I am an educator. Always have been, always will be.
If you ask most of us, “what is your one wish?” you’d hear echoed repeatedly, “what’s best for kids….what’s best for kids…”
This is why we get into the business of shaping young souls. This is why we accept less than acceptable wages and respect to do our life’s passion.
Many times, I’ve been asked…”why would you ever want to be a teacher?”
I only have one answer.
“The kids.”
I know, I know you are broken. The bandaids, the valiant efforts, the rapid change brought on by technology, I get it. I am not blaming you, public education.
The last ten years have really been really, really tough. Budget cuts, no teacher raises, accountability and testing, the big D (and by that I mean data), and fewer and fewer qualified teachers entering (and staying in) the profession.
Why don’t I leave?
I only have one answer.
“The kids.”
Education is everything, which means equity and equal access is everything.
Equal access to technology, to courses, to apprenticeships, to opportunities to explore a passion…
is everything.
So, my fellow “teachers at heart,” I don’t have a solution. I don’t have an immediate fix. All I have is hope.
Hope that everything we do for “the kids” outweighs all that is negative and benign in public education.
I will always stand with those who do things for “the kids,” while balancing the crazy that is public school teaching.
I’ll keep at it. I really hope you will too!
Thanks for reading!
