"Love What You Teach, but Love Who You Teach More"
"I love to share my observation that elementary teachers love their students, high school teachers love their subject, and college instructors love themselves. Oh, and middle school teachers love chaos and wine! This gets a nice chuckle when I speak, mainly because middle school teachers can relate to the chaos of middle school students. However, the reality is to be an effective teacher, you should enjoy what you teach, but always love who you teach the most.
Now, this doesn't mean that you will like every student. In fact, you will have some students who will get on your last nerve and drive you crazy, but that doesn't mean you don't love them as a human or want the best for them. In fact, those are the ones who need love the most. In my 25 years in education, I found that students who I didn't connect with usually were the ones who acted out or tried to get attention in unhealthy ways, like disrupting class. Therefore, I learned early on that I needed to focus on connections before I focused on content. Throughout the years, this helped alleviate many behavioral issues in class. When you develop that rapport with students, there really isn't a better job in the world. When I think about my years teaching, I did enjoy teaching science, but I loved the kids, and the kids are the one thing I miss most about teaching in the K-12 setting.
So, you do need a genuine affection for kids in general or you will never survive a career as a teacher. When you think of the long hours, the planning, the weekends spent making lessons, the money you spend out of your own pocket on resources, you realize you do it because you love your students. That is why most teachers don't refer to them as their class or their students, but call them, 'My Kids'. Because for the year you are fortunate to be with them, they are indeed, your kids, and you love them!" Brad Johnson & Hal Bowman
Re: Dear Teacher #1
Posted by That "last nerve"... on 2/17/2023, 7:44 am, in reply to "Dear Teacher #1"
We all had students that were challenging. I sometimes wondered why....until I met their parents. There is something to the "apple/tree" descriptive.
Re: Dear Teacher #1
Posted by Dies Irae on 2/16/2023, 9:02 am, in reply to "Dear Teacher #1"
Interesting dynamics here. Do I love my students the way I love my own children? No. Do I want my children's teachers to love them as much as I do? No.
However, I do care for them, empathetic to their concerns, and hope for the best.
Re: Dear Teacher #1
Posted by Mithrandir on 2/15/2023, 3:24 pm, in reply to "Dear Teacher #1"
While I don't disagree with your post and Brad Johnson I more agree with Gaslighting and this line of thinking is myopic. The world just isn't that simple. This sends the message that if we (teachers) simply love our students more (all) problems will be fixed. How many band problems can be solved with "more air"? Sure a lot, but it may not solve the root of the problem. What a burden to put on another human: love these 150 students! Who can do that?
Re: Dear Teacher #1
Posted by Takes all kinds on 2/14/2023, 8:15 pm, in reply to "Dear Teacher #1"
One of our states icons was asked if they missed the kids and without blinking an eye, they plainly said “nope.” They were great with their kids.
I read a quote from a retired teacher who, when asked if he would consider going back said something like..."I miss it every day. I never want to go back." I think there are many of us who feel that way. And I don't think it's because they were bad directors. It just ain't what it used to be anymore.
The closer I get to retirement the more I miss the start of my career. Why? "It just ain't what it used to be anymore." After 25 years, I miss the first half of my career more than I've enjoyed the last half.
Re: Dear Teacher #1
Posted by Gaslighting on 2/14/2023, 2:49 pm, in reply to "Dear Teacher #1"
No offense but I get a little tired of this narrative. Do I like working with kids...yes...they are better than adults most of the time.
This idea that you can only be a good or effective teacher if you "love" your students is not accurate. People teach for many reasons and can make working relationships with students without getting personally involved. And teachers very much need to know their content. I can't "love" my way through teaching Algebra if I don't know the content.
I've been teaching for over 20 years and can honestly say I enjoy teaching but I leave work at work. I have my own family to love. I respect my students, work hard for them to be an effective teacher, and then I go home to the actual loves of life. It's called balance and priorities.
Re: Dear Teacher #1
Posted by Warhawk on 2/14/2023, 2:09 pm, in reply to "Dear Teacher #1"
This year we have hosted two exchange students, both teen-aged young ladies, and it made a change in me. I realized that at times I was talking to people's daughters in a manner that I would not want anyone to speak to my 'daughters'. I still have the same message on the music, but the delivery is different. Unfortunately, this journey will end on June 10th, but we will have two more daughters in August.
