As someone who constantly believes in and supports the incredibly crucial role teachers have in society, as well as being someone who has dreamt of many different career paths but always considers teaching to be the final and most fitting destination, this TED article sparked some thoughts about an issue I am not afraid to argue (I mean, although since I am not a teacher, I feel less qualified than if you were to talk to me in a few years… I hope?)… Respect and understanding for teachers. If you read the article, which is a compilation of interviews from teachers in public school systems around the world, you will quickly see a pattern: the love of learning and a lack of recognition, understanding and respect for teaching as a profession. However curated the selection of these interviews may be, the lack of financial compensation and respect from the general public are small summaries of a larger issue I have witnessed during my few years volunteering as a teacher’s assistant in both elementary and high school classrooms. It is not appalling or shocking; it is disappointing. (Making the privileged but accepted assumption that) most of the people who are making these judgements have been in school and therefore have had teachers, I must consider that many opinions could have been formed on the experience of “bad teachers” or teachers who seemed not to care about their students, or perhaps students who did not have positive school experiences… Which leads me to the next topic about which I also have strong opinions.
As a recent undergraduate graduate, my fellow classmates from high school and university are all headed in different paths: teacher’s college, the working world, more undergraduate courses, professional programs, college, graduate school, the list goes on. What most surprised me were the Facebook posts of those who I did not expect to teach who were headed to teacher’s college this fall. (This, however, is merely my reaction to students whom I did not know well, and so, I cannot trust my fleeting high school memories of these now future-teachers.) At first, I was quick to assume someone wanted to attend teacher’s college, simply because he or she did not, for instance, get into medical school. I shuddered at the idea that teacher’s college suddenly became his or her fallback option and not a dream career path, until I kicked myself and realized that one of my greatest mentors, and also a brilliant teacher I have seen in action in the classroom, also never considered teaching as a career until the opportunity presented itself.
The topic of respecting and recognizing the importance of the teaching profession has the potential to raise so many issues: global, political, economical, social… But since I am no expert in any of these areas, I would rather leave that to someone who did not just learn what “fiscal year” means in the last… fiscal year…
Instead, I want to end my blog post on something a little unconventional (I mean, as conventional as you can get with a total of two blog posts, and three after this one). I have come across articles and blog posts and Facebook posts, and tweets addressed to students, parents, fellow teachers, members of the community… But this one I want to address to future -teachers:
Dear future-teachers, be it in the near future, far future, or currently on the supply list or short-term contracts:
Respect and recognition for teachers is a battle that has come forefront to the news in light of the provincial lack of contracts and job security. This TED article enlightens readers to the battle for respect and recognition on a global level, that reaches beyond our local schools. Teaching may have been your final destination since you were young, or it may have been a new option because of the way the big man upstairs worked things out, but either way a B.Ed is in your future. While students and parents tend to find creative ways to show their gratitude to their teachers, or communities support teachers during picket lines or other ways, I do believe that showing support as a future-teacher is by respecting the profession you have chosen. I picture this, in an ideal world, as teachers teaching because they love to learn and they love to teach, and teachers who choose not to teach because they feel called to commit their time elsewhere. I do not mean for this to sound “preachy,” ignorant, or have negative connotations. But as a student, it is downright disappointing to see teachers bashed in the media (although I am starting to see a lot more support lately). If teachers want respect and recognition from future generations, then maybe future-teachers should respect their profession first.
Sincerely,
A fellow student and future-teacher.
The Queenstown Chronicles 