What possesses a person to go into teaching in NYC? It's probably the worst place to start teaching. There are so many administrative and social problems in NYC that to effectively teach a demanding curriculum is not possible in most cases.
Is it altruism? Is it idealism? I'm generally not described as either. Not to say that I'm inherently greedy or pessimistic but these are not what motivate me to teach.
People frequently say that "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." I suppose there is some truth to that, but it's not really something that fits every scenario. Personally, I had aspirations in medicine, then I was so disillusioned by the medical system (irony) that I tried my hand at research. Research in science is just a lot of waiting around for data and analysis that it didn't seem worth my time or energy. So naturally teaching became my post-bachelor pursuit. It's not that I have failed at medicine and research. Should I have pursued either, I probably would have been successful in either field (though not as satisfied).
So I've basically traded my disillusionment for medicine for a newfound disillusionment in education. So the same social and political problems that plague medicine in America is the same problems that plague education in America, especially in high-need or urban environments.
Not enough attention is ever really given to our educational crisis. Yes, it is a crisis. If you don't believe me, try teaching these kids to read nonfiction. They can't even read my living environment textbooks.
People wonder, "How could we let this happen?" "Who is to blame for this?" "How can we fix the schools and the districts to better provide for our children?"
First off, stop blaming schools and districts. Blame families. Blame parents. Blame the lack of interactive learning at home. Blame the missing educational programming on television. Blame teen pregnancies and unstable home environments. Blame the hip-hop and the no-snitching culture that has spread among our youth. Blame the lack of educational resources in schools which is due to a LACK of funding from the state and federal government. Blame the quality of free or reduced price lunches. Blame the lack of resources in under-developed areas. Blame the economy or low minimum wage. Blame the socio-economic inequities of society. Blame the fucking cost of gas or food. Blame incompetent leadership. Whatever...
In the witch-hunt for our educational malfunctions, we immediately blame the institution of education: The schools. Yeah, OK. That's like blaming the hospital or your doctor for allowing you to get the flu one day. Storm into your doctors office and say, "I am holding you PERSONALLY responsible for every health matter that I encounter in my life. So I will hold any medical matter I encounter in my life against you." Sounds strangely similar to malpractice, doesn't it? That's what we have done to education. Rather than holding families and parents and STUDENTS accountable for education, the institution is what is to blame. That's irrational thinking.
Like health care, education has become less of a family and social matter and more of an institutional matter. Let's just privatize everything now. Insurance can be responsible for providing affordable health care for every American, right? And schools and school districts can be accountable for educating all our children... Yeah, wonderful... It's like raising children on auto-pilot...
So why do I teach then? Good question. I've been asked this several times (even by co-workers) but I haven't really given it enough thought to give a reasonable response. I guess I don't know why I want to teach. Maybe rather than working a desk job in a cubicle or working in a lab or in a hospital, I'd just prefer the noisy banter of children in a classroom. I suppose I feel like I don't feed the problem if I'm actively trying to fix things as best I can. In other fields or careers, you fall into complacency and a routine. Though teaching does require consistency, I find that there's never a real moment of complacency, which is comforting to me in some twisted way.
I guess the stress you encounter in education is meaningful and focused on one aspect of society, kids. That is not the case as a doctor (death, sick people, malpractice), lawyer (I hate lawyers!), researcher (chasing your tail to get published), etc.
*sigh*
I guess my motivation to be a teacher is just as irrational as the problem of education and health care in America. It's not something to understand, it's just the reality I live right now...
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Thursday, May 15, 2008
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1 comment:
Seems like teaching as a career is an unhealthy love-hate, even abusive relationship. I am glad to see that you find it so rewarding though.
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