The Joy of Teaching

Recently I've talked to one of my former students from Bledsoe County.  I've asked her what she wanted to be when she grows up every year for the past five years, and up until now she's always said she wanted to be a teacher.  This time she said she wants to be a nurse or dental hygienist or something in the medical field.  Now, there's nothing wrong with changing your mind, and my students have done it often.  The difference here is that some teachers have spoken to her about their discontent with the teaching profession and have persuaded her that teaching is the last thing she wants to do.

Another really bright girl that I recently met told me the same story.  She said that her teachers discouraged her from going into teaching.

I think this is really sad.

It's not that I don't get it.  I do.

I've felt the pressure to get my students to perform proficiently on standardized tests.  I've felt discouraged because my creativity was being squelched.  I know very well the stress that is involved in teaching.

But there's something else to take into account when it comes to whatever you decide to do for a living.

You have to find the joy in what you're doing.

In the past couple of months I've listened to two comedians talk about this very thing.  First I heard Stephen Colbert when he was interviewed on Face the Nation.  He said that he has always called his show "The Joy Machine" because if you don't find the joy in each show, the machine will eat you alive. Just a few days later I heard Jerry Seinfeld say on "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" that the thing that kept him sane in a crazy business was that he found the joy in the daily work.  ( I highly recommend checking out both these links, especially if you like these two comedians.)

There's a lot of joy to be found in teaching. It comes from doing something that has impact and significance in the world.  Education is a key factor in creating a positive quality of life in the future.  Teachers make a difference in students' lives.

For me, joy is found in being with children.  Every day I get to teach, I get to interact with kids who make me laugh, who amaze me with their insight, who have great potential.  Every student has the story of their own life that needs to be understood, and I find joy in getting to know that story.  I also enjoy going places and experiencing new things with kids.  Being around young people keeps me young and relevant, and lets me see things with fresh eyes.

Since this week is Teacher Appreciation Week, I wanted to share these thoughts.  This is a hard time of year for them, and teachers need to feel appreciated.  I hope I can encourage them too to keep finding the joy that probably led them to this career in the first place.

Teacher friends, keep up the good work!