenge and support all 30+ unique learners in the classroom. We need to attract people who are experts in their content area(s) and who are excited and knowledgeable about how to share their knowledge with kids... but IMO we need people who go beyond this as the job demands more. Teaching requires individuals who are willing to work more than 6.75 hours a day because they are dedicated to reaching every child no matter how much time it takes. It means being a counsellor, a parent, a mentor, a motivator, an entertainer, a behaviour coach, a problem-solver, on top of being a learning specialist. Children come to school with their self esteem and in essence, their future, in their teacher's hand. Great teachers foster kids' self esteem and give them the mindset and the skills they need to be successful inside and outside the classroom. Great teachers leave their mark for life... as do weak teachers. Who would you want your child to have as a teacher? Someone who is in it merely for the time off or the aforementioned "perks"?
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I think you need to read my posts in context of the OP. Naturally I'm not going to give the same advice to somebody seeking a career in the military, or to a guy who always wanted to be a firefighter. MattyC clearly has an interest in teaching for the right reasons - when you have an interest in being an educator, the stars have aligned for you and you've won life's lottery (if you decide to pursue it).