Why Teach?

This is a great post from The Apple at Monster.com. For a long time I worked with teachers as a teacher and got to hear every horror story in the world about how teaching can stink. There were always the stories about how teaching is sublime as well, but during the course of the year it always seemed that the teachers I knew had more complaints than success stories.

Here is the post by Kevin Bibo:

Why Teach?

        "I went to my 20th high school reunion this weekend. One of my friends, Charles, told me that he could see that I really cared about the success of my students. Another was encouraged by my efforts and said, “that’s what the world needs, more committed teachers!” The thing is, other than sharing the fact that this was my 10th year in the classroom, I didn’t tell them anything about what or how I do what I do. Their comments, while enjoyed by my ego, confounded me. How did they know I cared about my students? How did they know that I was committed to my service?

        Teachers are definitely a breed apart. True we are made, and not created, but it seems like you can always tell a good teacher when you see one, even if you don’t see them teach. I ran into an old student of mine at the car wash earlier that day. She shared with me her desire to teach. I encouraged her because I knew already that she would make a great teacher. Her personality is inviting, she seems naturally kind and patient, she doesn’t judge but instead shares a warm smile. She will be a great teacher regardless of subject matter or grade level. I could see that in her, just like my friends could see it in me

        But I haven’t always been able to see it in myself. The “it” being the qualities and energy of a good teacher. I reflect on my teaching, but usually my reflections display all the things I need to fix, or don’t do very well. Still, I endure, and continue to work at improving myself because I just love what I do, and couldn’t dream now of doing anything else. However, teaching was not my first choice. I did not see myself as a teacher when I was younger. Other people did: my father and my wife. They suggested I try teaching; and it was a good fit. But what makes teaching a good fit for me? And why do I fit teaching? Have you ever asked yourself why you teach?

        For some, the answer is obvious. They teach because that is what they have always wanted to do. For others, they teach because teaching provides a steady paycheck and great benefits. Still others are called by some higher authority to spend their days wiping noses and answering the same question three or more times an hour. If we are to be successful teachers, teachers who change lives, we have to look deeper than the desire, the paycheck, or the calling. I think we have to look deep within ourselves and recognize that not only does the world need great teachers, role models willing to give selflessly, but that we too have a need to play the role or inspirer, sage, and friend.

        Not everyone needs to know that their efforts are meaningful. But I do. I gave up pursuing a career in television because I didn’t want to spend my time away from my family selling soap. It was fun, but empty. Teaching allows me to make the world around me a better place. I regularly see alumni who tell me that the time spent in my class made a difference to lives and changed them in some way. Not all my students, but many share the same experience. Is there something I do directly that changes them? I’m not sure. Like Charles said, it is very important to me that my students are successful. I don’t know yet exactly how that plays out in my classroom, but it is at the top of my list of priorities. As my other friend pointed out, I am completely committed to my students success, but what does that look like?

        The answer is that it is different for different teachers. But one thing is certain, if you are not invested in your students success, and if you are not committed to them, then I have to ask you, why teach?"

As I said, I have had the pleasure of working with many great teachers and administrators as a teacher, a learning specialist, and most recently as a sales consultant. When the topic of "Why Teach?" came up, especially with new teachers, I was always interested in the answer.

"Because I love kids," was the most common reply for Pre-K - 8 teachers, and, from my perspective, not the best answer. Loving kids is a great place to start. But, I think even more important is the talent for teaching. I believe there are some requirements for teaching that cannot be learned - love is one of them - but so is the inherent wanting and ability to communicate, share and relish ideas in a meaningful way. To share knowledge and provide value. To be so excited by an idea or skill that your skin jumps when you think about it and the need to share is bubbling out of you.  

I remember the first time I read The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963. I knew that first and foremost my kids were going to love the dialog. They were going to laugh at and fall in love with Kenny and Byron Watson. They were going to get caught-up in the story of the civil rights movement. They were going to sit in awe of the events surrounding the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. I knew all this because the book had that effect on me, and I knew I could carry that enthusiasm into the classroom.

My students learned the mechanics and art of writing funny dialog. They learned about story structure. We supported their history studies by digging into lesser-known events of the civil rights movements. We sharpened their math and geography skills by taking a virtual road trip to Birmingham to visit the church. We compared historical events and fictional events using Watsons and Spike Lee's film Four Little Girls. Heck, I even actually went to the church during a Spring Break to take pictures and talk to the congregants.

Everything was aligned with benchmarks and standards - but most importantly to me - they were excited learners. 

Flash forward a few years. I'm sitting at a traffic light when the car next to me starts honking. I look over to see a smiling young woman waving, so I roll down the window.

"Are you Mr. Smith?" she asks.

"Yep, I sure am!"

"I had you in middle school. I loved when we read that Watsons book in your class!"

"It's a great book!" I yell back just as the light turns and we drive away. She had a baby in the rear seat and she seemed very happy.

Why teach? To bring excitement to everything and to share.