So, I dunno if I told you yet, but I've been seriously considering exiting the teaching profession. After all that's happened both personally and professionally in my life, I decided that I just couldn't do it anymore. I mean, I know to some of my friends I've sounded like a broken record - every year I go through a rough patch where I feel like a total failure and want to do something else - but this was on a whole other level. Really.
But, I've started falling in love all over again - it really is kinda like I've just had my heartbroken and sworn off love forever and now I'm swooning again. The problem is that I really do love teaching or, maybe better put - I love making students think.
I'm sorry, but I have to brag a little . . .
My latest indication that no matter all my mistakes, I'm doing something right happened today when one of my students told me I should be a psychologist because I put ideas in people's brains that make them crazy. I'm pretty sure she was joking (even though she said it wasn't a compliment and said it all totally straight), but either way it made me proud. If there's one thing I want my students to believe when they get out of my class it is that there are no easy answers, that life is complicated, that we need to struggle for the right answers, but they are rarely very obvious, that we should forgive those who struggle and get it wrong, but that we should never respect those who don't even try.
My current mantra: I hate my students for making me love teaching again. Stupid kids.
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2 comments:
Whoohoo for stupid Kids!
I just saw this. This post reminds me of crazy Mr. Hollins (who is really crazy) who came running into my room looking for you because he wanted to thank you "for teaching [him] how to think." Thanks for not leaving. "They need you."
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