Why does one become an educator? We all know it is not for
the pay…Whilst I was reading Letters to A
Young Teacher by Jonathon Kozol, he wrote, “It has to do with the
exhilaration that I get out of my day-to-day immersion in the lives of certain
glowing resilient children who, no matter what the painful things they may
experience at school or in their homes, are able somehow to retain their faith
in the essential goodness of the grown-up world and to keep their little lights
of hope alive.” I really agree with what Kozol wrote that no matter what
children seem to be going through they always seem to have a sense of hope and
faith in the adult world, while maintaining their honesty. It is important for
us to remember the innocence of children, and understand there will be times that
we might not know or understand what our students are going through in their
personal lives. We should never assume that we know what are students are experiencing,
we should be willing to invest the time and energy to learn about our students
on a personal level. There are many reasons why someone might become an
educator, but it is important that we remember children and “their lights of
hope.” I imagine that we will face many challenges in the classroom, and we
should never shy away from standing up for the rights of our students no matter
the consequences. Knowing the many challenges that you might face in and
outside of the classroom, why did you decide to become an educator?
Like you, I was profoundly touched by Jonathan Kozol's "Letters to a Young Teacher." I have a love for children and their optimism, enthusiasm, fun-loving spirits, and hope in hardship. As educators, we need to take a step back from the stress of all the challenges and remember to just enjoy what we're doing. Kozol states, "Even in the most adverse conditions, the work of a good teacher ought to be an act of stalwart celebration. It is in that sense of celebration, in my own belief at least, that teachers who have chosen out of love to work with children find their ultimate reward." (p. 227). He voices one of the reasons why I've decided to become an educator: Out of love for children.
ReplyDeleteI also read the book, "Letters to a Young Teacher" and appreciated exactly what you said about what he wrote. It is ever more important to preserve the innocence of the students and allow them to enjoy their youth, while learning of course! So many kids have troubled lives at home and are having to take on responsibility well beyond their age so it is important for them to have an escape and be able feel safe and accepted in the classroom environment. I also liked when he talked about standing up for what is right- we as teachers see and know exactly what goes on in the classroom and if we want changes to be made on behalf of the students it is our job to do what we can to make that happen.
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