Recently it has come to my attention that educators are not getting nearly enough support. I have witnessed people criticizing the education system while not giving teachers the respect and credit they rightfully deserve.
It all started when I changed my major to elementary education. Excited about this change, I began to tell people about my new career path. However, not every reaction was positive. Instead, I heard things like:
Well, you know the saying, "Those who can do, and those who can't teach."
Teachers aren't out in the real world. They don't know anything.
Are you sure you want that career.
It doesn't pay well.
While hearing this kind of feedback was obviously infuriating, I kept most of my reactions to myself. I try to avoid confrontation when it's unnecessary, but looking back, I wish I hadn't. I may not be an educator yet, but I know enough great ones to deem it important to stand up for them.
You see, while being a teacher may not qualify as a white collar job to some, that doesn't make it any less important. In fact, I truly believe that teachers have one of the most, if not the most, important job out there. Teachers affect more than 3,000 students' lives over the course of their careers.
Teachers taught you how to read, how to solve math equations, and how to conduct science experiments. They also taught you how to think critically, how to look back in time and learn from the world's mistakes. They taught you how to channel your creativity, how to express yourself. And they did this all while teaching you valuable life lessons along the way.
In a 2010 survey of American students, 88 percent of adults reported having a teacher who positively impacted their lives. I don't know when people started thinking so little of the education profession, but I do know that no one would be the doctor, lawyer, scientist, engineer or writer they are today without the help of teachers.
People like to point fingers and complain about different aspects of the education system. Everyone wants teachers to teach better, and they want test scores to go up and school systems to become more reliable, but they aren't doing anything to help. Instead of pointing your fingers at the teachers, you should probably go out and support them.
Teaching is a labor of love. These people spend countless hours trying to perfect their instruction, and they do it for little pay. Most teachers actually spend an average of 12 hours a week doing school-related activities (grading papers, assisting in clubs) that they don't get paid for. They work hard to reach each and every student, but it can be trying when no one is on the sidelines supporting them. Teachers can't do everything on their own. They need a community backing them up.
To the people who proved critical of my major change, if given another opportunity, here is how I would have responded to you:
If you think so little of teachers, why are you trusting them enough to educate your children? How can a person teach something they don't already know how to do?
If teachers aren't out in the real world, where do you think they are? They work for a living just like you.
Yes, I want this as a career. It's something I'm passionate about.
My future career might not make a lot of money, but it will make a difference. What does yours make?
